Quality of Beverage Intake and Cardiometabolic and Kidney Outcomes: Insights From the STANISLAS Cohort

Background and Aims: Beverages are an important aspect of diet, and their quality can possibly affect health. The Healthy Beverage Index (HBI) has been developed to take into account these effects. This study aimed to highlight the relationships between health and beverage quality by assessing the association of the HBI and its components with kidney and cardiometabolic (CM) outcomes in an initially healthy population-based familial cohort. Methods: This study included 1,271 participants from the STANISLAS cohort. The HBI, which includes 10 components of habitual beverage consumption, was calculated. Associations of the HBI and its components with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albuminuria, hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTG waist), metabolic syndrome (MetS), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and left ventricular mass (LV mass) were analyzed using multivariable linear or logistic regression models. Results: The median HBI score was 89.7 (78.6–95) out of 100 points. While the overall HBI score was not significantly associated with any of the studied outcomes, individual HBI components were found differently associated with the outcomes. cfPWV and cIMT were lower in participants who did not meet the full-fat milk criteria (p = 0.03 and 0.001, respectively). In men, higher cfPWV was observed for the “low Fat milk” (p = 0.06) and “alcohol” (p = 0.03) non-adherence criteria. Odds of HTG waist were higher with the non-adherence to sugar-sweetened beverages criteria (p < 0.001). eGFR was marginally higher with non-adherence to the coffee/tea criteria (p = 0.047). Conclusions: In this initially healthy population, HBI components were differently associated with kidney and cardiometabolic outcomes, despite a good overall HBI score. Our results highlight specific impacts of different beverage types and suggest that beverages could have an impact on kidney and cardiometabolic health

Exécution efficace de systèmes multi-agents sur GPU

These last years have seen the emergence of parallelism in many fields ofcomputer science. This is explained by the stagnation of the frequency ofexecution units at the hardware level and by the increasing usage ofparallel platforms at the software level. A form of parallelism ispresent in multi-agent systems, that facilitate the description ofcomplex systems as a collection of interacting entities. If thesimilarity between this software and this logical parallelism seemsobvious, the parallelization process remains difficult in this casebecause of the numerous dependencies encountered in many multi-agentsystems. In this thesis, we propose a common solution to facilitate theadaptation of these models on a parallel platform such as GPUs. Ourlibrary, MCMAS, provides access to two programming interface tofacilitate this adaptation: a low-level layer providing direct access toOpenCL, MCM, and a high-level set of plugins not requiring any GPU-related knowledge. We study the usage of this library on three existingmulti-agent models : predator-prey, MIOR and Collembola. To prove theinterest of the approach we present a performance study for each modeland an analysis of the various factors contributing to an efficientexecution on GPUs. We finally conclude on a overview of the work andresults presented in the report and suggest future directions to enhanceour solution.Ces dernières années ont consacré l’émergence du parallélisme dans la plupart des branches de l’informatique.Au niveau matériel, tout d’abord, du fait de la stagnation des fréquences de fonctionnement des unités decalcul. Au niveau logiciel, ensuite, avec la popularisation de nombreuses plates-formes d’exécution parallèle.Une forme de parallélisme est également présente dans les systèmes multi-agents, qui facilitent la description desystèmes complexes comme ensemble d’entités en interaction. Si l’adéquation entre ce parallélisme d’exécutionlogiciel et conceptuel semble naturelle, la parallélisation reste une démarche difficile, du fait des nombreusesadaptations devant être effectuées et des dépendances présentes explicitement dans de très nombreux systèmesmulti-agents.Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une solution pour faciliter l’implémentation de ces modèles sur une plate-forme d’exécution parallèle telle que le GPU. Notre bibliothèque MCMAS vient répondre à cette problématiqueau moyen de deux interfaces de programmation, une couche de bas niveau MCM permettant l’accès direct àOpenCL et un ensemble de plugins utilisables sans connaissances GPU. Nous étudions ensuite l’utilisation decette bibliothèque sur trois systèmes multi-agents existants : le modèle proie-prédateur, le modèle MIOR etle modèle Collemboles. Pour montrer l’intérêt de cette approche, nous présentons une étude de performancede chacun de ces modèles et une analyse des facteurs contribuant à une exécution efficace sur GPU. Nousdressons enfin un bilan du travail et des réflexions présentées dans notre mémoire, avant d’évoquer quelquespistes d’amélioration possibles de notre solution

Efficient execution of multi-agent systems on GPU

Ces dernières années ont consacré l’émergence du parallélisme dans la plupart des branches de l’informatique.Au niveau matériel, tout d’abord, du fait de la stagnation des fréquences de fonctionnement des unités decalcul. Au niveau logiciel, ensuite, avec la popularisation de nombreuses plates-formes d’exécution parallèle.Une forme de parallélisme est également présente dans les systèmes multi-agents, qui facilitent la description desystèmes complexes comme ensemble d’entités en interaction. Si l’adéquation entre ce parallélisme d’exécutionlogiciel et conceptuel semble naturelle, la parallélisation reste une démarche difficile, du fait des nombreusesadaptations devant être effectuées et des dépendances présentes explicitement dans de très nombreux systèmesmulti-agents.Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une solution pour faciliter l’implémentation de ces modèles sur une plateformed’exécution parallèle telle que le GPU. Notre bibliothèque MCMAS vient répondre à cette problématiqueau moyen de deux interfaces de programmation, une couche de bas niveau MCM permettant l’accès direct àOpenCL et un ensemble de plugins utilisables sans connaissances GPU. Nous étudions ensuite l’utilisation decette bibliothèque sur trois systèmes multi-agents existants : le modèle proie-prédateur, le modèle MIOR etle modèle Collemboles. Pour montrer l’intérêt de cette approche, nous présentons une étude de performancede chacun de ces modèles et une analyse des facteurs contribuant à une exécution efficace sur GPU. Nousdressons enfin un bilan du travail et des réflexions présentées dans notre mémoire, avant d’évoquer quelquespistes d’amélioration possibles de notre solution.These last years have seen the emergence of parallelism in many fields of computer science. This is explainedby the stagnation of the frequency of execution units at the hardware level and by the increasing usage ofparallel platforms at the software level. A form of parallelism is present in multi-agent systems, that facilitatethe description of complex systems as a collection of interacting entities. If the similarity between this softwareand this logical parallelism seems obvious, the parallelization process remains difficult in this case because ofthe numerous dependencies encountered in many multi-agent systems.In this thesis, we propose a common solution to facilitate the adaptation of these models on a parallel platformsuch as GPUs. Our library, MCMAS, provides access to two programming interface to facilitate this adaptation:a low-level layer providing direct access to OpenCL, MCM, and a high-level set of plugins not requiring anyGPU-related knowledge.We study the usage of this library on three existing multi-agent models : predator-prey,MIOR and Collembola. To prove the interest of the approach we present a performance study for each modeland an analysis of the various factors contributing to an efficient execution on GPUs. We finally conclude on aoverview of the work and results presented in the report and suggest future directions to enhance our solution

Former les enseignants à soutenir l’autonomie de leurs élèves : le rôle de l’analyse vidéo

International audienceReposant sur une méthodologie mixte, cet article vise, d’une part, à examiner les effets d’un dispositif de formation basé sur l’analyse vidéo dans des groupes de pairs sur l’évolution du style motivationnel des enseignants novices (EN). D’autre part, il a pour objectif d’identifier les éléments clés de ce dispositif du point de vue des formés. Les résultats indiquent que le dispositif a un effet significatif sur l’évolution du style des EN qui soutiennent davantage l’autonomie de leurs élèves. Par ailleurs, les résultats mettent en évidence trois éléments clés du dispositif responsables des changements : l’analyse vidéo outillée, le groupe collaboratif basé sur le partage de ressources et la durée du dispositif sur une année scolaire

Potential of denitrification and nitrous oxide production from agricultural soil profiles (Seine Basin, France)

The denitrification process and the associated nitrous oxide (N2O) production in soils have been poorly documented, especially in terms of soil profiles; most work on denitrification has concentrated on the upper layer (first 20 cm). The objectives of this study were to examine the origin of N2O emission and the effects of in situ controlling factors on soil denitrification and N2O production, also allowing the (N2O production)/(NO3 −-N reduction) ratio to be determined through (1) the position on a slope reaching a river and (2) the depth (soil horizons: 10-30 and 90-110 cm). In 2009 and 2010, slurry batch experiments combined with molecular investigations of bacterial communities were conducted in a corn field and an adjacent riparian buffer strip. Denitrification rates, ranging from 0.30 μg NO3 −-N g−1 dry soil h−1 to 1.44 μg NO3 −-N g−1 dry soil h−1, showed no significant variation along the slope and depth. N2O production assessed simultaneously differed considerably over the depth and ranged from 0.4 ng N2O-N g−1 dry soil h−1 in subsoils (the 90-110-cm layer) to 155.1 ng N2O-N g−1 dry soil h−1 in the topsoils (the 10-30-cm layer). In the topsoils, N2O-N production accounted for 8.5-48.0% of the total denitrified NO3 −-N, but for less than 1% in the subsoils. Similarly, N2O-consuming bacterial communities from the subsoils greatly differed from those of the topsoils, as revealed by their nosZ DGGE fingerprints. High N2O-SPPR (nitrous oxide semi potential production rates) in comparison to NO3-SPDR (nitrate semi potential reduction rates) for the topsoils indicated significant potential greenhouse N2O gas production, whereas lower horizons could play a role in fully removing nitrate into inert atmospheric N2. In terms of landscape management, these results call for caution in rehabilitating or constructing buffer zones for agricultural nitrate removal

Former les enseignants à soutenir l’autonomie de leurs élèves : le rôle de l’analyse vidéo

Based on a mixed methodology, this article aims, on the one hand, to examine the effects of a training system based on video analysis in peer groups on the evolution of motivational style of beginning teachers. On the other hand, it aims to identify the key elements of this training from the point of view of the trainees. The e results indicate that the training significantly affects the development of teachers' autonomy-support. In addition, the qualitative results highlight three key elements of the training responsible for the changes: the video analysis, the collaborative group based on the sharing of resources and the duration of the training over a school year

Using GPU for Multi-agent Multi-scale Simulations

International audienceMulti-Agent System (MAS) is an interesting way to create models and simulators and is widely used to model complex systems. As the complex systemcommunity tends to build up larger models to fully represent real systems, the need for computing power raise significantly. Thus MAS often lead to long computing intensive simulations. Parallelizing such a simulation is complex and it execution requires the access to large computing resources. In this paper, we present the adaptation of a MAS system, Sworm, to a Graphical Processing Unit.We show that such an adaptation can improve the performance of the simulator and advocate for a more wider use of the GPU in Agent Based Models in particular for simple agents

Using GPU for Multi-Agent Soil Simulation

International audienceMulti-Agent Systems (MAS) can be used to model systems where the global behavior cannot be uniformly represented by standard techniques such as partial differential equations or linear systems because the system elements have their own independent behavior. This is, for instance, the case in complex systems such as daily mobility in a city for example. Depending on the system size the computing power needs for the MAS may be as big as for more traditional linear numerical systems and may need to be parallelized to fully represent real systems. Graphical Processing Units (GPU) have already proven to be an efficient support to execute large linear programs. In this paper we present the use of GPU for the execution of Sworm, a multi-scale MAS system. We show that GPU computing can be efficient in that less regular case and when the agent behavior is simple. We advocate for a wider use of the GPU in Agent Based Models in particular for multi-scale systems with work distribution between the CPU and GPU

Intent Detection for Virtual Reality Architectural Design

International audienceIn the context of optimization and cycles reduction for product design in industry, digital collaborative tools have a major impact, allowing an early stage integration of multidisciplinary challenges and oftentimes the search ofglobal optimum rather than domain specific improvements. This paper presents a methodology for improving participants’ implication and performance during collaborative design sessions through virtual reality (VR) tools, thanks to intention detection through body language interpretation. A prototype of the methodology is being implemented based on an existing VR aided design tool called DragonFly developed by Airbus. In what follows we will first discuss the choice of the different biological inputs for our purpose, and how to merge these multi-modal inputs a meaningful way. Thus, we obtain a rich representation of the body language expression, suitable to recognize the actions wanted by the user and their related parameters. We will then show that this solution has been designed for fast training thanks to a majority of unsupervised training and existing pre-trained models, and for fast evolution thanks to the modularity of the architecture

Intent Detection for Virtual Reality Architectural Design

International audienceIn the context of optimization and cycles reduction for product design in industry, digital collaborative tools have a major impact, allowing an early stage integration of multidisciplinary challenges and oftentimes the search ofglobal optimum rather than domain specific improvements. This paper presents a methodology for improving participants’ implication and performance during collaborative design sessions through virtual reality (VR) tools, thanks to intention detection through body language interpretation. A prototype of the methodology is being implemented based on an existing VR aided design tool called DragonFly developed by Airbus. In what follows we will first discuss the choice of the different biological inputs for our purpose, and how to merge these multi-modal inputs a meaningful way. Thus, we obtain a rich representation of the body language expression, suitable to recognize the actions wanted by the user and their related parameters. We will then show that this solution has been designed for fast training thanks to a majority of unsupervised training and existing pre-trained models, and for fast evolution thanks to the modularity of the architecture