Approche décisionnelle géospatiale et multicritère dans l’identification des zones potentielles de recharge des eaux souterraines : cas du bassin versant du Mayo Bocki au Nord Cameroun

La présente étude a été effectuée pour déterminer les zones potentielles de recharge des eaux souterraines. Pour ce faire, la démarche  méthodologique était basée sur l’analyse multicritère associée aux techniques géospatiales. Les données utilisées étaient entre autres les images  satellitaires, les fonds cartographiques, les données pluviométriques et les niveaux statiques. Ces données ont permis d’exprimer sous forme de  carte thématique les facteurs régissant la recharge (pente, drainage, lithologie, fracturation, sol, pluviométrie et occupation du sol). L’analyse de  sensibilité par suppression d’un paramètre a permis d’établir l’ordre d’influence suivant : Lit > Sol > AACH > Df > Pl > Pe > Dd > OS. Le croisement de  tous ces paramètres après pondération a conduit à l’élaboration de la carte qui montre que les zones à ort potentiel occupent 3 % de la zone d’étude  pendant que les zones de faible à faible potentialité sont de l’ordre de 58 % dans le bassin. Les zones à potentialité moyenne quant à elles  représentent 39%. Ce support cartographique constitue indéniablement un outil d’aide à la décision pour les gestionnaires de l’eau.   This study was carried out to determine potential groundwater recharge areas. To do this, the methodological approach was based on multi-criteria  analysis associated with geospatial techniques. The data used were, among others, satellite images, base maps, rainfall data and static levels. These  data made it possible to express in the form of a thematic map the factors governing the recharge (slope, drainage, lithology, fracturing, soil,  rainfall and land use). The sensitivity analysis by deletion of a parameter made it possible to establish the following order of influence: Lit > Sol  > AACH > Df > Pl > Pe > Dd > OS. The crossing of all these parameters after weighting led to the development of the map of potential recharge zones  which revealed that the zones with high potential occupy 3% of the study zone while the zones with low to low potentiality are around 58% in  the basin. Areas with average potential represent 39%. This cartographic support is undeniably a decision-making tool for water managers

DETERMINATION OF THERMAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PALMYRA WOOD (BORASSUS AETHIOPUM MART.) FROM MALFANA IN CHAD

ABSTRACT Palmyra or Borassus aethiopum Mart is a timber that is used in th

СТАН ЕЛЕКТРОЛІТНОГО БАЛАНСУ КРОВІ У ПАЦІЄНТІВ ІЗ ХРОНІЧНОЮ ХВОРОБОЮ НИРОК VD СТАДІЇ, ЯКІ ЛІКУЮТЬСЯ ПРОГРАМНИМ ГЕМОДІАЛІЗОМ

The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by impaired metabolism of blood electrolytes in two forms – hyperelectrolytemia or hypoelectrolytemia. The aim – to assess the balance of biostructural and bioelectrolytic elements of blood P, Ca, K, Na, Mg, Cl in relation to the function of the parathyroid glands in patients with CKD VD stage, who are treated with program hemodialysis. Material and Methods. 30 patients with CKD VD stage were examined. The state of electrolyte balance was assessed by K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl and biostructural element P in relation to the level of intact parathyroid hormone. Results. Among the examined patients revealed signs of secondary hyperparathyroiditis of varying severity, electrolyte imbalance K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl and biostructural element P in the blood. Of particular clinical importance is the tendency to form hypercalcemia on the background of hypomagnesemia – predictors of cardiovascular events. Conclusion. In more than 80 % of cases of patients with stage VD chronic kidney disease treated with programmed hemodialysis, the development of electrolyte imbalance K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl and biostructural element P is typical. The severity of their imbalance is associated with the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism.Прогрессирование хронической болезни почек характеризуется нарушением метаболизма электролитов крови в двух формах – гиперэлектролитемии или гипоэлектролитемии. Цель – оценить состояние баланса биоструктурных и биоэлектролитичных элементов крови Р, Сa, К, Na, Mg, Cl во взаимосвязи с функцией паращитовидных желез у больных хронической болезнью почек VD стадии, которые лечатся программным гемодиализом. Материал и методы. Обследовано 30 больных хронической болезнью почек VD стадии. Состояние электролитного баланса в крови оценивали по показателям K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl и биоструктурного элемента Р во взаимосвязи с уровнем интактного паратгормона. Результаты. У обследованных больных выявлены признаки вторичного гиперпаратиреоидита различной степени тяжести, дисбаланс электролитов K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl и биоструктурного элемента Р в крови. Особое клиническое значение имеет тенденция к формированию гиперкальциемии на фоне гипомагниемии – предикторов сердечно-сосудистых событий. Вывод. Для более 80 % больных хронической болезнью почек VD стадии, которые лечатся программным гемодиализом, характерно развитие дисбаланса электролитов K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl и биоструктурного элемента Р. Тяжесть нарушений их баланса ассоциируется с развитием вторичного гиперпаратиреоидита.Прогресування хронічної хвороби нирок (ХХН) характеризується порушенням метаболізму електролітів крові в двох формах – гіперелектролітемії або гіпоелектролітемії. Мета – оцінити стан балансу біоструктурних та біоелектролітичних елементів крові Р, Сa, К, Na, Mg, Cl у взаємозв’язку із функцією паращитоподібних залоз у хворих на ХХН VD стадії, які лікуються програмним гемодіалізом. Матеріал і методи. Обстежено 30 хворих на ХХН VD стадії. Стан електролітного балансу оцінювали за показниками K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl та біоструктурного елемента Р у взаємозв’язку з рівнем інтактного паратгормону. Результати. В обстежених хворих виявлено ознаки вторинного гіперпаратиреоїдиту різного ступеня тяжкості, дисбаланс електролітів K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl та біоструктурного елемента Р у крові. Особливе клінічне значення має тенденція до формування гіперкальціємії на тлі гіпомагніємії – предикторів серцево-судинних подій. Висновок. Для понад 80 % хворих на хронічну хворобу нирок VD стадії, які лікуються програмним гемодіалізом, характерним є розвиток дисбалансу електролітів K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl та біоструктурного елемента Р. Тяжкість порушень їх балансу асоціюється із розвитком вторинного гіперпаратиреоїдиту

Dysregulation of Cytokine Response in Canadian First Nations Communities: Is There an Association with Persistent Organic Pollutant Levels?

In vitro and animal studies report that some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) trigger the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Whether POP exposure is associated with a dysregulation of cytokine response remains to be investigated in humans. We studied the strength of association between plasma POP levels and circulating cytokines as immune activation markers. Plasma levels of fourteen POPs and thirteen cytokines were measured in 39 Caucasians from a comparator sample in Québec City (Canada) and 72 First Nations individuals from two northern communities of Ontario (Canada). Caucasians showed significantly higher levels of organochlorine insecticides (β-HCH, p,p′-DDE and HCB) compared to First Nations. Conversely, First Nations showed higher levels of Mirex, Aroclor 1260, PCB 153, PCB 170, PCB 180 and PCB 187 compared to Caucasians. While there was no difference in cytokine levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-22 between groups, First Nations had significantly greater average levels of IFNγ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-5, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-17A, TNFα and TNFβ levels compared to Caucasians. Among candidate predictor variables (age, body mass index, insulin resistance and POP levels), high levels of PCBs were the only predictor accounting for a small but significant effect of observed variance (∼7%) in cytokine levels. Overall, a weak but significant association is detected between persistent organochlorine pollutant exposure and elevated cytokine levels. This finding augments the already existing information that environmental pollution is related to inflammation, a common feature of several metabolic disorders that are known to be especially prevalent in Canada's remote First Nations communities

An evidence-based review of creative problem solving tools: a practitioner’s resource

Creative problem solving (CPS) requires solutions to be useful and original. Typically, its operations span problem finding, idea generation and critical evaluation. The benefits of training CPS have been extolled in education, industry and government with evidence showing it can enhance performance. However, while such training schemes work, less is known about the specific tools used. Knowing whether a particular tool works or not would provide practitioners with a valuable resource, leading to more effective training schemes, and a better understanding of the processes involved. A comprehensive review was undertaken examining the empirical support of tools used within CPS. Despite the surprising lack of research focusing on the use and success of specific tools some evidence exists to support the effectiveness of a small set. Such findings present practitioners with a potential resource that could be used in a stand-alone setting or possibly combined to create more effective training programmes

Ratunku! or just tunku! : evidence for the reliability and concurrent validity of the Language Use Inventory : LUI-Polish

Purpose: To date, there is no tool for assessing early pragmatic development of Polish-speaking children. This study aimed to adapt to Polish a standardized parent report measure, the Language Use Inventory (LUI; O’Neill, 2009, in order to enable cross-cultural comparisons and to use the LUI-Polish to screen for pragmatic development in children 18-47 months of age. We concentrated on the sociocultural and functional adaptation of LUI and aimed to demonstrate its reliability, developmental sensitivity, and concurrent validity. Method: Parents completed an online version of LUIPolish, longitudinally at 3 time points (when the child was 20, 32, and 44 months old). In addition, parents completed the Polish adaptations of the Questionnaire for Communication and Early Language at 22 months and the Language Development Survey at 24 months. Children’s spontaneous speech was assessed at 24 months, and their expressive and receptive vocabulary was assessed at 36 months. Results: All 3 parts of the LUI-Polish (Gestures, Words, and Sentences) showed very good levels of internal consistency at each time point. Significant correlations were observed between all parts of the LUI-Polish at all 3 measurement time points. The expected developmental trajectory was observed for boys and girls providing evidence of its developmental sensitivity for children between the ages of 2 and 4 years: an increase with age in the total score (due to an increase in Words and Sentences) and a decrease in Gestures. Supporting concurrent validity, significant correlations were found between children’s performance on (a) the LUI-Polish at 20 months and the Questionnaire for Communication and Early Language at 22 months as well as the Language Development Survey and spontaneous speech measures at 24 months and (b) the LUI-Polish at 32 months and the 2 measures of vocabulary comprehension and production at 36 months. Conclusion: The Polish adaptation of the LUI demonstrated good psychometric properties that provide a sound basis for cross-cultural comparisons and further research toward norming of the LUI-Polish. Moreover, the expected developmental trajectory in the pragmatic development of Polish children was observed

Ratings of age of acquisition of 299 words across 25 languages: Is there a cross-linguistic order of words?

We present a new set of subjective age-of-acquisition (AoA) ratings for 299 words (158 nouns, 141 verbs) in 25 languages from five language families (Afro-Asiatic: Semitic languages; Altaic: one Turkic language: Indo-European: Baltic, Celtic, Germanic, Hellenic, Slavic, and Romance languages; Niger-Congo: one Bantu language; Uralic: Finnic and Ugric languages). Adult native speakers reported the age at which they had learned each word. We present a comparison of the AoA ratings across all languages by contrasting them in pairs. This comparison shows a consistency in the orders of ratings across the 25 languages. The data were then analyzed (1) to ascertain how the demographic characteristics of the participants influenced AoA estimations and (2) to assess differences caused by the exact form of the target question (when did you learn vs. when do children learn this word); (3) to compare the ratings obtained in our study to those of previous studies; and (4) to assess the validity of our study by comparison with quasi-objective AoA norms derived from the MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventories (MB-CDI). All 299 words were judged as being acquired early (mostly before the age of 6 years). AoA ratings were associated with the raters’ social or language status, but not with the raters’ age or education. Parents reported words as being learned earlier, and bilinguals reported learning them later. Estimations of the age at which children learn the words revealed significantly lower ratings of AoA. Finally, comparisons with previous AoA and MB-CDI norms support the validity of the present estimations. Our AoA ratings are available for research or other purposes

COVID-19 first lockdown as a window into language acquisition: Associations between caregiver-child activities and vocabulary gains

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting closure of daycare centers worldwide, led to unprecedented changes in children’s learning environments. This period of increased time at home with caregivers, with limited access to external sources (e.g., daycares) provides a unique opportunity to examine the associations between the caregiver-child activities and children’s language development. The vocabularies of 1742 children aged8-36 months across 13 countries and 12 languages were evaluated at the beginning and end of the first lockdown period in their respective countries(from March to September 2020). Children who had less passive screen exposure and whose caregivers read more to them showed larger gains in vocabulary development during lockdown, after controlling for SES and other caregiver-child activities. Children also gained more words than expected (based on normative data) during lockdown; either caregivers were more aware of their child’s development or vocabulary development benefited from intense caregiver-child interaction during lockdown

Nail lacquer films’ surface energies and in vitro water-resistance and adhesion do not predict their in vivo residence

The in vivo residence of nail lacquers (which are ideal topical drug carriers for the treatment of nail diseases) determines their frequency of application, and is thereby expected to influence patient adherence and success of treatment. Thus in vitro measurements to indicate lacquers’ in vivo residence are routinely conducted during formulation development. However the literature on in vitro-in vivo correlations is severely limited. Thus, the aim of the work discussed in this paper was to investigate correlations between in vivo residence and in vitro film resistance to water, in vitro film adhesion and surface energy of lacquer films. In vivo measurements were conducted on fingernails in six volunteers. Seven commercially available nail lacquers were tested in commonly-used measurements. Correlations between in vivo residence and in vitro water resistance and adhesion were found to be extremely poor. The surface energies of the lacquer films (which were between 33 and 39 mJ/m2) were also not predictive of in vivo residence. High density polyethylene (HDPE) sheet – whose surface energy was determined to be similar to that of the human nailplate – was found to be a suitable model for the nailplate (when investigating surface energy) and was used in a number of experiments

EQ-5D in Central and Eastern Europe : 2000-2015

Objective: Cost per quality-adjusted life year data are required for reimbursement decisions in many Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. EQ-5D is by far the most commonly used instrument to generate utility values in CEE. This study aims to systematically review the literature on EQ-5D from eight CEE countries. Methods: An electronic database search was performed up to July 1, 2015 to identify original EQ-5D studies from the countries of interest. We analysed the use of EQ-5D with respect to clinical areas, methodological rigor, population norms and value sets. Results: We identified 143 studies providing 152 country-specific results with a total sample size of 81,619: Austria (n=11), Bulgaria (n=6), Czech Republic (n=18), Hungary (n=47), Poland (n=51), Romania (n=2), Slovakia (n=3) and Slovenia (n=14). Cardiovascular (20%), neurologic (16%), musculoskeletal (15%) and endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases (14%) were the most frequently studied clinical areas. Overall 112 (78%) of the studies reported EQ VAS results and 86 (60%) EQ-5D index scores, of which 27 (31%) did not specify the applied tariff. Hungary, Poland and Slovenia have population norms. Poland and Slovenia also have a national value set. Conclusions: Increasing use of EQ-5D is observed throughout CEE. The spread of health technology assessment activities in countries seems to be reflected in the number of EQ-5D studies. However, improvement in informed use and methodological quality of reporting is needed. In jurisdictions where no national value set is available, in order to ensure comparability we recommend to apply the most frequently used UK tariff. Regional collaboration between CEE countries should be strengthened