The Nothombian Metaphor: A Revealing Game of Detour

The metaphor perfectly serves the nothombian project of bringing to the pinnacle his favorite themes namely childhood and writing However this figure is not only reversible but also turns out to be plural The act of love writing and murder end up being interchangeable The metaphor is surprising in that it confuses the reader while ensuring his correct interpretation of the tex

Effects of Gamma Radiation on the Structural, Optical, and Photocatalytic Properties of TiO₂ Thin Films and Nanostructures for Photovoltaic Applications

In this chapter, we delve into a comprehensive discussion of the complex impact of gamma rays on materials of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and their practical use in photovoltaic contexts. Our goal is to gain a better grasp of the dynamic interplay between gamma irradiation and the performance of TiO2 for better utilization in photocatalysis. We aim to explore how the employment of gamma-treated TiO2 in photovoltaic applications can lead to amplified solar cell effectiveness and endurance. As we strive to enhance sustainable energy initiatives and extend the range of innovative prospects for TiO2 materials, we also scrutinize the fundamental processes that drive these developments. Additionally, we contemplate prospective avenues for research such as identifying optimal gamma-ray parameters, assessing the durability of treated TiO2, and studying the synergistic influence of combining gamma radiation with other treatments. Scientists and industrialists seeking to enrich the performance of TiO2 materials in solar energy endeavors can benefit from this chapter as a valuable reference

A Novel Approach for the Recognition of a wide Arabic Handwritten Word Lexicon

International audienceThis paper introduces a novel approach for the recognition of a wide vocabulary of Arabic handwritten words. Note that there is an essential difference between the global and analytic approaches in pattern recognition. While the global approach is limited to reduced vocabulary, the analytic approach succeeds to recognize a wide vocabulary but meets the problems of word segmentation especially for Arabic. Combining the neuronal approach with some linguistic characteristics of the Arabic, it is expected that we become able to recognize better and to handle a large vocabulary of Arabic handwritten words. The proposed approach invokes two transparent neuronal networks, TNN_1 and TNN_2, to respectively recognize roots, schemes and the elements of conjugation from the structural primitives of the words. The approach was evaluated using real examples from a data base established for this purpose. The results are promising, and suggestions for improvements are proposed

A Neural-Linguistic Approach for the Recognition of a Wide Arabic Word Lexicon

International audienceRecently, we have investigated the use of Arabic linguistic knowledge to improve the recognition of wide Arabic word lexicon. A neural-linguistic approach was proposed to mainly deal with canonical vocabulary of decomposable words derived from tri-consonant healthy roots. The basic idea is to factorize words by their roots and schemes. In this direction, we conceived two neural networks TNN_R and TNN_S to respectively recognize roots and schemes from structural primitives of words. The proposal approach achieved promising results. In this paper, we will focus on how to reach better results in terms of accuracy and recognition rate. Current improvements concern especially the training stage. It is about 1) to benefit from word letters order 2) to consider "sisters letters" (having same features), 3) to supervise networks behaviours, 4) to split up neurons to save letter occurrences and 5) to solve observed ambiguities. Considering theses improvements, experiments carried on 1500 sized vocabulary show a significant enhancement: TNN_R (resp. TNN_S) top4 has gone up from 77% to 85.8% (resp. from 65% to 97.9%). Enlarging the vocabulary from 1000 to 1700 by 100 words, again confirmed the results without altering the networks stability

Genetic Analysis of <b><i>TREM2</i></b> Variants in Tunisian Patients with Alzheimer&apos;s Disease

International audienc

Aspects electroneuromyographiques des traumatismes du plexus brachial

Introduction: L’électroneuromyogramme (ENMG) garde une place cruciale dans l’exploration du plexus brachial. L’objectif de cette étude était d’étudier les caractéristiques électroneuromyographiques des atteintes plexiques brachiales post-traumatiques et de déterminer les facteurs associés à la topographie et à la sévérité des lésions. Patients et méthodes: Une étude rétrospective a été réalisée dans le service de Neurologie du CHU RAZI incluant les patients adressés à l’unité d’électroneurophysiologie pour une atteinte traumatique du plexus brachial durant la période allant de janvier 2003 à juin 2018. Les données démographiques, cliniques et les résultats de l’ENMG ont été recueillis et analysés. La sévérité de la lésion a été évaluée selon la version modifiée de l’échelle de Dumitru et Wilbourn. Résultats: Nous avons colligé 36 plexopathies brachiales post traumatiques chez 35 patients (H/F = 30/5, âge moyen = 39,3 ans). L’ENMG a été réalisé 3 semaines après le traumatisme chez 91,3% des patients. Il a montré une conduction nerveuse altérée (97,2 %), un tracé neurogène (91,7 %) et des signes de dénervation (55,6 %). Le niveau lésionnel concernait les troncs primaires (66,7 %) et les troncs secondaires (33,3 %). Il était sans lien significatif avec la cause (p&gt;0,05). La lésion était sévère (61,1 %), modérée (36,1 %) et légère (2,8 %) sans association significative ni avec la cause ni avec le site lésionnel (p&gt;0,05). Conclusion: Notre étude a permis d’appuyer le rôle de l’ENMG dans l’étude de la plexopathie brachiale post traumatique. Elle a démontré que la topographie et la sévérité des lésions étaient indépendantes des étiologies du traumatisme. &nbsp; English title: Electroneuromyogram findings of traumatic brachial plexus injuries Background: Electroneuromyogram (ENMG) plays a crucial role in the exploration of the brachial plexus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electroneuromyographic characteristics of posttraumatic plexus brachial damage and to determine the factors associated with the topography and severity of the lesions. Patients and methods:&nbsp; A retrospective study was carried out in the Neurology Department of the RAZI University Hospital including patients referred to the electroneurophysiology unit for traumatic brachial plexus damage during the period from January 2003 to June 2018. Demographic, clinical and ENMG’s data results were collected and analyzed. The severity of the lesion was evaluated according to the modified version of the Dumitru and Wilbourn scale. Results:&nbsp; We collected 36 post-traumatic brachial plexopathies in 35 patients (M / F = 30/5, mean age = 39.3 years). ENMG was performed 3 weeks after trauma in 91.3% of patients. He showed impaired nerve conduction (97.2%), a neurogenic trace (91.7%) and signs of denervation (55.6%). The lesion level concerned the primary trunks (66.7%) and the secondary trunks (33.3%). It was not significantly related to the cause (p&gt; 0.05). The lesion was severe (61.1%), moderate (36.1%) and mild (2.8%) with no significant association with either the cause or the site of injury (p&gt; 0.05). Conclusion:&nbsp; Our study supported the role of ENMG in the study of post-traumatic brachial plexopathy. It demonstrated that the topography and the severity of the lesions were independent of the etiologies of the trauma. &nbsp

Ultrasound cervical length in predicting preterm birth

BackgroundPreterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and represents a major public health problem. It is associated with a 15–20 per cent mortality rate and remains responsible for 75 per cent of perinatal deaths in foetuses without anomalies.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of cervical length measured in the first trimester (11–14 Weeks of amenorrhea “WA”) and the second trimester (20–24 Weeks of amenorrhea” WA”) in an asymptomatic population of singleton pregnancies to assess the risk of spontaneous preterm birth compared to the digital assessment.Methods We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study involving 117 asymptomatic women with singleton pregnancies between January and December 2015.Results In our study, the clinical examination had a low positive predictive value and a low sensibility for screening women at risk of preterm delivery. Cervical length less than 35mm between 12–14WA and 30mm between 22–24WA predicts the occurrence of preterm birth with a high sensitivity (Se), and specificity (Sp).ConclusionWe conclude that ultrasound screening of preterm delivery is now highly recommended

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Textiles with biological activity via the grafting by cold plasma and the immobilization of bioactive molecules

L’intérêt des implants médicaux ne cesse de grandir et leur utilisation tend à s’étendre aux différents domaines de la chirurgie, en partie grâce à l’émergence de nouvelles techniques de modification de surface. Ainsi il est possible d’améliorer les propriétés des biomatériaux en vue d’une meilleure intégration dans les tissus vivants et prévenir les diverses complications liées à leur utilisation. Ceci permet à la fois de répondre aux attentes des chirurgiens, d’améliorer les conditions de guérison des patients suite à l’intervention, voire même d’apporter une activité thérapeutique à long terme au biomatériau en évitant la rechute, la thrombose, la restenose ou l’infection. C’est dans ce contexte que nous avons cherché à fonctionnaliser la surface de textiles en polyester (polyéthylène téréphtalate), matière très largement utilisée dans le domaine médical, par des molécules bioactives connues par leurs propriétés antibactérienne ou anti-thrombotique: le lysozyme, la gentamicine et l’héparine. L’idée développée dans ce travail de thèse fut de fixer dans un premier temps des fonctions acide carboxylique (-COOH) jouant le rôle d’«ancre» pour la fixation ultérieure des trois principes actifs. La première étape a donc consisté à greffer l’acide polyacrylique (PAA) par copolymérisation greffante assistée par traitement plasma froid, suivie dans un second temps, de la fixation des trois principes actifs, par liaisons physiques (ioniques) et/ou covalentes. L’étude a d’abord porté sur l’optimisation des paramètres de ces deux étapes du traitement via une investigation systématique et un plan d’expériences. Des techniques de caractérisations telles que la spectrophotométrie UV, l’analyse infrarouge IRTF, l’analyse thermique ATG, l’analyse par spectrométrie photoélectronique XPS, la goniométrie, la microscopie électronique à balayage MEB et des essais mécaniques ont montré l’évolution de la composition de la surface et de propriétés mécaniques des textiles au fil des différentes étapes. Des études biologiques par des tests de vitalité cellulaire, d’adhésion plaquettaire et de coagulation ainsi que différentes études microbiologiques ont pu montrer selon les différentes voies de modification choisies l’obtention de supports fonctionnalisés biocompatibles à efficacité intéressante pour des applications biomédicales.The interest in medical implants increases and their use spreads to different surgical domains partially thanks to the new techniques of surface modification. Therefore it is possible to improve the biomaterials properties in order to solve the problems liked with their integration in the living tissues and thereby to prevent the various complications related to their use. This approach allows to respond to the surgeons expectations, to improve the curing process of the patients and even to involve long term therapeutic activities to the biomaterial, thus preventing the release of the disease (such as thrombosis, restenosis, infection). In this context, we have attempted the functionalization of the surface of a polyester fabric (polyethylene terephtalate), widely used in medical field, by three bioactive molecules: lysozyme, gentamicin and heparin known for their antimicrobial or anti thrombotic properties. The concept was to graft polyacrylic acid (PAA) by graft polymerization induced by cold plasma technique, followed by the immobilization of the above mentioned molecules through physical and covalent links. We studied all the experimental parameters involved in the different processes and followed the properties of the obtained materials through the appropriate characterizations techniques, such as spectrophotometry UV, Infrared analysis IRTF, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), goniometry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and mechanical tests. Finally, biological studies such as cell vitality tests, platelets adhesion test and coagulation test in addition with various microbiological essays showed the evolution of the biological properties of the materials, depending on the path of their modification resulted in the development of a novel, biocompatible functionalized supports family with very interesting and attractive efficacy for biomedical applications

An Approach for Modeling and Formalizing SOA Design Patterns

11 pagesInternational audienceAlthough design patterns has become increasingly popular, most of them are presented in an informal way, which can give rise to ambiguity and may lead to their incorrect usage. Patterns proposed by the SOA design pattern community are described with informal visual notations. Modeling SOA design patterns with a standard formal notation contributes to avoid misunderstanding by software architects and helps endowing design methods with refinement approaches for mastering system architectures complexity. In this paper, we present a formal architecture-centric approach that aims, first, to model message-oriented SOA design patterns with the SoaML standard language, and second to formally specify these patterns at a high level of abstraction using the Event-B method. These two steps are performed before undertaking the effective coding of a design pattern providing correct by construction patternbased software architectures. Our approach is experimented through an example we present in this paper. We implemented our approach under the Rodin platform, which we use to prove model consistency