Not All Bad Apples Spoil the Bunch: Order Effects on the Evaluation of Groups

When group members are encountered in a random sequential order, people expect the first (vs. middle or last) member to be more diagnostic of the group. Therefore, they weigh the performance of the first (vs. middle or last) more heavily in their predictions and decisions about the whole group

Bathymétrie d’une baie lagunaire et son incidence sur la répartition des métaux lourds : cas de la baie d’Abouabou en lagune Ebrié, Côte d’Ivoire

La lagune Ebrié et ses baies sont le siège d’une sédimentation active notamment par les métaux lourds (zinc, fer, cuivre, manganèse, mercure et cadmium). La baie d’Abouabou, qui appartient à cette lagune, n’échappe pas à ce phénomène. Plusieurs facteurs peuvent influencer la répartition de ces métaux dans les fonds lagunaires. A partir de la bathymétrie de la baie, il a été mis en évidence l’influence de celle-ci sur la répartition de ces métaux. La nouvelle carte bathymétrique réalisée a révélé un taux de comblement de la baie de l’ordre de 14 cm/an entre 1979 et 2000.Mots-clés: lagune Ebrié, baie d’Abouabou, métaux lourds, bathymétrie, Côte d’Ivoire Bathymetry of a bay and its impact on the variation of heavy metals: cas of Abouabou bay in Ebrié Lagoon, Côte d’Ivoire The Ebrié lagoon and its bays are the area of an active sedimentation especially by the heavy metals polluting (zinc, iron, copper, manganese, mercury and cadmium). It is the case of the bay of Abouabou of the Ebrié lagoon. Several factors can influence the variation of these metals in the lagoon. From the bathymetry, it was highlighted the influence of this one on the distribution of these metals. Moreover bathymetry revealed that this bay undergoes a filling which is estimated at 3 m between 1979 and 2000.Keywords: EbriéLagoon, Abouabou bay, heavy Metals, Bathymetry, Côte d’Ivoir

The First-Member Heuristic: Group Members Labeled “First” Influence Judgment and Treatment of Groups

People often make judgments about a group (e.g., immigrants from a specific country) based on information about a single group member. Seven studies (N = 1,929) tested the hypothesis that people will expect the performance of an arbitrarily ordered group to match that of the group member in the first position of a sequence more closely than that of group members in other positions. This greater perceived diagnosticity of the first member will in turn affect how people treat the group. This pattern of judgment and treatment of groups, labeled the “firstmember heuristic,” generalized across various performance contexts (e.g., gymnastic outine, relay race, job performance), and regardless of whether the focal member performed poorly or well (Studies 1-3). Consistent with the notion that first members are deemed most informative, participants were most likely to turn to the member in the first (vs. other) position to learn about the group (Study 4). Further, through their disproportionate influence on the expected performance of other group members, first members’ performances also influenced participants’ support of policies that would benefit or hurt a group (Study 5) and their likelihood to join a group (Study 6). Finally, perceived group homogeneity moderated the first-member heuristic, such that it attenuated for nonhomogeneous groups (Study 7)

Feeling Judged? The Presence of Outgroup Members Promotes Virtuous Choices

We investigate whether the presence of an ingroup vs. outgroup observer influences consumer choices of virtuous versus indulgent foods. In seven studies, we find that consumers make healthier choices in the presence of outgroup (vs. ingroup) others, mediated by the anticipation of being judged negatively by outgroup members

Bioconversion of palm kernel meal for aquaculture: Experiences from the forest region (Republic of Guinea)

Proteins and fats locked in palm kernel meal cannot be used directly by fishes. Enzyme from maggots (Hermetia illucens larvae) lyses and extracts those nutrients which are consumed as food. Biomasses of maggots produced can be used to feed fishes. This innovation opens a new hope for many African countries where so much agro-industry by-products exist such as palm kernel meal, groundnut meal, cotton seed meal. The different aspects involved in this discovery are explained before the sequence ofprocesses up to final discovery is described

Evaluation et amélioration du comportement de Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) S. Watson en milieux salés au Sénégal

La salinisation des sols constitue l’une des principales menaces à la  productivité agricole dans les zones estuariennes du Sénégal. La mycorhization pourrait améliorer l’efficacité de la méthode biologique de désalinisation des sols. Atriplex lentiformis associé ou non au champignon Rhizophagus irregulare a été observé en milieu réel, et en serre dans un dispositif bi-factoriel (mycorhization et salinité) en blocs complets randomisés avec 3 répétitions. Les variables mesurées sont la hauteur, le diamètre, la litière, la teneur en eau, en sodium des plants, la salinité et l’acidité du sol. Les résultats montrent un taux de mortalité supérieur à 90% en milieu réel. Les individus plantés sur ados ont développé un enracinement superficiel alors que les semis naturels ont présenté un système racinaire pivotant et profond. La mycorhization a entraîné une réduction de la mortalité de 5,56%, une importante persistance des feuilles, une teneur en eau plus élevée dans les tiges et racines que dans les feuilles et enfin un stockage de sodium plus élevé dans les feuilles. La dose de sel 186 g.l-1 a été létale pour Atriplex lentiformis, mycorhizé ou non. La symbiose endomycorhizienne améliore ainsi le comportement de Atriplex lentiformis en milieu salé.Mots clés : Atriplex lentiformis, mycorhization, salinité, stress, Sénégal

Stabilization and Riesz basis property for an overhead crane model with feedback in velocity and rotating velocity

This paper studies a variant of an overhead crane model's problem, with a control force in velocity and rotating velocity on the platform. We obtain under certain conditions the well-posedness and the strong stabilization of the closed-loop system. We then analyze the spectrum of the system. Using a method due to Shkalikov, we prove the existence of a sequence of generalized eigenvectors of the system, which forms a Riesz basis for the state energy Hilbert space

Metabolic Comparison of One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass, Single-Anastomosis Duodenal-Switch, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy in Rat

Background One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) and single-anastomosis duodenal switch (SADS) have become increasingly popular weight loss strategies. However, data directly comparing the effectiveness of these procedures with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are limited. Objectives To examine the metabolic outcomes of OAGB, SADS, RYGB, and SG in a controlled rodent model. Setting Academic research laboratory, United States. Methods Surgeries were performed in diet-induced obese Long-Evans rats, and metabolic outcomes were monitored before and for 15 weeks after surgery. Results All bariatric procedures induced weight loss compared with sham that lasted throughout the course of the study. The highest percent fat loss occurred after OAGB and RYGB. All bariatric procedures had improved glucose dynamics associated with an increase in insulin (notably OAGB and SADS) and/or glucagon-like protein-1 secretion. Circulating cholesterol was reduced in OAGB, SG, and RYGB. OAGB and SG additionally decreased circulating triglycerides. Liver triglycerides were most profoundly reduced after OAGB and RYGB. Circulating iron levels were decreased in all surgical groups, associated with a decreased hematocrit value and increased reticulocyte count. The fecal microbiome communities of OAGB, SADS, and RYGB were significantly altered; however, SG exhibited no change in microbiome diversity or composition. Conclusions These data support the use of the rat for modeling bariatric surgical procedures and highlight the ability of the OAGB to meet or exceed the metabolic improvements of RYGB. These data point to the likelihood that each surgery accomplishes metabolic improvements through both overlapping and distinct mechanisms and warrants further research

Qualité microbiologique des tranches de mangues (Mangifera indica L.) vendues à Dakar (Sénégal)

La mangue, principal fruit du Sénégal, est transformée en tranches et vendue en sachets dans les rues de Dakar. Ce produit est sensible aux altérations microbiennes faute de technologies de conservation adaptées au contexte local. Ce travail propose une évaluation de la qualité  microbiologique du produit et de son impact sur la santé des  consommateurs. Pour cette étude, 3 répétitions d’échantillons par vendeur ont été prélevées chez quatorze vendeurs de cinq quartiers (Médina, Fann, Habitats Loyers Modernes ou HLM, Grand Yoff et Guédiawaye). Ensuite, des analyses ont été menées pour la recherche de la flore mésophile aérobie totale, de coliformes, d’entérobactéries et d’Escherichia coli présomptifs. Les résultats montrent une forte pollution des échantillons en flore totale sauf pour l’échantillon V3 (vendeur 3) des HLM et une charge élevée en coliformes et en Escherichia coli (> 103 UFC/g). D’autres entérobactéries comme Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter amnigenus, Serrati  rubidaea et Klebsiella pneumoniae sont retrouvées respectivement dans les échantillons V2 de Médina, V1 de Fann, V1 et V2 Guédiawaye. Ces bactéries ne présentent pas de risques sur la santé publique mais rendent le produit impropre à la consommation. Cette étude nécessite une expansion aux autres quartiers pour mieux veiller sur la santé des consommateurs.Mots clés: Evaluation, qualité, microbiologie, mangues, santé des consommateurs, Dakar