Apport du SIG et de la télédétection dans la modélisation spatiale de la susceptibilité aux mouvements de terrain dans la région d’Al Hoceima, Rif Oriental, Maroc

L’évaluation du degré de susceptibilité aux mouvements de terrains est devenue une préoccupation majeure dans les terrains montagneux, elle oriente les efforts à entreprendre pour prévenir les catastrophes, minimiser les risques et gérer les conséquences. Les techniques d’analyse spatialisée par le système d'information géographique (SIG) et télédétection sont de plus en plus utilisées pour évaluer la susceptibilité des versants aux mouvements de terrain. Dans cette étude, la modélisation par un modèle probabiliste bivarié (théorie d’évidence) a été utilisé pour cartographier les zones susceptibles aux mouvements de terrains dans la région d’Al Hoceima (NE du Maroc). Le SIG est également utilisé pour apprécier la relation entre : (i) les mouvements des terrains et (ii) la distribution spatiale des facteurs causatifs, l’information relative à ces deux composantes a été dérivée des données de terrain, traitements d’imageries satellitaires et les documents cartographiques disponibles. Ces données ont été intégrées dans une base de données SIG avec d’autres paramètres issus des cartes géologiques, topographiques et des stations météorologiques. Cette phase de préparation a été suivie par un test de l’indépendance conditionnelle des facteurs causatifs par rapport aux mouvements de terrain survenus dans la zone. Les paramètres indépendants ont servi aux calculs des poids positifs, négatifs (W+,W-), et leurs contrastes (C). Finalement, les cartes de pondérations obtenues des différentes combinaisons ont été évaluées pour retenir la meilleur simulation des facteurs causatifs, sur ce, une série des tests de validation des résultats obtenus par l’analyse de la courbe ROC a été effectuée. Les résultats ont montrés que la combinaison qui regroupe les facteurs prédictifs : pente, exposition des versants, lithologie et densité de fracturation s’avère être la meilleure combinaison possible. Cette combinaison permet de prédire environ 70% des instabilités existants.Mots-clés: mouvement de terrain, théorie de l’évidence, la région d’Al Hoceima, SIG et télédétection. The use of GIS and remote sensing in spatial modeling of susceptibility to landslides in the region of Al Hoceima (Eastern Rif, Morocco)The evaluation of the degree of susceptibility to landslides has become a major concern in mountainous terrain, it directs the efforts to be undertaken to prevent disasters, mitigate risk and manage the consequences. The spatial analysis using Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques are increasingly used to assess the susceptibility to landslides. In this study, a bivariate probability model (theory of evidence or 'weights of evidence') coupled with GIS for mapping areas susceptible to landslides in the region of Al Hoceima (NE of Morocco) was used. GIS is also used to assess the relationship between the landslides and the spatial distribution of causative factors. The Information on these factors was derived from observational field data and available cartographic and remote sensed data. These data were integrated in a GIS database with other parameters derived from geological maps, topographical and climate measures stations of the study area. This preparation stage was followed by a test of conditional independence of the causative factors in relation to landslides occurred in the study area. Independent parameters were used for calculations of positive weight, negative weight (W +, W -), and contrast (C). Finally, the maps obtained from different combinations were evaluated in order to retain the best simulation of causative factors, for this, a series of tests to validate the results obtained by the ROC curve analysis was performed. The results showed that the following combination of predictive factors: slope, exposure, lithology and density prove the best combination. This combination predicts about 70% of existing instabilities.Keywords: landslides, weights of evidence, region of Al Hoceima, GIS and remote sensing

Systematic review and meta-analysis of tuberculosis in animals in Nigeria

Animal tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and chronic disease caused by mycobacteria belonging to theMycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in domestic and wild animals. MTBC strains infection has been confirmed in many animal species in Nigeria, including captive wildlife, cattle, dromedary camels, goats, and pigs. Despite widespread infection and the potential impact of the disease on public health, active surveillance and control strategies are absent in Nigeria. This study aimed to conduct the first comprehensive meta-analysis to assess the distribution of tuberculosis and analyze the potential moderators of infection in animals in Nigeria. Eligible studies (sixty-one (Cadmus et al., 2014) [61] prevalence and seven (Menzies and Neill, 2000) [7] case reports) were retrieved and included in the analysis. The analyses showed an overall pooled TB prevalence of 7.0% (95% CI: 6.0-8.0) comprising of infection distributed in cattle (8.0%, 95% CI: 7.0-8.0), goats (0.47%, 95% CI: 0-1.2), sheep (0.27%, 95% CI: 0.14-0.46), camels (13.0%, 95% CI: 0-47), and wildlife (13.0%, 95% CI: 9-16) respectively. The occurrence of infection was significantly moderated by the publication periods, geographical location, sample size, and detection methods. TB prevalence was heterogeneous across several predictors, with the year of publication exhibiting a higher rate (46%) of the detected heterogeneity. These findings should provide policy-relevant information to guide the design and establishment of prevention and control measures amenable to the local situations in Nigeria. © 2023 The Author(s

Longitudinal relationships between caloric expenditure and gray matter in the cardiovascular health study

Background: Physical activity (PA) can be neuroprotective and reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In assessing physical activity, caloric expenditure is a proxy marker reflecting the sum total of multiple physical activity types conducted by an individual. Objective:To assess caloric expenditure, as a proxy marker of PA, as a predictive measure of gray matter (GM) volumes in the normal and cognitively impaired elderly persons. Methods: All subjects in this study were recruited from the Institutional Review Board approved Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), a multisite population-based longitudinal study in persons aged 65 and older. We analyzed a sub-sample of CHS participants 876 subjects (mean age 78.3, 57.5% F, 42.5% M) who had i) energy output assessed as kilocalories (kcal) per week using the standardized Minnesota Leisure-Time Activities questionnaire, ii) cognitive assessments for clinical classification of normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD, and iii) volumetric MR imaging of the brain. Voxel-based morphometry modeled the relationship between kcal/week and GM volumes while accounting for standard covariates including head size, age, sex, white matter hyperintensity lesions, MCI or AD status, and site. Multiple comparisons were controlled using a False Discovery Rate of 5 percent. Results: Higher energy output, from a variety of physical activity types, was associated with larger GM volumes in frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, as well as hippocampus, thalamus, and basal ganglia. High levels of caloric expenditure moderated neurodegeneration-associated volume loss in the precuneus, posterior cingulate, and cerebellar vermis. Conclusion:Increasing energy output from a variety of physical activities is related to larger gray matter volumes in the elderly, regardless of cognitive status.Cyrus A. Raji, David A. Merrill, Harris Eyre, Sravya Mallam, Nare Torosyan, Kirk I. Erickson, Oscar L. Lopez , James T. Becker, Owen T. Carmichael, H. Michael Gach, Paul M. Thompson, W.T. Longstreth, Jr. and Lewis H. Kulle

A Cassava vein mosaic viruspromoter cassette induces high and stablegene expression in clonally propagated transgenic cassava(Manihot esculentaCrantz)

The study described a T-DNA vector with aCassava vein mosaic viruspromoter cassette (pCsVMV) and a kanamycin selectable marker gene driven by the 35SCauliflower mosaic viruspromoter with a view to stably express transgenes over repeated cycles of clonal propagation. Aβ-glucuronidasereporter gene under control of pCsVMV (pCsVMV-GUS) was introduced into the cassava landrace‘Tokunbo’ viaAgrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Transgenic tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacumSR1) with the same gene construct were also produced. In tobacco, the pCsVMV-GUS was highly expressed in all tissues tested such as leaf, stem, petiole, and roots. In transgenic cassava, the pCsVMV-GUS gene was highly expressed in all tissues and most cell types of in vitro plants including leaf, stem, petiole, andfibrous roots. The pCsVMV-GUS gene was also highly expressed in these tissues as well as in tubers of greenhouse grown cassava. High and stable pCsVMV-GUS gene expression was maintained over 3 cycles of ratooning under greenhouse conditions, thus showing the absence of undesired gene silencing effects after repeated in vitro subculturing and vegetative propagation. From the high constitutive levels of GUS activity observed, the study concluded that the CsVMV promoter cassette was useful for high-level expression in cassava over repeated cycles of clonal propagation

Phylogenetics and Pathogenesis of Early Avian Influenza Viruses (H5N1), Nigeria

Three highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 and 4 Newcastle disease viruses were isolated from sick or dead chickens in southwestern Nigeria. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis placed them within H5N1 subclade 2.2.2. Intravenous and intranasal pathogenicity tests produced systemic disease with vascular endothelial cell tropism in chickens

Oleic acid is an endogenous ligand of TLX/NR2E1 that triggers hippocampal neurogenesis

Altres ajuts: Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Core Facility Support Award (CPRIT-RP180672, R1313, 1R01GM138781-01); NIH (CA125123, RR024574); Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the NIH (P50HD103555); BCM start-up funds; Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation; McNair Medical Institute; Robert and Janice McNair Foundation; BCM Seed Funding (1P20CA221731-01A1); National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01 GM120033); Cynthia and Antony Petrello Endowment; Mark A. Wallace Endowment; McKnight Foundation; Dana Foundation; BCM Computational and Integrative Biomedical Research Center seed grant.Neural stem cells, the source of newborn neurons in the adult hippocampus, are intimately involved in learning and memory, mood, and stress response. Despite considerable progress in understanding the biology of neural stem cells and neurogenesis, regulating the neural stem cell population precisely has remained elusive because we have lacked the specific targets to stimulate their proliferation and neurogenesis. The orphan nuclear receptor TLX/NR2E1 governs neural stem and progenitor cell self-renewal and proliferation, but the precise mechanism by which it accomplishes this is not well understood because its endogenous ligand is not known. Here, we identify oleic acid (18:1ω9 monounsaturated fatty acid) as such a ligand. We first show that oleic acid is critical for neural stem cell survival. Next, we demonstrate that it binds to TLX to convert it from a transcriptional repressor to a transcriptional activator of cell-cycle and neurogenesis genes, which in turn increases neural stem cell mitotic activity and drives hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. Interestingly, oleic acid-activated TLX strongly up-regulates cell cycle genes while only modestly up-regulating neurogenic genes. We propose a model in which sufficient quantities of this endogenous ligand must bind to TLX to trigger the switch to proliferation and drive the progeny toward neuronal lineage. Oleic acid thus serves as a metabolic regulator of TLX activity that can be used to selectively target neural stem cells, paving the way for future therapeutic manipulations to counteract pathogenic impairments of neurogenesis

Care management for Type 2 diabetes in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This systematic review and meta-analysis aims at assessing the composition and performance of care management models evaluated in the last decade and their impact on patient important outcomes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A comprehensive literature search of electronic bibliographic databases was performed to identify care management trials in type 2 diabetes. Random effects meta-analysis was used when feasible to pool outcome measures.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-two studies were eligible. Most commonly reported were surrogate outcomes (such as HbA1c and LDL), followed by process measures (clinic visit or testing frequency). Less frequently reported were quality of life, patient satisfaction, self-care, and healthcare utilization. Most care management modalities were carved out from primary care. Meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant but trivial reduction of HbA1c (weighted difference in means -0.21%, 95% confidence interval -0.40 to -0.03, p < .03) and LDL-cholesterol (weighted difference in means -3.38 mg/dL, 95% confidence interval -6.27 to -0.49, p < .02).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Most care management programs for patients with type 2 diabetes are 'carved-out', accomplish limited effects on metabolic outcomes, and have unknown effects on patient important outcomes. Comparative effectiveness research of different models of care management is needed to inform the design of medical homes for patients with chronic conditions.</p

SHOX2 DNA Methylation is a Biomarker for the diagnosis of lung cancer based on bronchial aspirates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed to show that SHOX2 DNA methylation is a tumor marker in patients with suspected lung cancer by using bronchial fluid aspirated during bronchoscopy. Such a biomarker would be clinically valuable, especially when, following the first bronchoscopy, a final diagnosis cannot be established by histology or cytology. A test with a low false positive rate can reduce the need for further invasive and costly procedures and ensure early treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Marker discovery was carried out by differential methylation hybridization (DMH) and real-time PCR. The real-time PCR based HeavyMethyl technology was used for quantitative analysis of DNA methylation of SHOX2 using bronchial aspirates from two clinical centres in a case-control study. Fresh-frozen and Saccomanno-fixed samples were used to show the tumor marker performance in different sample types of clinical relevance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Valid measurements were obtained from a total of 523 patient samples (242 controls, 281 cases). DNA methylation of SHOX2 allowed to distinguish between malignant and benign lung disease, i.e. abscesses, infections, obstructive lung diseases, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, stenoses, at high specificity (68% sensitivity [95% CI 62-73%], 95% specificity [95% CI 91-97%]).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hypermethylation of SHOX2 in bronchial aspirates appears to be a clinically useful tumor marker for identifying subjects with lung carcinoma, especially if histological and cytological findings after bronchoscopy are ambiguous.</p

The restorative role of annexin A1 at the blood–brain barrier

Annexin A1 is a potent anti-inflammatory molecule that has been extensively studied in the peripheral immune system, but has not as yet been exploited as a therapeutic target/agent. In the last decade, we have undertaken the study of this molecule in the central nervous system (CNS), focusing particularly on the primary interface between the peripheral body and CNS: the blood–brain barrier. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of this molecule in the brain, with a particular emphasis on its functions in the endothelium of the blood–brain barrier, and the protective actions the molecule may exert in neuroinflammatory, neurovascular and metabolic disease. We focus on the possible new therapeutic avenues opened up by an increased understanding of the role of annexin A1 in the CNS vasculature, and its potential for repairing blood–brain barrier damage in disease and aging

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700