Too poor to live? A case study of vulnerability and maternal mortality in Burkina Faso.

This paper examines the concept of vulnerability in the context of maternal morbidity and mortality in Burkina Faso, an impoverished country in West Africa. Drawing on a longitudinal cohort study into the consequences of life-threatening or 'near miss' obstetric complications, we provide an in-depth case study of one woman's experience of such morbidity and its aftermath. We follow Kalizeta's trajectory from her near miss and the stillbirth of her child to her death from pregnancy-related hypertension after a subsequent delivery less than two years later, in order to examine the impact of severe and persistent illness and catastrophic health expenditure on her health and on her family's everyday life. Kalizeta's case illustrates how vulnerability in health emerges and is maintained or exacerbated over time. Even where social arrangements are supportive, structural impediments, including unaffordable and inadequate healthcare, can severely limit individual resilience to mitigate the negative social and economic consequences of ill health

Energy Efficient Network Resource Allocation Scheme for Hose Model

Given the exponential growth in telecommunication networks, more and more attention is being paid to their energy consumption. However, the often over-provisioned　wired network is still overlooked. In core networks, pairs of routers are typically connected by multiple physical cables that form one logical bundled link participating in　the intra-domain routing protocol. To reduce the energy consumption of hose-model　networks with bundled cables, we propose a scheme to deactivate the maximum number　of cables, and associated equipment, possible. A similar approach has been presented　for the pipe model, where the exact traffic matrix is assumed to be known. Due to　traffic　uncertainty, however, it is difficult for operators to have exact knowledge of the　traffic matrix. This traffic uncertainty can be avoided by using the hose model, which　specifies only the upper bounds of the egress/ingress traffic from/to a node. We introduce a mixed integer linear problem formulation that yields the optimal solution and a more practical and near optimal heuristic algorithm for large networks. Our performance evaluation results show that it offers up to 50% power reduction compared to shortest path routing.電気通信大学201

Clustering Plasmodium falciparum Genes to their Functional Roles Using k-means

We developed recently a new and novel Metric Matrics k-means (MMk-means) clustering algorithm to cluster genes to their functional roles with a view of obtaining further knowledge on many P. falciparum genes. To further pursue this aim, in this study, we compare three different k-means algorithms (including MMk-means) results from an in-vitro microarray data (Le Roch et al., Science, 2003) with the classification from an in-vivo microarray data (Daily et al., Nature, 2007) in other to perform a comparative functional classification of P. falciparum genes and further validate the effectiveness of our MMk-means algorithm. Results from this study indicate that the resulting distribution of the comparison of the three algorithms’ in vitro clusters against the in vivo clusters are similar thereby authenticating our MMk-means method and its effectiveness. However, Daily et al. claim that the physiological state (the environmental stress response) of P. falciparum in selected malaria-infected patients observed in one of their clusters can not be found in any in-vitro clusters is not true as our analysis reveal many in-vitro clusters representation in this cluster

Fréquence des vices de réfractions chez les enfants et adolescents âgés de 5 à 18 ans à l’Institut d’ophtalmologie tropicale d’Afrique, au Mali : Prevalence of refractive defects in children and adolescents aged from 5 to 18 at African tropical ophtamology Institute, in Mali

Context and purpose. Refractive errors are a social and educational public health problem but little is known about it’s burden in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and describe refractive errors in children and adolescents in school environment. Methods. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, children aged between 5 and 18 years performed ocular examination from January 2017 to February 2018 at Optometry Department of the Institute of Tropical Ophthalmology of Africa (Iota). Parameters of interests were: sociodemographic, optometric and ophthalmological data The optometric examination data. Results. 220 subjects were enrolled. Their average age was 11 years and the sex ratio was 1.85/1 in favor of girls. The prevalence of refractive vice was 46.8%. Overall, it was: astigmatism 55.53%, hyperopia 27.18% of cases and myopia 2.91%. Emmetropia accounted for 14.38% of cases. Conclusion: Roughly half of children and adolescents exhibit refractive errors, mainly astigmatism (which may lead to amblyopia if not corrected). Studies in order to search risk factors for refractive vice are needed. Contexte et objectif. Les vices de réfraction, constituent un problème de santé publique sur le plan social et scolaire, mais leur ampleur dans les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne est peu connue. La présente étude avait pour objectif de déterminer la fréquence et décrire des vices de réfractions chez les enfants et adolescents en âge scolaire. Méthodes. Dans étude transversale et descriptive, les enfants âgés de 5 à 18 ans ; ont subi un examen oculaire, entre janvier 2017 et février 2018, dans le service d’optométrie de l’institut d’ophtalmologie tropicale d’Afrique (Iota). Les paramètres d’intérêt comprenaient les données sociodémographiques, optométriques et ophtalmologiques. Résultats. 220 sujets ont été examinés. Leur âge moyen était de 11 ans avec un sexe ratio de 1,8/1 en faveur des filles. La fréquence hospitalière du vice réfractif a été de 46,8%. Dans l’ensemble, il s’agissait : l’astigmatisme 55,53%, l’hypermétropie 27,18% des cas et la myopie 2,91%. Les emmétropes représentaient 14,38% des cas. Conclusion. Près de la moitié d’enfants en âge scolaire présentent des vices de réfraction, en particulier l’astigmatisme (avec risque d’amblyopie si non corrigé). Des études ultérieures à la recherche des facteurs de risque de cette pathologie sont à envisager

Géomorphologie Dynamique: Analyse Systémique De La Morphodynamique Hydrique Continentale Par Ravinement

L’histoire de la géomorphologie a connu une grande révolution paradigmatique avec les travaux de WiliamMoris Davis. Il a défini le système géomorphologique comme l’ensemble de toutes les formes de la surface de la terre subissant des transformations et étant la fonction des trois variantes : structure, processus et temps. Cependant, le positionnement d’emblée des réflexions géomorphologiques dans l’analyse systémique conduit à élargir les problématiques du champ disciplinaire de cette science. Dans le cas de la géomorphologie dynamique, ce type d’analyse conduit à concevoir des recherches intégrées au sein des bassins versants afin de mieux mettre en lumière certains processus morphodynamiques. En l’absence de zone d’étude précise, l’étude est basée sur un balayage des connaissances bibliographiques à travers le domaine continental dans sa globalité. Ainsi, l’article montre que l’analyse systémique demeure une approche efficace pour lire en intégralité le fonctionnement des processus morpodynamiques hydriques continentales en géomorphologie, en particulier le ravinement. La caractérisation du ravinement sur un bassin versant grâce à l’analyse systémique doit se fonder sur trois caractéristiques essentielles : hydrologique, morphogénique et anthropique. Chaque critère correspondant à l’une des notions géographiques fondamentales : Temps, Espace et Société. The history of geomorphology has undergone a great paradigmatic revolution with the work of Wiliam Moris Davis. He defined the geomorphological system as the set of all forms of the earth’s surface undergoing transformation and being the function of three variants: structure, process and time. However, the immediate positioning of geomorphological reflections in systemic analysis leads to widening the problems of the disciplinary field of this science. In the case of dynamic geomorphology, this type of analysis leads to the design of integrated research within watersheds in order to better highlight certain morphodynamic processes. In the absence of a precise study area, the study is based on a sweeping of bibliographic knowledge across the continental domain as a whole. Thus, the article shows that systemic analysis remains an effective approach to fully read the functioning of continental water morphological processes in geomorphology, in particular gullying. The characterization of gullying on a watershed using systemic analysis must be based on three essential characteristics: hydrological, morphogenic and anthropogenic. Each criterion corresponding to one of the fundamental geographic concepts: Time, Space and Society

The Behavioral Determinants of Intestinal Schistosomiasis Transmission: Water Contact, Hygienic Practices and Risk Prevention. A study in Northern Senegal

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is one of the major parasitic diseases in the world, ranking second only to malaria in terms of its socio-economic and public health importance in tropical and subtropical areas (WHO, 1985; WHO, 2002). At least 200 million people are infected and 600 million at risk. An estimated 85% of all cases occur in Africa. Schistosomiasis is caused by infection with blood-dwelling fl uke worms (trematodes) of the genus Schistosoma. These are transmitted by fresh water snails and contracted through the skin during water contact. Humans can be infected by fi ve different species of the parasite, each of which has its own characteristics and effects. Except where mentioned differently, this thesis considers S. mansoni, the parasite of intestinal schistosomiasis in Northern Senegal

Pratiques De Tableaux De Bord Dans Les PME : Une Etude Des Caracteristiques Et Raisons D’utilisation En Côte d’Ivoire

L’objectif de cet article est de comprendre les caractéristiques des tableaux de bord des PME ivoiriennes et les raisons de leur utilisation. Une étude qualitative exploratoire sur un échantillon de 21 PME révèle diverses caractéristiques et raisons d’utilisations ou non des tableaux de bord. Les résultats ont montré deux types d’entreprises. Celles dont les dirigeants affirment utiliser un TDB et celles dont les dirigeants ne l’utilisent pas à priori. Pour les premières entreprises, les tableaux de bord utilisés sont réactifs avec une fréquence de production pouvant aller du mensuel à l’année. Et un délai d’un jour en temps réel à un mois. Ils sont utilisés pour le suivi des activités, entrainer la compétition entre les employés, l’efficacité et l’obligation de résultat et la cohésion entre la hiérarchie et les opérationnels. Pour lessecondes entreprises, contrairement à l’affirmation des membres des équipes dirigeantes enquêtés, le TDB existe sous forme physique en compte de résultat ou sous forme invisible dans le cognitif du dirigeant. Ils perçoivent l’outil comme réservé aux grandes entreprises, au développement de leur activité. Les pratiques informelles coexistent avec les pratiques formelles. Ce rapport serait en partie l’effet des empreintes de la culture d’oralité des peuples africains. The purpose of this article is to understand the forms that dashboards take in an SME context and the reasons for their use. A qualitative exploratory study on a sample of 21 SMEs reveals various forms and reasons for using dashboards or not. The results showed two types of businesses. Those whose leaders claim to use a dashboards and those who do not use it a priori. For the first companies, the dashboards used are reactive with a production frequency that can range from monthly to year. And from one day in real time to one month. They are used for monitoring activities, training competition between employees, efficiency and the obligation to achieve results, and cohesion between the hierarchy and operational staff. For the second companies, contrary to the assertion of the members of the surveyed management teams, this exists in physical form in income statement or in invisible form in the manager’s cognitive. They perceive the tool as reserved for large companies, for the development of their activity. Informal practices coexist with formal practices. This report would be in part the effect of the imprints of the oral culture of the African peoples