Domestic competition and export performance of manufacturing firms in Côte d’Ivoire

Because of transportation costs, African manufacturing firms benefit from some market power on their domestic market, where they can charge a higher price than the export price, net of transportation cost. We present a simple theoretical model of an exporting firm that discriminates between the export and the domestic markets, where firms engage in Cournot competition. It is then shown that the impact of increased competition on export performance by the firms is ambiguous, and may be negative for a non trivial range of parameter values. Using survey data on Ivoirian firms, our empirical analysis gives some support to this prediction, showing that the probability of a firm exporting decreases with increased competition.

Étude d’un des sarcophages en plomb d’Époque moderne de l’hotel-dieu de Tonnerre (Yonne)

L’étude a porté sur l’un des sept sarcophages métalliques d’un ensemble, datant des XVIe-XVIIe s., découvert dans l’Hôtel-Dieu de Tonnerre (Yonne, France). Grâce à des études anthropobiologique, archéologique et métallographique, l’individu et son sarcophage ont été caractérisés.L’identification des techniques de fabrication a permis de différencier les deux sarcophages emboités qui enveloppaient le défunt, bien que le matériau de départ ait été le même ou presque.L’analyse anthropobiologique, résultant d’une fouille exhaustive en laboratoire, a permis de caractériser le sexe et l’âge du sujet, un individu jeune adulte, de sexe masculin, dont l’état sanitaire général est bon, bien que des variations anatomiques non métriques et une pathologie d’ordre traumatique aient été observées ; enfin, le traitement post mortem appliqué au défunt, problématique, a fait l’objet d’un examen particulier.The study concerned one of a set of seven metal sarcophaguses found in a burial space, dating from the 16th–17th centuries, discovered in the Hôtel-Dieu in Tonnerre (Yonne, France). Using anthropological, archaeological and metallographic techniques, the individual and his sarcophagus have been analysed.Identification of the manufacturing techniques enabled differentiation of the two sarcophaguses, one contained within the other, which held the body, though the material seems to have been the same or almost the same in both layers.The anthropobiological analysis, resulting from an exhaustive laboratory study, revealed the sex and approximate age of the subject. He was a young adult male in good general health, though non-metric anatomical variations and a traumatic pathology were observed. Lastly, the post-mortem treatment applied to the corpse, which has raised various questions, was the object of particular attention.Die Untersuchung betraf einen von sieben Metallsarkophagen eines im Hôtel-Dieu von Tonnerre (Departement Yonne, Frankreich) entdeckten und in das 16.-17. Jh. datierten Ensembles. Anthropobiologische, archäologische und metallographische Studien ermöglichten die genaue Beschreibung des Individuums und seines Sarkophags.Obwohl das Ausgangsmaterial der beiden Sarkophage identisch oder fast identisch war, konnten die beiden ineinander verschachtelten Sarkophage, in denen der Verstorbene ruhte, dank der Identifizierung der Herstellungstechniken unterschieden werden.Die aus einer erschöpfenden Laborgrabung resultierende anthropobiologische Analyse hat es erlaubt, das Geschlecht und das Alter des Individuums zu bestimmen : es handelte sich um einen jungen Erwachsenen männlichen Geschlechts, dessen allgemeiner Gesundheitszustand trotz nicht metrischer anatomischer Merkmale und einer traumatischen Pathologie gut war. Schließlich wurde die problematische Behandlung, die dem Toten post mortem zuteil geworden war, einer besonderen Untersuchung unterzogen

Ag-Cu alloy surfaces in an oxidizing environment: a first-principles study

Recent experiments on model catalysts have shown that Ag-Cu alloys have improved selectivity with respect to pure silver for ethylene epoxidation. In this paper we review our first-principles investigations on the (111) surface of this alloy and present new findings on other low index surfaces. We find that, for every surface orientation, the presence of oxygen leads to copper segregation to the surface. Considering the alloy to be in equilibrium with an oxygen atmosphere and accounting for the effect of temperature and pressure, we compute the surface free energy and study the stability of several surface structures. Investigating the dependence of the surface free energy on the surface composition, we construct the phase diagram of the alloy for every surface orientation. Around the temperature, pressure and composition of interest for practical applications, we find that a limited number of structures can be present, including a thin layer of copper oxide on top of the silver surface and copper-free structures. Different surface orientations show a very similar behavior and in particular a single layer with CuO stoichiometry, significantly distorted when compared to a layer of bulk CuO, has a wide range of stability for all orientations. Our results are consistent with, and help explain, recent experimental measurements

Syndecan-1 antigen, a promising new target for triple-negative breast cancer immuno-PET and radioimmunotherapy. A preclinical study on MDA-MB-468 xenograft tumors

International audienceBackgroundOverexpression of syndecan-1 (CD138) in breast carcinoma correlates with a poor prognosis and an aggressive phenotype. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of targeting CD138 by immuno-PET imaging and radioimmunotherapy (RIT) using the antihuman syndecan-1 B-B4 mAb radiolabeled with either 124I or 131I in nude mice engrafted with the triple-negative MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line.MethodThe immunoreactivity of 125I-B-B4 (80%) was determined, and the affinity of 125I-B-B4 and the expression of CD138 on MDA-MB-468 was measured in vitro by Scatchard analysis. CD138 expression on established tumors was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. A biodistribution study was performed in mice with subcutaneous MDA-MB-468 and 125I-B-B4 at 4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after injection and compared with an isotype-matched control. Tumor uptake of B-B4 was evaluated in vivo by immuno-PET imaging using the 124I-B-B4 mAb. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined from mice treated with 131I-B-B4 and the RIT efficacy evaluated.Results 125I-B-B4 affinity was in the nanomolar range (Kd = 4.39 ± 1.10 nM). CD138 expression on MDA-MB-468 cells was quite low (Bmax = 1.19 × 104 ± 9.27 × 102 epitopes/cell) but all expressed CD138 in vivo as determined by immunohistochemistry. The tumor uptake of 125I-B-B4 peaked at 14% injected dose (ID) per gram at 24 h and was higher than that of the isotype-matched control mAb (5% ID per gram at 24 h). Immuno-PET performed with 124I-B-B4 on tumor-bearing mice confirmed the specificity of B-B4 uptake and its retention within the tumor. The MTD was reached at 22.2 MBq. All mice treated with RIT (n = 8) as a single treatment at the MTD experienced a partial (n = 3) or complete (n = 5) response, with three of them remaining tumor-free 95 days after treatment.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that RIT with 131I-B-B4 could be considered for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer that cannot benefit from hormone therapy or anti-Her2/neu immunotherapy. Immuno-PET for visualizing CD138-expressing tumors with 124I-B-B4 reinforces the interest of this mAb for diagnosis and quantitative imaging

Legal framework of antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals (LEASH) : a European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) cross-sectional international survey

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is the cornerstone activity in the combat against antimicrobial resistance. In order to ensure sustainable deployment and development of AMS, a strategic and regulatory framework needs to be provided by national healthcare authorities. Experts from 32 European countries, Israel and Turkey were invited to participate in a cross-sectional internet-based survey from October 2016 to May 2017 on the legal framework and mandatory components (structures, activities) of AMS in hospitals, i.e. components required by legislation or regulations. We collected data from 25 countries and two regions (in countries with federal health administration). Laws regulating AMS existed in seven countries and one region. Other health ministry regulations were applicable in 13 countries and one region. National strategies and/or action plans approved by ministries of health were in place in 13 countries and one region. Conversely, five countries and one region had no regulation of AMS in hospitals. Funding for AMS in hospitals was provided in five countries and one region. Eight countries and one region reported mandatory AMS structures and activities complying with the Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR) structure, policy and practice indicators. In 10/27 cases, however, the mandatory AMS activities were not being fully carried out. The survey showed heterogeneous legal frameworks for AMS in hospitals, and in many countries it was even lacking. The situation may be critical in countries with poor control of antimicrobial use and resistance. Recent international initiatives calling on policy-makers to address the threat of antimicrobial resistance could yield improvement.peer-reviewe

Jouer en bibliothèque

Le développement du jeu vidéo mais également l’engouement des jeunes adultes pour les jeux de plateau, l’utilisation de dispositifs ludiques comme outils de médiation ou associés aux apprentissages sont venus prolonger les services des ludothèques et conduisent les bibliothèques à se réinventer pour devenir les lieux naturels où permettre la pratique de l’expérience du jeu dans toutes ses dimensions. Le plan s’organise autour de quatre parties : connaître le contexte (les espaces, les équipes, le droit), acquérir/valoriser (les fonds, jouets et serious games), animer/créer (projet de service, partenariats, médiation), et participer (une approche orientée communauté)

Genetic correlation between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia

A. Palotie on työryhmän Schizophrenia Working Grp Psychiat jäsen.We have previously shown higher-than-expected rates of schizophrenia in relatives of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting an aetiological relationship between the diseases. Here, we investigate the genetic relationship between ALS and schizophrenia using genome-wide association study data from over 100,000 unique individuals. Using linkage disequilibrium score regression, we estimate the genetic correlation between ALS and schizophrenia to be 14.3% (7.05-21.6; P = 1 x 10(-4)) with schizophrenia polygenic risk scores explaining up to 0.12% of the variance in ALS (P = 8.4 x 10(-7)). A modest increase in comorbidity of ALS and schizophrenia is expected given these findings (odds ratio 1.08-1.26) but this would require very large studies to observe epidemiologically. We identify five potential novel ALS-associated loci using conditional false discovery rate analysis. It is likely that shared neurobiological mechanisms between these two disorders will engender novel hypotheses in future preclinical and clinical studies.Peer reviewe

CESAME: The Personal History of Learning Mathematics in the Classroom. An Analysis of Students' Narratives

International audienceOur paper comes from the work we did in the Association pour le développement du Génie Cognitif, Nice (GECO) and more precisely in a project named CESAME supported by the Institut Universitaire pour la Formation des Maîtres (IUFM) of Nice. CESAME means: « Construction Expérientielle du Savoir, et Autrui dans les Mathématiques Enseignées » and our aim is to interpret what students say or write about their experience of mathematics and more precisely about their experience of the Necessity in mathematics