Bayesian Inference of Recursive Sequences of Group Activities from Tracks

We present a probabilistic generative model for inferring a description of coordinated, recursively structured group activities at multiple levels of temporal granularity based on observations of individuals' trajectories. The model accommodates: (1) hierarchically structured groups, (2) activities that are temporally and compositionally recursive, (3) component roles assigning different subactivity dynamics to subgroups of participants, and (4) a nonparametric Gaussian Process model of trajectories. We present an MCMC sampling framework for performing joint inference over recursive activity descriptions and assignment of trajectories to groups, integrating out continuous parameters. We demonstrate the model's expressive power in several simulated and complex real-world scenarios from the VIRAT and UCLA Aerial Event video data sets.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, in Proceedings of the 30th AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence (AAAI'16), Phoenix, AZ, 201

Spatial Structure Of Agricultural Biodiversity In Southern Mali

The diversity of cropping systems and varieties plays an important role in the ability of family farms to resist socio-economic and environmental shocks. For better conservation, agricultural diversity needs to be characterized and monitored in space and time. While initially dominated by the elements on price, surfaces, and productions, agricultural monitoring systems have recently incorporated diversity issues. The objective of this work is to analyze the spatial structure of agricultural biodiversity and to explain the links between this structure and the agronomic practices and results in family farms in southern Mali. The methodology was to develop, test, and maintain a conceptual model of spatial data on a sample of three villages. The analysis of these data is based on the spatial distribution of biodiversity and its correlation with the practices and agro-ecological conditions, results, and agronomic performance. The results show a very large specific and varietal diversity. We do not observe a clear link between spatial distribution and the characteristics of the physical environment, with the exception of the improved variety of Kalafoufigue located on a particular type of slope. The same observation is made when the relationship is between the spatial distribution of the variety and the technical route. Spatial analysis has developed a map of the diversity across the country village. Thus, spatial distribution points plot a surface distribution across local villages, and these results open the way for greater contributions of geographical analysis in agriculture and for scaling territories that remain a challenge for agriculture

Textilome paravertebral revele par des lombalgies 14 ans apres une discectomie lombaire. Revue de la litterature

Le textilome est rare et surtout asymptomatique dans les cas chroniques. Il peut être confondu avec d’autres masses des parties molles. Cette complication peropératoire a rarement été rapportée dans une localisation intraspinale ou paraspinale. Nous présentons un patient chez qui une compresse chirurgicale conservée entre les muscles paravertébraux a été découverte 14 ans après une chirurgie lombaire. L’imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM) a révélé une lésion de masse dans la région paravertébrale postérieure. Les textilomes devraient être inclus dans le diagnostic différentiel des masses de parties molles détectées chez les patients ayant des antécédents de chirurgie rachidienne postérieure.Mots clés: Textilome, chirurgie lombaire postérieure, complication chirurgicaleEnglish Title: Paraspinal textiloma revelated by lombalgia 14 year after lumbar discectomy. Review of the literatureEnglish AbstractTextiloma is rare and mostly asymptomatic in chronic cases. It can be confused with other soft tissue masses. This intraoperative complication has rarely been reported for an intraspinal or paraspinal location. We present a patient in whom a retained surgical sponge between the paraspinal muscles was encountered 14 years after lumbar surgery. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass lesion in the posterior paravertebral region.textilomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of paraspinal softtissue masses detected in patients with a history of posterior spinal surgery.Keywords: Textiloma, Posterior lumbar surgery, surgical complicatio

Characterization and prediction of the clinical result with a specific model of mini-scleral contact lens in corneas with keratoconus

Background: To investigate which factors are correlated with the visual improvement achieved with a specific model of scleral contact lens (SCL) in keratoconus (KC) eyes and to define a model to predict such improvement according to the pre-fitting data. In addition, the changes occurred with the fitting of a specific model of SCL during a period of 3 months in corneas with KC have been investigated. Methods: Longitudinal retrospective study including 30 eyes of 18 patients (age, 14–65 years) with KC fitted with the SCL ICD16.50 (Paragon Vision Sciences). Visual, refractive, corneal tomographic and ocular aberrometric changes were evaluated during a 3-month follow-up. Likewise, the characterization of the post-lens meniscus was performed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) with the measurement of central, nasal and temporal vaults. Results: The visual acuity increased significantly from a mean pre-fitting value with spectacles of 0.23 ± 0.07 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) to a mean value of 0.10 ± 0.04 logMAR after 1 month of SCL wear (P < 0.001). An improvement of 1 or more lines of visual acuity with the SCL occurred in 62.1% of the eyes. A significant decrease in central, nasal, and temporal vault was observed after 1 month of SCL wear (P ≤ 0.046). Likewise, there was a significant difference between nasal and temporal vaults during the first month of SCL use (P = 0.008). Furthermore, a significant reduction of ocular high order (P = 0.028) and primary coma root mean square (P = 0.018) was found with the SCL. A predicting linear equation of the change in visual acuity achievable with the SCL was obtained (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.878) considering the pre-fitting spectacle corrected distance visual acuity, and the power and sagittal lens of SCL. Conclusions: The scleral contact lens evaluated provides an efficacious visual rehabilitation in KC due to the improvement of visual acuity and the correction of low and high-order ocular aberrations. This visual acuity improvement can be predicted from some pre-fitting variables.The author David P. Piñero has been supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain within the program Ramón y Cajal, RYC-2016-20471

Dynamiques des paysages régionaux en zone cotonnière du Mali

International audienc

Evaluation of a new nomogram for Ferrara ring segment implantation in keratoconus

AIM: To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of Ferrara rings in keratoconus using an optimized nomogram developed after several years of research and retrospective analysis of clinical data. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal non-comparative clinical trial evaluated 88 eyes of 88 patients (age 18-62y) with keratoconus diagnosis from two Spanish centers. Ferrara ring segment (AJL Ophthalmic) implantation was performed in all cases, using the mechanical procedure in 25 eyes (28.4%) and a femtosecond laser-assisted procedure in 63 eyes (71.6%). The ring segments implanted in each case were selected using a new optimized nomogram that considered variables such as anterior corneal asphericity and astigmatism or the discrepancy among astigmatism and coma orientations. Visual, refractive, corneal topographic, aberrometric, and pachymetric changes after surgery were evaluated during a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The implants induced a significant refractive change as well as an improvement in uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA; P<0.001). Postoperative CDVA of 0.10 logMAR or better was achieved in 28.4% and 46.5% of eyes, respectively. Two eyes (2.3%) lost two or more lines of CDVA whereas a total of 53.5% of eyes gained lines of CDVA. A significant central anterior and posterior corneal flattening was induced (P≤0.003), with a significant reduction of anterior (P<0.001) and posterior corneal astigmatisms (P=0.048), and a change in anterior asphericity (P<0.001). Total primary coma (6 mm pupil) change was also statistically significant (preoperative 3.66±3.04 ?m vs postoperative 2.33±2.26 ?m, P<0.001). No significant differences were found in the effect of ring segments between cases implanted using the mechanical and femtosecond techniques (P≥0.101). CONCLUSION: The implantation of Ferrara rings based on the nomogram evaluated is safe and effective for promoting a visual rehabilitation in keratoconus, with a relevant control of primary coma aberration.Supported by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain within the program Ramón y Cajal (RYC-2016-20471)

Genome-wide CRISPR Screen in a Mouse Model of Tumor Growth and Metastasis

Genetic screens are powerful tools for identifying genes responsible for diverse phenotypes. Here we describe a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss-of-function screen in tumor growth and metastasis. We mutagenized a non-metastatic mouse cancer cell line using a genome-scale library with 67,405 single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs). The mutant cell pool rapidly generates metastases when transplanted into immunocompromised mice. Enriched sgRNAs in lung metastases and late-stage primary tumors were found to target a small set of genes, suggesting that specific loss-of-function mutations drive tumor growth and metastasis. Individual sgRNAs and a small pool of 624 sgRNAs targeting the top-scoring genes from the primary screen dramatically accelerate metastasis. In all of these experiments, the effect of mutations on primary tumor growth positively correlates with the development of metastases. Our study demonstrates Cas9-based screening as a robust method to systematically assay gene phenotypes in cancer evolution in vivo.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01-CA133404)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant U54 CA151884)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant P30-CA14051)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant 5DP1-MH100706)National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.) (Grant 5R01-DK097768