Cost and profit efficiency of french commercial banks

The purpose is to investigate the efficiency levels of commercial domestic versus foreign banks in France by comparing the use of basic accounting ratios and the stochastic cost and profit frontier analysis (SFA). We analyze the profit and cost efficiency of domestic and foreign banks operating in France using unbalanced sample, including 62 domestic and 40 foreign banks over the period 2000-2007. We show that foreign banks exhibit higher cost and profit efficiency than domestic banks. This finding goes against previous empirical literature, concluding on advantage of cost efficiency for domestic banks in developed countries such as France (Berger et al. (2000)). However, the comparison between the cost efficiency and the profit efficiency scores, suggests that foreign banks are better managed in terms of profit efficiency mainly due to higher cost efficiency. On the other side, profit efficiency of domestic banks, was due to higher revenue efficiency. This suggests that French domestic banks operate with excessive margins.efficiency, domestic banks, foreign banks

L'union libre chez les jeunes tunisiens

Le présent travail met en relief l'atome de la représentation sociale du mariage chez les jeunes tunisiens qui vivent en union libre et son rapport complexe avec leurs vécus, leurs opinions, leurs attitudes, leurs pratiques et leurs expériences. L'accès de plus en plus facile aux nouvelles conduites "occidentales" à l'échelle des pratiques sexuelles et leur contexte sociohistorique jouent ensemble un rôle décisif dans cette dynamique représentationnelle. Notre enquête montre que l'atome de la représentation sociale du mariage chez les jeunes vivants en union libre est organisé autour de quatre éléments centraux : "ichra ", "hana" et "responsabilité" (le proton) et "relation officielle" (le neutron)

Evaluation of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Tunisian Artemisia Herba-alba essential oil

Tunisia is characterized by a climate that allows the proliferation of many plants rich in active substances with multiple biological activities and can replace the use of antioxidants and synthetic antibiotics. For this reason, Artemisia leaves and twigs were collected from the central region of Tunisia (Thala). The essential oil was extracted using hydro-distillation and analyzed using GC/MS, the antioxidant activity of Artemisia Herba-alba was evaluated by the DPPH test and the antibacterial powers against four bacterial strains was measured by the agar well method diffusion. GC/MS results showed that the main components of Artemisia Herba-alba essential oil were ?-thujone (23.9 %) and chrysanthenone (17.4%). Indeed, the results showed a potent antioxidant effect (85.2 % inhibition of free radicals DPPH) and the IC50 value was 84.8 µg/ml. Concerning the antibacterial activity, the oil was active against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. A strong effect was observed against Salmonella (29mm) and Bacillus (22.5 mm). To conclude, the antioxidant power and the antibacterial activity are strongly correlated with the chemical composition of the essential oil. Keywords: Artemisia Herba-alba, essential oil, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activit

In vitro ruminal fermentation, nutritional evaluation and antioxidant activity of some forest shrubs of North West Tunisia for goats

Chemical composition and characteristics of in vitro fermentation were determined for two shrubs (Genista aspalathoides and Rhamnus alaternus) collected from north western Tunisia. The primary and secondary chemical composition was determined and in vitro fermentation parameters were measured in 100 ml glass syringes for 48 hours to determine gas production. There are significant differences in chemical and wall composition for the two shrubs studied (p < 0.05). Rhamnus alaternus is richer in secondary metabolites (59.2 mg GAE / g DM) than Genista aspalathoides and has the highest content of crude protein (CP). Genista aspalathoides had the lowest anti-radical activity since it has the highest levels of secondary metabolites, so it is the most digestible species with the highest value of gas production after 24 hours incubation and released more methane than Rhamnus alaternus. Keywords: Shrub, Chemical composition, in vitro fermentation, antioxidant activity, methan

Modulation de la santé digestive des poulets alimentés sans antibiotiques

Bien que les principales indications pour l’utilisation des antibiotiques en alimentation animale sont d’ordre curative et préventive, il est reconnu que leur utilisation permet également l’amélioration des performances de croissance, ce qui leur a valu leur appellation de « facteurs de croissance ». Les antibiotiques facteurs de croissance (AFC) permettent de maintenir une concentration constante d’antibiotiques chez l’animal afin de pouvoir contrôler la flore intestinale et donc prévenir ou minimiser certains problèmes de santé. Plusieurs pratiques reliées à l’utilisation des antibiotiques en élevage pour améliorer les performances zootechniques ont par contre été remises en question face à l’émergence de l’antibiorésistance et ce, notamment du point de vue de la santé publique et de la sécurité sanitaire des aliments. Depuis 1999, le retrait des antibiotiques dans les élevages de poulets de chair en Europe a été associé à la résurgence d’entérite nécrotique, une maladie intestinale causée par la bactérie Clostridium perfringens. Alors que la prévention de cette maladie semblait bien maîtrisée, le retrait des antibiotiques a montré que peu de solutions de remplacement sont disponibles pour prévenir cette maladie. C’est donc avec l’objectif principal d’identifier des alternatives efficaces qu’a été tout d’abord réalisé une méta-analyse pour distinguer les alternatives aux AFC les plus fréquemment étudiés et évaluer numériquement leur effet dans l’améliorations des performances de croissance. Cette métaanalyse fut suivie par des essais pratiques. Ces derniers, ont été testé l’impact du remplacement des AFCen station expérimentale sur les performances de croissance, et la santé digestive des poulets grâce à divers indicateurs (tels que le dosage de pH et humidité de litière, l’histomorphométrie des cryptes et villosités intestinales, les mesures des concentrations des acides gras à chaine courte dans les caeca et des indicateurs sériques). Les alternatives étudiées étaient des acides organiques, des prébiotiques synthétique et naturels (Avoine nue), des probiotiques et des produits phylogéniques et des huiles essentielles. La présente étude a permis de quantifier l'effet des alternatives aux AFC sur les performances de croissance à travers les divers modèles actuels établis par notre méta-analyse. En plus, elle nous a permis de comparer ces alternatives aux AFC et de caractériser leur effet sur les performances de croissance et la santé digestive des poulets de chair élevés sans antibiotiques au Québec.Although the principal use of antibiotics in animal feed is therapeutic and prophylaxic, it has been known for a long time that their use also improves growth performance, which has earned them the designation of "growth promoters ". Antibiotics (AGP) help maintain a constant concentration of antibiotics in the gut in order to control the intestinal flora and therefore prevent or minimize certain health problems. An important global problem in recent years is the development of antibiotic resistance. This made questioned several practices related to antibiotic use in animal production to improve zootechnical performance, particularly from the point of view of food safety and public health. Since 2006, antibiotic withdrawal from broiler chickens in Europe has been associated with the resurgence of necrotic enteritis, an intestinal disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens. While the pathogenesis of the disease seemed to be well understood, the absence of preventive infeed antibiotics has underlined that few alternatives are available to prevent this disease. In this context, this thesis goal was to study the alternatives to AGP first with a meta-analysis, to distinguish which AGP alternatives are the most studied and likely to improve growth performance. This meta-analysis was then followed by field trials wherethe impact of the AGP replacement were tested in animal husbandry in Quebec. Growth performances, as well as chickens digestive health of were evaluated usingvarious markers (such as litter pH and moisture, intestinal crypts and villi histomorphometry, cecal short chain fatty acids concentrations and measurements of seric blood indicators). Tested alternatives included organic acids, synthetic and natural prebiotics (naked oats), probiotics, phytogenic herbal products and essential oils. The current study made it possible to quantify the effect of alternatives to AGP on growth performance through the various current models established by our meta-analysis. In addition, it has enabled us to better document, from a scientific point of view, to compare these alternatives and to characterize their effect on the digestive health of broilers raised without antibiotics in Quebec

Valeur économique du patrimoine des bibliothèques publiques : quelques éléments pour l\u27analyse de l\u27offre patrimoniale de la Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon (La)

La valeur économique des collections patrimoniales des bibliothèques publiques se définit à la base de certains fondements sociaux, cognitifs, émotionnels, politiques, historiques et économiques. Ce mémoire se propose d’analyser la valeur économique du patrimoine de la Bibliothèque municipale de Lyon en l’abordant du point de vue des acteurs de l’offre. Ces derniers se répartissent entre les professionnels, les élus, l’administration (l’Etat), les associations et les partenaires économiques (agents commerciaux et mécènes). Les représentations qu’ils se font de ce patrimoine et les politiques qu’ils lui appliquent ne sont pas toujours concordantes. Ce qui n’est pas sans conséquences sur sont statut et sa valeur

Study of thiabendazole resistance and volatile organic compounds production of Penicillium expansum strains

The years of excessive use of thiabendazole to control Penicillium expansum has induced the development of resistance. Sensitivity of fourty eight strains collected from orchards and packinghouses in Emilia Romagna to pure and commercial TBZ was determined in vitro on TBZ amended medium (400μg/mL). Out of 48 strains, 35 were thiabendazole-sensitive (S) and 13 were thiabendazole-resistant (R). Microtiter assay adapted to P. expansum, showed EC50 values ranging from 54 to 320 μg/mL for ten TBZ-resistant strains. At the highest dose (50 μg/mL), resistant strains growth was not inhibited and the reported MICs value were >1000 μg/mL. Therefore, preliminary screening combined with microtiter assay, can be a good strategy to test susceptibility to TBZ. Mutations in the β-tubulin gene were studied on amino acid sequences from residue 167 to residue 357 of 10 P. expansum strains. Mutation at codon 198 was associated with TBZ-resistance. However, its absence in 3 resistant strains can be explained by the involvement of other mechanisms. Moreover, a P. expansum strain LB8/99 showed good antifungal effect against some fungal pathogens through double petri dish assay. It inhibited both mycelium growth and conidia germination of B. cinerea, C. acutatum, and M. laxa, and reduced significantly by 53% and 18% respectively P. expansum. Three major VOCS: geosmin, phenethyl alcolhol (PEA) and an unknown substance were identified by GC-MS analysis. Consistent fumigation of fungal pathogens with PEA (1230 mg/mL), inhibited both conidia germination and mycelium growth of all pathogens, except conidia germination of P. expansum that was reduced by 90% with respect to control. While, the concentration of PEA produced naturally by LB8/99 was ineffective in controlling the pathogens and seemed to have a synergic or additive effect with the other VOCS. Investigations to study the biofumigant effect of LB8/99 on other commodities like seeds and seedlings are in progress