Measles in Democratic Republic of Congo: an outbreak description from Katanga, 2010--2011

BACKGROUND: The Democratic Republic of Congo experiences regular measles outbreaks. From September 2010, the number of suspected measles cases increased, especially in Katanga province, where Medecins sans Frontieres supported the Ministry of Health in responding to the outbreak by providing free treatment, reinforcing surveillance and implementing non-selective mass vaccination campaigns. Here, we describe the measles outbreak in Katanga province in 2010--2011 and the results of vaccine coverage surveys conducted after the mass campaigns. METHODS: The surveillance system was strengthened in 28 of the 67 health zones of the province and we conducted seven vaccination coverage surveys in 2011. RESULTS: The overall cumulative attack rate was 0.71% and the case fatality ratio was 1.40%.The attack rate was higher in children under 4 and decreased with age. This pattern was consistent across districts and time. The number of cases aged 10 years and older barely increased during the outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: Early investigation of the age distribution of cases is a key to understanding the epidemic, and should guide the vaccination of priority age groups

Etude du gonflement d'échantillons de marne de la formation géologique "Morne Delmas" en Haïti

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Study of the swelling properties of marl samples of the "Morne Delmas" geological formation using indirect and direct methods: Some effects of waste water on these properties

Several cases of cracks in buildings recorded in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince (Haiti) are due to the presenceof swelling clays in calcareous marls of the "Morne Delmas" formation which is a geological formationof the Pliocene. In addition, gaps in the sanitation system due to uncontrolled appropriation of land by a growing population have lead to pollution of soil by domestic and industrial sewage which accentuates the problem of swelling. This article presents the mineralogical and geotechnical methods to character ize the swelling of "Morne Delmas" marl and the impact of wastewater on it.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

A rheological approach to the mechanical behavior of some marls samples in Haiti

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Influence of the nature of pore fluid on rheological properties of some marl samples in Haiti

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Study of sulfur distribution in a NiPtAl bondcoat

International audienceThe degradation of coatings used to protect turbine blades is closely linked to spalling resistance, which depends on the stability of the protective oxide scale produced by oxidation of the bond coat. In the present study, TEM microstructural observations associated with SIMS analyses were performed, according to different experimental conditions, to describe the microstructural and chemical changes occurring in a NiPtAl bond coat deposited on a nickel based superalloy, as well as elemental segregation at the Al2O3/NiAlPt interface. Interfacial sulfur segregation is well known to be responsible for alumina spallation during exposure at high temperature, this phenomenon often being linked to cavity formation and growth. Sulfur detection was achieved using the SIMS technique which enables S segregation to be detected at the oxide/BC interface or within the bond coat layer. The purpose of the present study was to compare the degree of S segregation, at the scale/BC interface and within the NiPtAl alloy, for different Ni based alloys (two S contents) and different oxidation conditions (isothermal and cyclic). The results obtained showed that, at the TGO/BC interface, the concentration of voids depends on the initial sulfur content in the superalloy for isothermal treatments. On the contrary, after cyclic tests, interfacial sulfur enrichment increases while the interfacial porosity fraction remains constant. These results agree with the proposal that sulfur segregation occurs at both cavity surfaces and intact interfaces

TLR9 responses of B cells are repressed by intravenous immunoglobulin through the recruitment of phosphatase.

International audienceOne way for intravenous Ig (IVIg) to affect responses of the B cells might be to operate through their TLR7 and TLR9. We confirm the ability of TLR agonists to induce CD25 expression in B cells. For this to occur, sialylated Fc-gamma of IgG included in the IVIg preparation are required. As a result, IVIg suppresses TLR-induced production of the proinflammatory IL-6, but not that of the anti-inflammatory IL-10. That is, IVIg mimics the effects of the MyD88 inhibitor. Finally, as we previously showed that IVIg induces CD22 to recruit the inhibitory SHP-1, we established that this enzyme was also involved in IVIg-induced inhibition of TLR9 signaling. This is the first report to demonstrate such a mechanism underlying the negative impact of IVIg on B lymphocytes

Comment apprendre autrement ?: Exemple d'un jeu sérieux en production porcine, le simulateur pédagogique Engèle

Comment apprendre autrement ?. Exemple d'un jeu sérieux en production porcine, le simulateur pédagogique Engèl