Spécification d'un interpréteur de mini-langage algotithmique pour l'initiaition à la programmation

L'emploi des outils habituels de développement (éditeurs, compilateurs, etc.) dans l'initiation à l'algorithmique conduit à de nombreuses difficultés pratiques, parfois insurmontables par les étudiants. En réponse à ce problème, cet article présente les spécifications et les premiers éléments d'analyse d'un logiciel "d'aide à l'apprentissage de l'algorithmique" qui est en cours de réalisation à l'I.U.T. de Vannes.Conçu dans un objectif de formation professionnelle, ce logiciel didactique doit servir de prototype pour l'étude et la réalisation ultérieures d'outils modulaires d'aide au développement dans un contexte de recherche de Qualité Industrielle

Effects of a four-year health systems intervention on the use of maternal and infant health services: results from a programme evaluation in two districts of rural Chad

BACKGROUND: Attendance of maternal and infant care services in rural Chad are consistently low. Our study aimed to assess the use of antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) services, health facility delivery and infant health services after 4 years of a health systems intervention for improving the infrastructure, supplies, training and sensitization for maternal and infant health in two districts of rural Chad. METHODS: Data from a repeated cross-sectional household survey conducted in Yao and Danamadji in 2015 and in 2018 were analyzed. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling methodology was applied to achieve a representative sample of the rural settled and mobile population groups in the study area. A generalized linear model was applied to determine the health care utilization rates. Multivariate regression models were used to assess the association between the programme intervention and utilization outcomes of selected maternal and infant health services. RESULTS: Complete datasets were available for 1284 households at baseline. The endline analysis included 1175 households with complete survey data. The use of at least one ANC amongst pregnant women increased in both settled communities (from 80% in 2015 to 90% in 2018) and amongst mobile pastoralist communities (from 48% in 2015 to 56% in 2018). The rate of home delivery among settled communities and mobile pastoralists changed little between baseline and endline and remained high for both population groups. Individuals that were covered by the health systems intervention were however significantly more likely to attend ANC and less likely to give birth at home. PNC services only showed improvements amongst the settled communities (of 30%). Infants' reported health outcomes and vaccination coverage considerably improved; the latter especially among mobile pastoralist (from 15% in 2015 to 84% in 2018). CONCLUSION: A combination of health systems strengthening interventions was associated with an increased use of certain maternal and infant health services. However, to facilitate equitable access to and use of health care services in particular in times of increased vulnerability and by certain population groups in hard-to-reach areas, reinforced health education and culturally adapted communication strategies, including gender-specific messaging will be needed over a sustained period

Conformational Plasticity of proNGF

Nerve Growth Factor is an essential protein that supports neuronal survival during development and influences neuronal function throughout adulthood, both in the central and peripheral nervous system. The unprocessed precursor of NGF, proNGF, seems to be endowed with biological functions distinct from those of the mature protein, such as chaperone-like activities and apoptotic and/or neurotrophic properties. We have previously suggested, based on Small Angle X-ray Scattering data, that recombinant murine proNGF has features typical of an intrinsically unfolded protein. Using complementary biophysical techniques, we show here new evidence that clarifies and widens this hypothesis through a detailed comparison of the structural properties of NGF and proNGF. Our data provide direct information about the dynamic properties of the pro-peptide and indicate that proNGF assumes in solution a compact globular conformation. The N-terminal pro-peptide extension influences the chemical environment of the mature protein and protects the protein from proteolytic digestion. Accordingly, we observe that unfolding of proNGF involves a two-steps mechanism. The distinct structural properties of proNGF as compared to NGF agree with and rationalise a different functional role of the precursor

Influence des ions Fe

L'utilisation de canalisations anciennes non revêtues en acier ou en fonte entraîne l'augmentation de la teneur en fer de l'eau véhiculée. De même, dans les installations récentes, des émissions de fer restent possibles dans des zones dégradées où peuvent se produire des corrosions localisées. La corrosion du fer et de la fonte se fait sous la forme d'ions Fe2+. Or, dans la plupart des eaux naturelles et industrielles, les teneurs en oxygène sont suffisantes pour que ces ions Fe2+ s'oxydent, avec des cinétiques variables, en ions Fe3+. Ces derniers, aux pH habituels des eaux, sont quasi insolubles. Ils précipitent donc très rapidement sous forme de FeOOH colloïdal, généralement amorphe. Ce FeOOH peut, soit rester en suspension, soit contribuer à former des produits de corrosion. Dans la pratique on a donc cohabitation d'ions Fe2+ et de précipités de Fe00H. Le présent travail montre que si l'on prend soin d'introduire des ions Fe2+, de manière continue, par corrosion (lente) de fer, ces ions jouent un rôle accélérateur dans la cinétique de germination-croissance de la CaCO3. L'entartrage se trouve ainsi favorisé à cause de l'augmentation du pouvoir entartrant de l'eau. La comparaison des résultats obtenus sur une eau d'origine superficielle et sur une eau d'origine souterraine permet de conclure que l'effet du fer est beaucoup plus important dans le cas de l'eau superficielle, plus riche en matières organiques, que dans le cas de l'eau souterraine, même si, dans tous les cas, le ferII joue un rôle accélérateur de la précipitation de CaCO3

SUR LA MESURE DIRECTE DU DÉBIT DE FILTRATION CHEZ LES MOLLUSQUES LAMELLIBRANCHES

International audienc

SUR LA MESURE DIRECTE DU DÉBIT DE FILTRATION CHEZ LES MOLLUSQUES LAMELLIBRANCHES

International audienc

Chymotrypsin adsorption on Montmorillonite: Enzymatic activity and kinetic FTIR structural analysis

International audienc