Lululemon athletica - how a new competitor overperforms iconic names

This work was conducted between September 2022 and December 2022. The objective of this equity analysis was to understand if Lululemon Athletica Inc’s stock price was undervalued or overvalued. Thanks to this analysis, it was possible to determine if an investor should buy, hold or sell the company´s stock. To determine the stock price, qualitative and quantitative information were used and Lululemon´ financial forecasts were made by analysts for the next ten years. The discounted cash flow method was used to compute the stock price leading to a $275.27 value, resulting in a SELL recommendation

Toward a model of multiple paths to language learning: response to commentaries

Language learning, while seemingly effortless for young learners, is a complex process involving many interacting pieces, both within the child and in their language-learning environments, which can result in unique language learning trajectories and outcomes. How does the brain adjust to or accommodate the myriad variations that occur during this developmental process. How does it adapt and change over time? In our review, we proposed that the timing, quantity, and quality of children's early language experiences, particularly during an early sensitive period for the acquisition of phonology, shape the establishment of neural phonological representations that are used to establish and support phonological working memory (PWM). The efficiency of the PWM system in turn, we argued, influences the acquisition and processing of more complex aspects of language. In brief, we proposed that experience modulates later language outcomes through its early effects on PWM. We supported this claim by reviewing research from several unique groups of language learners who experience delayed exposure to language (children with cochlear implants [CI] or internationally adopted [IA] children, and children with either impoverished [signing deaf children with hearing parents)] or enriched [bilingual] early language experiences). By comparing PWM and language outcomes in these groups, we sought to highlight general patterns in language development that emerge based on variation in early language exposure. Moving forward, we also proposed that the language acquisition patterns in these groups, and others, can be used to understand how variability in early language input might affect the neural systems supporting language development and how this might affect language learning itself

Variations in phonological working memory: linking early language experiences and language learning outcomes

In order to build complex language from perceptual input, children must have access to a powerful information processing system that can analyze, store, and use regularities in the signal to which the child is exposed. In this article, we propose that one of the most important parts of this underlying machinery is the linked set of cognitive and language processing components that comprise the child's developing working memory (WM). To examine this hypothesis, we explore how variations in the timing, quality, and quantity of language input during the earliest stages of development are related to variations in WM, especially phonological WM (PWM), and in turn language learning outcomes. In order to tease apart the relationships between early language experience, WM, and language development, we review research findings from studies of groups of language learners who clearly differ with respect to these aspects of input. Specifically, we consider the development of PWM in children with delayed exposure to language, that is, children born profoundly deaf and exposed to oral language following cochlear implantation and internationally adopted children who have delayed exposed to the adoption language; children who experience impoverished language input, that is, children who experience early bouts of otitis media and signing deaf children born to nonsigning hearing parents; and children with enriched early language input, that is, simultaneous bilinguals and second language learners

Auditory Event-Related Potentials Associated With Music Perception in Cochlear Implant Users

A short review of the literature on auditory event-related potentials and mismatch negativities (MMN) in cochlear implant users engaged in music-related auditory perception tasks is presented. Behavioral studies that have measured the fundamental aspects of music perception in CI users have found that they usually experience poor perception of melody, pitch, harmony as well as timbre (Limb and Roy, 2014). This is thought to occur not only because of the technological and acoustic limitations of the device, but also because of the biological alterations that usually accompany deafness. In order to improve music perception and appreciation in individuals with cochlear implants, it is essential to better understand how they perceive music. As suggested by recent studies, several different electrophysiological paradigms can be used to reliably and objectively measure normal-hearing individuals' perception of fundamental musical features. These techniques, when used with individuals with cochlear implants, might contribute to determine how their peripheral and central auditory systems analyze musical excerpts. The investigation of these cortical activations can moreover give important information on other aspects related to music appreciation, such as pleasantness and emotional perception. The studies reviewed suggest that cochlear implantation alters most fundamental musical features, including pitch, timbre, melody perception, complex rhythm, and duration (e.g., Koelsch et al., 2004b; Timm et al., 2012, 2014; Zhang et al., 2013a,b; Limb and Roy, 2014). A better understanding of how individuals with cochlear implants perform on these tasks not only makes it possible to compare their performance to that of their normal-hearing peers, but can also lead to better clinical intervention and rehabilitation

Cholangiocarcinoma and photodynamic therapy

Le cholangiocarcinome est un cancer de l’épithélium biliaire intraou extra-hépatique de mauvais pronostic. Le seul traitement potentiellement curatif ou tout du moins permettant des survies prolongées, en est chirurgical mais n’est envisageable que chez 20 % des patients soit en raison de l’inextirpabilité de la tumeur soit de l’inopérabilité du patient. En situation palliative, l’intérêt de la radiothérapie reste à prouver mais la chimiothérapie vient de démontrer un bénéfice en termes de survie face aux soins palliatifs exclusifs. En cas de cholangiocarcinome avancé, l’obtention d’un drainage biliaire efficace est l’objectif thérapeutique prioritaire, au mieux effectué par voie endoscopique. Quatre études dont deux contrôlées randomisées montrent l’intérêt de la photothérapie dynamique associée à un drainage biliaire comparés à un drainage seul dans la prise en charge des cholangiocarcinomes hilaires non résécables avec une amélioration significative de la survie.Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer of the biliary epithelium with bad prognosis arising either within the liver or in the extrahepatic bile duct. Surgical therapy offers the best potentially curative therapy of both intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas or at prolong survival. Unfortunately, the majority of patients (80%) are found to be unresectable on presentation or not considered as surgical candidates due to comormidities or advanced age. The efficacy of radiation therapy remains questionable showing very poor response but chemotherapy has just demonstrated benefits in terms of survival when compared to palliative treatment only. Successful palliation of biliary obstruction remains the main goal for reducing morbidity and mortality in those patients with unresectable disease. Endoscopy (ERCP) with placement of biliary stents has become the standard to palliate jaundice with less morbidity and mortality than that associated with surgery. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapy, involving the intravenous administration of a photosensitizing agent followed by its activation by using light illumination of a specific wavelength resulting in ischemic necrosis proportional to tissue oxygenation. ERCP with PDT appears to improve survival compared with ERCP with biliary stenting alone in unresectable cholangiocarcinoma

Bifidobacterium pseudolongum are efficient indicators of animal fecal contamination in raw milk cheese industry

Background: The contamination of raw milk cheeses (St-Marcellin and Brie) from two plants in France was studied at several steps of production (raw milk, after addition of rennet - St-Marcellin - or after second maturation - Brie -, after removal from the mold and during ripening) using bifidobacteria as indicators of fecal contamination. Results: Bifidobacterium semi-quantitative counts were compared using PCR-RFLP and real-time PCR. B. pseudolongum were detected in 77% (PCR-RFLP; 1.75 to 2.29 log cfu ml-1) at the different production steps) and 68% (real-time PCR; 2.19 to 2.73 log cfu ml-1) of St-Marcellin samples and in 87% (PCR-RFLP; 1.17 to 2.40 log cfu ml-1) of Brie cheeses samples. Mean counts of B. pseudolongum remained stable along both processes. Two other populations of bifidobacteria were detected during the ripening stage of St-Marcellin, respectively in 61% and 18% of the samples (PCR-RFLP). The presence of these populations explains the increase in total bifidobacteria observed during ripening. Further characterization of these populations is currently under process. Forty-eight percents (St-Marcellin) and 70 % (Brie) of the samples were B. pseudolongum positive / E. coli negative while only 10 % (St-Marcellin) and 3 % (Brie) were B. pseudolongum negative / E. coli positive. Conclusions: The increase of total bifidobacteria during ripening in Marcellin’s process does not allow their use as fecal indicator. The presence of B. pseudolongum along the processes defined a contamination from animal origin since this species is predominant in cow dung and has never been isolated in human feces. B. pseudolongum was more sensitive as an indicator than E. coli along the two different cheese processes. B. pseudolongum should be used as fecal indicator rather than E. coli to assess the quality of raw milk and raw milk cheeses. Results: Bifidobacterium semi-quantitative counts were compared using PCR-RFLP and real-time PCR. Bif. pseudolongum were detected in 77% (PCR-RFLP; 1.75 to 2.29 log cfu ml-1) at the different production steps) and 68% (real-time PCR; 2.19 to 2.73 log cfu ml-1) of St-Marcellin samples and in 87% (PCR-RFLP; 1.17 to 2. 40 log cfu ml-1) of Brie cheeses samples. Mean counts of Bif. pseudolongum remained stable along both processes. Two other populations of bifidobacteria were detected during the ripening stage of St-Marcellin, respectively in 61% and 18% of the samples (PCR-RFLP). The presence of these populations explains the increase in total bifidobacteria observed during ripening. Further identification of these species is currently under process. Forty-eight percents (St-Marcellin) and 70 % (Brie) of the samples were Bif. pseudolongum positive / E. coli negative while only 10 % (St-Marcellin) and 3 % (Brie) were Bif. pseudolongum negative / E. coli positive. Conclusions: The increase of total bifidobacteria during ripening in Marcellin’s process does not allow their use as fecal indicator. The presence of Bif. pseudolongum along the processes defined a contamination from animal origin since this species is predominant in cow dung and has never been isolated in human feces. Bif. pseudolongum was more sensitive as an indicator than E. coli along the two different cheese processes. Bif. pseudolongum should be used as fecal indicator rather than E. coli to assess the quality of raw milk and raw milk cheeses.BIFI

Discrimination between Bifidobacterium species from human and animal origin by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism

peer reviewedBifidobacteria are normal intestinal flora in humans and animals. The genus Bifidobacterium includes 31 species of significant host specificity. Taking into account their properties, we proposed to use bifidobacteria as fecal contamination indicators. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism on the 16S rDNA gene was used to distinguish the different Bifidobacterium species. Sixty-four strains belonging to 13 different species were differentiated from animal or human origin using one or two restriction enzymes. Moreover, the primers used were specifics of the Bifidobacterium genus. Therefore, this method made it possible to determine both the presence of bifidobacteria in a sample and its origin of contamination

Photodynamic therapy and cholangiocarcinoma: where are we now?

Le cholangiocarcinome non résécable reste grevé d’une mortalité très élevée avec une survie ne dépassant pas quelques mois. Cette mortalité est essentiellement due aux phénomènes septiques qui sont la conséquence de la cholestase chronique due à l’obstruction des voies biliaires. La priorité chez ces malades est donc de réaliser le meilleur drainage biliaire possible. Le traitement endoscopique ou radiologique palliatif par insertion de prothèse(s) biliaire(s) offre un bon drainage biliaire dont le bénéfice est souvent malheureusement transitoire, avec une récidive des symptômes au bout de quelques mois. La photothérapie dynamique (PDT) réalisée par voie endoscopique associée à l’insertion de prothèse(s) biliaire(s) représente une nouvelle alternative dont les résultats très encourageants méritent une attention toute particulière dans ce contexte où les résultats des traitements oncologiques classiques tels que la radiothérapie et la chimiothérapie restent décevants. Récemment, deux études randomisées et contrôlées ont montré un gain de survie significatif lorsque le drainage endoscopique par stent est associé à la PDT, passant de 3 à 7 mois à 16 à 21 mois de survie médiane. Ces bons résultats doivent maintenant être confirmés par de plus larges études randomisées, mais positionnent, d’ores et déjà, la PDT comme un « standard » à considérer dans le traitement palliatif du cholangiocarcinome non résécable.Unresectable cholangicarcinoma is associated with a very high mortality, with an overall survival of only few months. This mortality is mainly due to chronic angiocholitis which is the consequence of the biliary tract obstruction. In these patients, priority must be given to the best biliary drainage to avoid septic complications. Endoscopic or radiologic biliary drainage by plastic or metallic stent offers a good biliary drainage but is unfortunately associated with a recurrence of symptoms within a few months.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) performed by endoscopy associated with the insertion of biliary stents is a new treatment with very good results, which deserve a very special attention in unresetable cholangiocarcinoma, given the disappointing results of classical oncologic treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Recently, two randomized and controlled studies showed a significant benefit on overall survival when biliary drainage by stenting is associated with PDT, with an overall survival evaluated to 3-7 months vs 16-21 months. These good results must be confirmed by larger studies, but they already position PDT as a “standard” to be considered in the palliative treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma