Efficient algorithms for the 2-Way Multi Modal Shortest Path Problem

7International audienceWe consider the 2-Way Multi Modal Shortest Path Problem (2WMMSPP). Its goal is tofi nd two multi modal paths with total minimal cost, an outgoing path and a return path. The main di fficulty lies in the fact that if a private car or bicycle is used during the outgoing path, it has to be picked up during the return path. The shortest return path is typically not equal to the shortest outgoing path as tra ffic conditions and timetables of public transportation vary throughout the day. In this paper we propose an e fficient algorithm based on bi-directional search and provide experimental results on a realistic multi modal transportation network

Le véhicule hybride rechargeable : un nouveau système sociotechnique

Le véhicule électrique induit-il de nouvelles façons de se mouvoir ? Ce texte, qui se situe dans le champ de la sociologie des usages, présente les évolutions que le véhicule hybride rechargeable apporte dans le système de mobilité des utilisateurs. Il s’agit en effet, pour les salariés le testant pendant les trois années de l’expérimentation, de modifier leur mode de conduite, mais également d’intégrer la pratique de recharge aux habitudes quotidiennes, afin de rester le plus possible en mode électrique. Les auteurs montrent également que les modalités de mise à disposition du véhicule (voiture de fonction, de service, ou dans un pool) clivent des usages différenciés du dispositif. En effet, l’attribution d’un véhicule à titre individuel (ou non) au sein de l’entreprise est un facteur explicatif des usages, tout aussi puissant que le caractère hybride rechargeable du véhicule : cette attribution nominative encourage des usages réguliers (notamment pour les trajets domicile-travail) et autorise une charge fréquente à domicile, autant d’aspects qui accroissent l’attachement à ce véhicule. Ces modalités contrastées de mise à disposition soulignent l’importance du dispositif sociotechnique complet, autrement dit de l’articulation entre déplacements et stationnement au sein du système de mobilité des individus.Does the electric vehicle imply new ways of travelling? How does the use of electricity for fuelling the electric vehicle modify the mobility system (driving style and parking behaviors) of the actors? As a matter of fact, the electric vehicle is not only a new product but it also reorganizes the whole travelling sociotechnical system. This text, based on a classical sociology of uses, presents the evolutions that this kind of vehicle induces. Some experimentators have indeed changed their way of driving and their whole mobility system during the long term trial, in order to stay in an electric driving mode as much as possible. The plug-in-hybrid vehicle underlines this fact even more than full electric vehicles, as the electric driving mode is not mandatory but voluntarily chosen. This text also shows that the changes that we can observe are not only related to the product (the electric vehicle) but also to the conditions of its diffusion. The ways of provisioning the electric vehicles in the involved organizations structure the perception and the use of the electric vehicles. We will analyze the links between the ways of provisioning the cars (allocation to one or several persons, for professional usage only or not, etc.) and the emergence of a new mobility system

Combined ecophysiological and transcriptomic analysis of Medicago truncatula seedling growth in cold conditions

International audienc

Transcriptomic and cellular analyses of heterotrophic growth at low temperature in Medicago truncatula

International audienc

Action de certains serums hétérologues antithymus animaux sur les leucocytes de sujets normaux et leucémiques. (Note préliminaire)

Les sérums antithymus de veau et de porc préparés sur le cheval exercent sur les leucocytes de sujets atteints de leucémie aiguë lymphoblastique, une activité cytotoxique nettement supérieure à celle constatée sur les lymphocytes normaux de donneurs apparte nant aux groupes sanguins A et 0. Les sérums antithymus de porc et de cheval préparés sur le mouton sont sans effet sur les lympho cytes de sujets sains mais ont une action sur les leucocytes de malades atteints de leucémie aiguë lymphoblastique. Le sérum de mouton antithymus de porc se montre également actif sur les leuco cytes de malades atteints de leucémie aiguë myéloblastique. S’ajou tant à la fragilité accrue des cellules malades, la présence ou la plus grande abondance d’antigènes communs aux cellules thymiques animales et à certains leucocytes « leucémiques », dans l’interpréta tion du phénomène, est discutée

Coonrad-Morrey total elbow arthroplasty for patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 54 prostheses reviewed at 7 years' average follow-up (maximum, 16 years)

BACKGROUND: Total elbow arthroplasty is a therapeutic option for severe rheumatoid arthritis. We hypothesized that the semiconstrained characteristics of the Coonrad-Morrey prosthesis do not compromise the survival rate of the implant in a rheumatoid elbow. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2012, there were 54 Coonrad-Morrey total elbow prostheses performed for rheumatoid arthritis in 46 patients. Minimum follow-up was 2 years. There were 35 women and 11 men with a mean age of 60 years (29-83 years). According to the Mayo classification for rheumatoid elbow, there were 30 type IIIA, 21 type IIIB, and 3 type IV. The surgical procedure was the same for all patients. Survivorship was assessed with use of the Kaplan-Meier method, with revision surgery as the end point. RESULTS: The survival rate was 97% (95% confidence interval, 83.6-99.6) at 5 years and 85% (95% confidence interval, 68.3-93.7) at 10 years. At an average of 7 years of follow-up (2-16 years), the mean Mayo Elbow Performance Score was 91 points (55-100 points), and the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 34 points (0-75 points). There was a significant improvement in Mayo Elbow Performance Score and in all range of motion at latest follow-up in comparison to preoperative values (P < .0001). Radiolucencies were observed in 6 cases around the humeral component and in 6 cases around the ulnar component. Bushing wear was observed in 16 cases (29%). There were 14 complications (26%). Revisions were performed in 6 of them (11%). CONCLUSION: The Coonrad-Morrey prosthesis provides satisfactory results with follow-up. The rate of complications remains high even if the rate of implant revision stayed low

Elimination of Active Trachoma after Two Topical Mass Treatments with Azithromycin 1.5% Eye Drops

Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide, accounting for 1.3 million cases of blindness. Although it has disappeared in many regions of the world, trachoma is still endemic in Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Latin America, Asia, and Australia. The WHO has currently set a target of 2020 for controlling trachoma to a low enough level that resulting blindness will not be a major public health concern. Topical tetracycline was for a long time the recommended treatment for active trachoma, but compliance to the regimen is extremely poor. Azithromycin has properties that make it an ideal treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis: high efficacy, intracellular accumulation, and a long tissue half-life. There is now a new mass treatment of trachoma by azithromycin 1.5% eye drops which is as effective as the oral route. In the test health district of Kolofata, Cameroon, the prevalence of trachoma among children dramatically decreased from 31% to less than 5% after 2 treatments. A third treatment was performed in January 2010. An epidemiological surveillance is implemented to see if this removal will be permanent. It also avoids misuse of oral azithromycin and the eye drops are directly treating the site of the infection

Polyhexamethylene biguanide promotes adaptive cross-resistance to gentamicin in Escherichia coli biofilms

Antimicrobial resistance is a critical public health issue that requires a thorough understanding of the factors that influence the selection and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Biocides, which are widely used in cleaning and disinfection procedures in a variety of settings, may contribute to this resistance by inducing similar defense mechanisms in bacteria against both biocides and antibiotics. However, the strategies used by bacteria to adapt and develop cross-resistance remain poorly understood, particularly within biofilms –a widespread bacterial habitat that significantly influences bacterial tolerance and adaptive strategies. Using a combination of adaptive laboratory evolution experiments, genomic and RT-qPCR analyses, and biofilm structural characterization using confocal microscopy, we investigated in this study how Escherichia coli biofilms adapted after 28 days of exposure to three biocidal active substances and the effects on cross-resistance to antibiotics. Interestingly, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) exposure led to an increase of gentamicin resistance (GenR) phenotypes in biofilms formed by most of the seven E. coli strains tested. Nevertheless, most variants that emerged under biocidal conditions did not retain the GenR phenotype after removal of antimicrobial stress, suggesting a transient adaptation (adaptive resistance). The whole genome sequencing of variants with stable GenR phenotypes revealed recurrent mutations in genes associated with cellular respiration, including cytochrome oxidase (cydA, cyoC) and ATP synthase (atpG). RT-qPCR analysis revealed an induction of gene expression associated with biofilm matrix production (especially curli synthesis), stress responses, active and passive transport and cell respiration during PHMB exposure, providing insight into potential physiological responses associated with adaptive crossresistance. In addition, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) observations demonstrated a global effect of PHMB on biofilm architectures and compositions formed by most E. coli strains, with the appearance of dense cellular clusters after a 24h-exposure. In conclusion, our results showed that the PHMB exposure stimulated the emergence of an adaptive cross-resistance to gentamicin in biofilms, likely induced through the activation of physiological responses and biofilm structural modulations altering gradients and microenvironmental conditions in the biological edifice