Le système KeyGlass

International audienceThis paper presents the KeyGlass system : a text entry system with dynamic addition of characters based on those previously entered. The prediction system that we use to optimize our system is based on the joint use of a lexicographic tree and a system using bigrams. We present in this article the different steps that led us to this prediction system. Finally we study, through two experiments (one theoretical and the other one with users), the usefulness and effectiveness of our system during a task of text copy. The results show a significant reduction in the distance covered by the pointer on the soft keyboard. However, users are slower to enter text

Physical activity, hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer risk : a meta-analysis of prospective studies

Lower risk of breast cancer has been reported among physically active women, but the risk in women using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) appears to be higher. We quantified the association between physical activity and breast cancer, and we examined the influence that HRT use and other risk factors had on this association. After a systematic literature search, prospective studies were meta-analysed using random-effect models applied on highest versus lowest level of physical activity. Dose-response analyses were conducted with studies reporting physical activity either in hours per week or in hours of metabolic equivalent per week (MET-h/week). The literature search identified 38 independent prospective studies published between 1987 and 2014 that included 116,304 breast cancer cases. Compared to the lowest level of physical activity, the highest level was associated with a summary relative risk (SRR) of 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.85, 0.90) for all breast cancer, 0.89 (95% CI 0.83, 0.95) for ER+/PR+ breast cancer and 0.80 (95% CI 0.69, 0.92) for ER-/PR- breast cancer. Risk reductions were not influenced by the type of physical activity (occupational or non-occupational), adiposity, and menopausal status. Risk reductions increased with increasing amounts of physical activity without threshold effect. In six studies, the SRR was 0.78 (95% CI 0.70, 0.87) in women who never used HRT and 0.97 (95% CI 0.88, 1.07) in women who ever used HRT, without heterogeneity in results. Findings indicate that a physically inactive women engaging in at least 150 min per week of vigorous physical activity would reduce their lifetime risk of breast cancer by 9%, a reduction that might be two times greater in women who never used HRT. Increasing physical activity is associated with meaningful reductions in the risk of breast cancer, but in women who ever used HRT, the preventative effect of physical activity seems to be cancelled out

Trends in colorectal cancer mortality in Europe : retrospective analysis of the WHO mortality database

Objective: To examine changes in colorectal cancermortality in 34 European countries between 1970 and 2011. Design: Retrospective trend analysis. Data source: World Health Organization mortality database. Population: Deaths from colorectal cancer between 1970and 2011. Profound changes in screening and treatment efficiency took place after 1988; therefore, particular attention was paid to the evolution of colorectal cancer mortality in the subsequent period. Main outcomes measures: Time trends in rates of colorectal cancer mortality, using joinpoint regression analysis. Rates were age adjusted using the standard European population. Results: From 1989 to 2011, colorectal cancer mortality increased by a median of 6.0% for men and decreased by a median of 14.7% for women in the 34 European countries. Reductions in colorectal cancer mortality of more than 25% in men and 30% in women occurred in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, and Ireland. By contrast, mortality rates fell by less than 17% in the Netherlands and Sweden for both sexes. Over the same period, smaller or no declines occurred in most central European countries. Substantial mortality increases occurred in Croatia, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, and Romania for both sexes and in most eastern European countries for men. In countries with decreasing mortality, reductions were more important for women of all ages and men younger than 65 years. In the 27 European Union member states, colorectal cancer mortality fell by 13.0% in men and 27.0% in women, compared with corresponding reductions of 39.8% and 38.8% in the United States. Conclusion: Over the past 40 years, there has been considerable disparity in the level of colorectal cancer mortality between European countries, as well as between men and women and age categories. Countries with the largest reductions in colorectal cancer mortality are characterised by better accessibility to screening services, especially endoscopic screening, and specialised care

Short-Term cost impact of compliance with clinical practice guidelines for initial sarcoma treatment

Background: The impact of compliance to clinical practice guidelines (CPG) on outcomes and/or costs of care has not been completely clarified.Objective: To estimate relationships between medical expenditures and compliance to CPG for initial sarcoma treatment.Research design: Selected cohorts of patients diagnosed with sarcoma in 2005 and 2006, and treated at the University hospital and/or the cancer centre of the Rhône-Alpes region, France (n=90). Main outcome measurements were: patient characteristics, compliance with CPG, health outcomes, and costs. Data were mainly extracted from patient records. The logarithm of treatment costs was modelled using linear and Tobit regressions.Results: Rates of compliance with CPG were 86%, 66%, 88%, 89%, and 95% for initial diagnosis, primary surgical excision, wide surgical excision, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, respectively. Total average costs reached €24,439, with €1,784, €11,225, €10,360, and €1,016 for diagnosis, surgery (primary and wide surgical excisions), chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, respectively. Compliance of diagnosis with CPG decreased the cost of diagnosis, whereas compliance of primary surgical excision increased the cost of chemotherapy. Compliance of chemotherapy with CPG decreased the cost of radiotherapy.Conclusion: Since chemotherapy is one of the major cost drivers, these results support that compliance with guidelines increases medical care expenditures in short term.Oncology; Sarcoma; Cost; Clinical guidelines; Efficacy; Medical Practices; Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

Laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization in the presence of a nanoscale magnetic domain network

International audienceFemtosecond magnetization phenomena have been challenging our understanding for over a decade. Most experiments have relied on infrared femtosecond lasers, limiting the spatial resolution to a few micrometres. With the advent of femtosecond X-ray sources, nanometric resolution can now be reached, which matches key length scales in femtomagnetism such as the travelling length of excited 'hot' electrons on a femtosecond timescale. Here we study laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization in [Co/Pd]30 multilayer films, which, for the first time, achieves a spatial resolution better than 100 nm by using femtosecond soft X-ray pulses. This allows us to follow the femtosecond demagnetization process in a magnetic system consisting of alternating nanometric domains of opposite magnetization. No modification of the magnetic structure is observed, but, in comparison with uniformly magnetized systems of similar composition, we find a significantly faster demagnetization time. We argue that this may be caused by direct transfer of spin angular momentum between neighbouring domains

Space grease lubrication modeling: A discrete element approach

International audienceThe tribological behavior of space grease is investigated with the Discrete Element Method. In the first step, the grease is described as a collection of particles of two kinds (oil and PTFE) in interaction. The development of the Grease Discrete Element Model (GDEM) used here, is based on rheometer-like characterizations. In the second step, the GDEM is subjected to tribometer-like conditions to investigate grease flow mechanisms and the role of the thickener (PTFE) in lubrication. The tribological behavior of grease seems to be controlled by the coupled influence of both granulometric (thickener particle sizes) and physico-chemical (interaction law) parameters. These results provide the starting point for identifying the parameters on which to act to reformulate greases

Particulate contamination in single-use systems: real versus perceived risk

Certainly final drug products must be “essentially free” of visible particulate contamination and visual inspection systems must meet USP 790 criteria. In addition, final drug products must meet USP 788 limits for sub-visible particles. It is however important to distinguish final drug product standards from requirements for single-use process containers and equipment, even though it is common to claim single-use systems (SUS) “meet USP 788 requirements”. USP 788 does not describe a method for determination of particulate counts in SUS process containers and equipment (1). Visible particles are “visible” and thus a visual indicator of SUS quality, and consequently sometimes lead to visceral reactions and the perception of major or even critical risk to product safety. However, guidance from PDA TR66 (2), ASME BPE-2016 (3) and the BPSA (4) published in the last few years provide valuable information on assessment of particulate risk in SUS processes. In most situations where SUS are currently applied, filtration and purification steps occur downstream, which essentially reduces the risk to zero for transfer of particulate contamination from SUS to the final drug product. However, any applications of SUS after final filtration (such as in ascetic processes or final filling operations) present significant risk to drug substance or drug product. So is risk to final drug product from SUS an essentially a binary situation: Prior to final filtration low risk, and after final filtration high risk? While assembly of SUS is a “clean build” process usually done in ISO 7 classified cleanrooms, incoming components and cleanroom processes such as cutting, welding and human assembly are unfortunately not particulate-free with current SUS manufacturing technologies. In addition, visual inspection of SUS components and assemblies is nowhere near 100% effective at detecting visible particles, especially for large complex assemblies or stirred tank reactor systems. Sartorius is currently implementing a “Visible Particle Test” (VPT: liquid extraction and microscopy) for process monitoring and continuous improvement efforts. Thus while most SUS manufactures strive to minimize particulate contamination, absence of particulates remains a goal but is not a currently feasible SUS specification. Particle contaminants may lie within the interior surfaces of SUS (in the fluid contact path), may be embedded within bag films or plastic components, or lie on the exterior surfaces of SUS. Particulates fall into two general categories: intrinsic (particles from SUS manufacturing process and component materials) and extrinsic (particles from human operators or the environment). Extrinsic particles potentially contain microbiological or viral contamination. These classifications of location and particle type lead to different assessments of risk. One concern are potential “secondary effects” of particulate contamination. Particle contamination could potentially nucleate protein aggregation. Particles embedded in SUS films or plastic components, or on the interior surfaces of the SUS assemblies could potentially leach out chemicals or release microbiological or viral contamination into the bioprocess fluids. In this presentation, the topic of particulate contamination risk is approached holistically and scientifically using literature data along with calculations. The goal of the presentation is to gain feedback from end users, and to facilitate the discussion between suppliers and end users based upon real rather than perceived risks. (1) Particulate Contamination in Single-Use Systems, J. D. Vogel and K. Wormuth, Bioprocess International, 15(9) 2017 (2) Application of Single-Use Systems in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, PDA Technical Report No. 66, 2014 (3) Bioprocessing Equipment, ASME BPE-2016, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2016 Recommendations for Testing, Evaluation and Control of Particulates from Single-Use Process Equipment, Bio Process Systems Alliance, 201

Worldwide and time trends in sodium and potassium intakes in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: High sodium (Na) and low potassium (K) intakes in childhood have health effects across the life course. The objective was to estimate global, regional and national Na and K intakes in children since 1990. Methods: A systematic search of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies measuring Na or K intake in children aged 0–18 years of age since 1990 was conducted. Random effects multilevel meta-analyses and meta-regressions were performed to investigate age and time trends, country and regional differences, and to derive a worldwide average intake. Results: A total of 259 studies with 520 630 children aged 0–18 years of age (mean 9.7 years) conducted between 1990 and 2021 in 79 different countries (mostly high-income countries) were included. The pooled Na and K intakes were 2.5 g/d (95% CI 2.4, 2.6) and 2.0 g/d (95% CI 1.9, 2.1), respectively. An estimated 73% of children had high Na intake (≥2 g/d/2000 kcal) and 89% had low K intake (<3.5 g/d/2000 kcal). Na intake was the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the highest in North Africa and the Middle East. K intake was the lowest in South Asia and the highest in Central-Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Na and K intakes tended to decrease slightly linearly between 1990 and 2021 and increased logarithmically with age. Conclusion: Globally, children’s Na intake was too high, while K intake was too low. Data were lacking in many countries. Interventions are needed to reduce Na and increase K from childhood, and monitoring should be improved

COVID-19 : mobilisation des Forces armées dans sept juridictions arctiques

En décembre 2019, un nouveau virus a été détecté dans la ville de Wuhan en Chine, le CoV-SRAS 2 dont la maladie associée est la COVID-19. Son éclosion a été signalée à partir du 31 décembre 20191. Virus inconnu doté d’un fort vecteur de contagion, la COVID-19 a poussé la plupart des gouvernements occidentaux à déclarer l’état d’urgence sanitaire. Ce rapport a pour objectif de comparer les stratégies mises en place par certains États de la région arctique afin de limiter la propagation de la COVID-19. Il identifie, étudie et compare les réponses et stratégies déployées dans des communautés éloignées en Alaska, au Groenland et en Norvège avec les approches mises en place dans le Nord canadien. Plus particulièrement, ce rapport se concentre sur le rôle assigné aux forces armées nationales en tant que répondants de dernier recours, entre autres dans la gestion de pandémies. Ce rapport se veut novateur en proposant une analyse sous-nationale visant à comparer des régions partageant un grand nombre d’affinités. En plus de la recherche documentaire effectuée, cette analyse est basée sur des données issues de demandes d’information et échanges de courriels effectués auprès des parties prenantes au sein des Forces armées canadiennes et au Groenland2. Afin de mesurer la réponse de Forces armées de pays arctiques à une épidémie nouvelle, cette analyse se concentre majoritairement sur la première vague, en mentionnant dans certains cas les vagues subséquentes