Le chemin Vers l’optimum écotouristique : Cas du territoire touristique Atlas et Vallées

Technological change which modifies the deep sources of tourism demand also occurs at the supply level by modifying the production functions of goods, services and functional systems. This research aims to evaluate the capacity of ecotourism projects established in the Atlas and Valley territory (tourist destination of Ouarzazate), to achieve an optimal situation, making it possible to reconcile the four structuring metaprinciples of ecotourism : the promotion of environmental conservation, the equitable contribution to economic development, the consideration and response to the needs of host communities, and the generation of a new, authentic and responsible tourist experience. This work was carried out in two stages : a first phase which made it possible, through semi-structured interviews carried out with 23 tourism experts, to identify the degree of importance given by the stakeholders of ecotourism activity to each metaprinciple of said activity. A second phase, based on the opinion of experts, managers and representatives of civil society, is dedicated to identifying the measurement indicators for each meta-principle, using the NVIVO data processing software, then proceeding to the evaluation of the capacity of ecotourism projects implemented at the destination of Ouarzazate to achieve the optimum using the DPSIR model. The results of this study seek to highlight the way in which the notion of ecotourism is understood by those involved in this activity, since each actor gives more importance to a metaprinciple according to their own interests with regard to this new form of alternative tourism. The DPSIR model allowed us to get closer to the optimal situation allowing each ecotourism project implemented in Ouarzazate to reconcile the economic objective of this activity, with the social, environmental, architectural and ethical objectives. This study will serve as a road map allowing, firstly, future researchers to generalize it by seeking the optimum for ecotourism projects or those of sustainable tourism implemented in other tourist territories in Morocco, and then to decision-makers to put in place action plans concerning the development of this activity in a sustainable spirit.   Keywords:  Ecotourism, Heritage, Optimum, sustainable territory development. JEL Classification : L83, Z20 Paper type: Empirical researchLe changement technologique qui modifie les sources profondes de la demande de tourisme intervient aussi au niveau de l’offre en modifiant les fonctions de production des biens, services et systèmes fonctionnels. La présente recherche tend à évaluer la capacité des projets écotouristiques implantés au niveau du territoire Atlas et Vallée (destination touristique d’Ouarzazate), à atteindre une situation optimale, permettant de concilier les quatre métaprincipes structurants de l’écotourisme : la valorisation de la conservation de l’environnement, la contribution équitable au développement économique, la prise en compte et réponse aux besoins des communautés hôtes, et la génération d’une expérience touristique nouvelle, authentique et responsable. Ce travail s’est déroulé en deux étapes : une première phase qui a permis, à travers des entretiens semi-directifs réalisés auprès de 23 experts en tourisme, de dégager le degré d’importance accordé par les parties prenantes de l’activité écotouristique à chaque métaprincipe de ladite activité. Une seconde phase, en se basant sur l’avis des experts, des responsables et des représentants de la société civile, est dédié à dégager les indicateurs de mesure de chaque métaprincipe, en faisant appel au logiciel de traitement de données NVIVO, puis procéder à l’évaluation de la capacité des projets écotouristiques implantés à la destination d’Ouarzazate d’atteindre l’optimum en utilisant le modèle DPSIR. Les résultats de cette étude cherchent à mettre le point sur la manière à laquelle la notion d’écotourisme est appréhendée par les intervenants de cette activité, puisque chaque acteur accorde plus d’importance à un métaprincipe selon ses propres intérêts vis-à-vis à cette nouvelle forme de tourisme alternatif. Le modèle DPSIR nous a permis de se rapprocher de la situation optimale permettant à chaque projet écotouristique implanté à Ouarzazate de concilier l’objectif économique de cette activité, à l’objectif social, environnemental, architectural et éthique. La présente étude servira en tant que feuille de route permettant, d’abord, aux futurs chercheurs de la généraliser en cherchant l’optimum pour les projets écotouristiques ou ceux du tourisme durable implanté au niveau des autres territoires touristiques au Maroc, et ensuite aux décideurs de mettre en place les plans d’action concernant le développement de cette activité dans un esprit durable.    Mots-clés : Écotourisme, Patrimoine, Optimum, Développement territorial durable. Classification JEL : L83, Z20 Type de l’article : Recherche empiriqu

Risk Factors for and Clinical Outcome of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Peri-Urban West-African Birth Cohort

BACKGROUND: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most prevalent congenital infection worldwide. Epidemiology and clinical outcomes are known to vary with socio-economic background, but few data are available from developing countries, where the overall burden of infectious diseases is frequently high. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: As part of an ongoing birth cohort study in The Gambia among term infants, urine samples were collected at birth and tested by PCR for the presence of CMV DNA. Risk factors for transmission and clinical outcome were assessed, including placental malaria infection. Babies were followed up at home monthly for morbidity and anthropometry, and at one year of age a clinical evaluation was performed. The prevalence of congenital CMV infection was 5.4% (40/741). A higher prevalence of hepatomegaly was the only significant clinical difference at birth. Congenitally infected children were more often first born babies (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-13.7), more frequently born in crowded compounds (adjusted OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.0-8.3) and active placental malaria was more prevalent (adjusted OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.0-8.4). These associations were corrected for maternal age, bed net use and season of birth. During the first year of follow up, mothers of congenitally infected children reported more health complaints for their child. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, the prevalence of congenital CMV among healthy neonates was much higher than previously reported in industrialised countries, and was associated with active placental malaria infection. There were no obvious clinical implications during the first year of life. The effect of early life CMV on the developing infant in the Gambia could be mitigated by environmental factors, such as the high burden of other infections.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Sélection des répertoires idiotypiques dans les réponses immunes.

Doctorat en Sciencesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

In vivo and in vitro assessment of B-B cell interactions: Inhibition of proliferation and antibody production of the CRIA B cells mediated by the surface immunoglobulins of anti-CRIA B cells

In this work we have assessed the effect of cell surface anti-immunoglobulin (Ig) of anti-idiotypic B cells on their idiotypic counterparts in vivo and in vitro, as a surrogate for soluble anti-surface Ig, using the well-characterized anti-arsonate system. The response of A/J mice against the hapten arsonate coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (ARS-KLH) is dominated by a closely related family of antibodies sharing the same determinant, named the CRIA idiotype. We show herein that a massive induction of anti-CRIA B cells, subsequent to immunization with the mAb 3665 (CRIA+, arsonate binding) coupled to KLH, mediated a strong and long-lasting inhibition of this dominant oligoclonal response to arsonate. The titer of anti-arsonate antibodies remained, however, unchanged. Adoptive transfers to x-irradiated syngeneic mice showed that anti-CRIA-producing B cells have a direct effect on induction of inhibition. This was supported by the in vitro data where irradiated anti-CRIA B cells could induce inhibition of both antibody production and mitogenesis of their counterparts, CRIA B cells. This inhibitory effect could be decreased when the surface anti-surface Ig were hidden by the 3665 Fab fragments but not by anti-MHC class II antibodies. These interactions between CRIA and anti-CRIA B cells were solely Igh restricted and the inhibition was likely initiated by hyperaggregation of surface Ig. The presence of ARS-KLH-primed T cells in vitro could prevent the growth inhibition but not the suppression of antibody production. A similar profile was noticed in vitro for soluble polyclonal rabbit anti-CRIA Ab. All together, our data suggest that a negative signaling in B cells may be initiated by surface Ig of their idiotypic partners subsequent to a strong cross-linking of their surface Ig receptors.SCOPUS: ar.jFLWINinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Human gamma delta T cells induce dendritic cell maturation.

gamma delta T cells are known to be involved in the innate immune defenses against infectious microorganisms. Herein, we considered that gamma delta T cells could also influence adaptative immunity by interacting with dendritic cells (DC) in the early phase of the immune response. To investigate this hypothesis, gamma delta T cells isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers were cocultured with autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cells, which were subsequently analyzed for their expression of key surface molecules and for their production of IL-12. First, we found that gamma delta T cells induced the upregulation of HLA-DR, CD86, and CD83 on DC. This effect did not require cell to cell contact and could be blocked by a neutralizing anti-TNF antibody. We then observed that gamma delta T cells activated by the synthetic phosphoantigen bromohydrin pyrophosphate (BrHPP) induced the production of IL-12 (p40) and IL-12 (p70) by DC, an effect that involved IFN-gamma production. The relevance of this finding to DC function was demonstrated by the increased production of IFN-gamma by alloreactive T cells when stimulated in a mixed leucocyte reaction with DC preincubated with activated gamma delta T cells. We conclude that gamma delta T cell activation might result in DC maturation and thereby in enhanced alpha beta T cell responses.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Impaired antigen-presenting cell function contributes to T-cell hyporesponsiveness in stable lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of stable renal or cardiac transplant recipients were previously shown to respond to allogeneic cells but not to soluble protein antigens. The aim of the present study was to assess the T-cell and antigen-presenting cell (APC) functions of stable lung transplant (LT) recipients. METHODS: We obtained PBMC from 38 stable LT recipients. PBMC from healthy volunteers served as controls. PBMC were stimulated with either anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, allogeneic PBMC, or tetanus toxoid (TT). T-cell activation was assessed by determination of interleukin (IL)-2 levels in culture supernatants; in some experiments, interferon-y levels were also determined. Patients' APC function was tested in a mixed leukocyte reaction using patients' PBMC as stimulators. The expression of class II MHC, B7.2, and CD40 molecules on patients' APC was determined by flow cytometry, and their production of IL-10 and IL-12 at the basal state and upon CD40 ligation was also measured. RESULTS: Patients' T cells produced normal amounts of IL-2 in response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and allogeneic PBMC. In contrast, the response of memory T cells to TT was severely blunted both in terms of IL-2 and interferon-y production. Patients' PBMC were poor stimulators in mixed leukocyte reaction, and class II MHC expression on patients' monocytes was significantly reduced. Patients' APC presented a modest but significant increase in basal IL-10 production and produced significantly less IL-12 upon CD40 ligation than control APC. CONCLUSIONS: T cells from stable LT recipients respond normally to stimuli that do not depend on autologous APC. The major impairment in the T-cell response to TT is caused by APC dysfunction, which involves decreased class II MHC expression and deficient IL-12 synthesis.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe