Prevalentie van eenzaamheid bij 65-plussers in België

Poster (2013, February)

Méthodes Booléennes en recherche opérationnelle

Conference (2013, February)

Le titre de cette conférence est celui d'une monographie cosignée par Peter L. Hammer et Sergiu Rudeanu, et dont la publication en 1968 a inspiré un nombre important de travaux de recherche. Très ... [more ▼]

Le titre de cette conférence est celui d'une monographie cosignée par Peter L. Hammer et Sergiu Rudeanu, et dont la publication en 1968 a inspiré un nombre important de travaux de recherche. Très récemment, le regretté Peter Hammer et moi-même avons publié deux lointaines mises à jour de cet ouvrage classique: une monographie intitulée Boolean Functions: Theory, Algorithms, and Applications (700 pages, Cambridge University Press, 2011) et une collection de surveys sur le thème Boolean Models and Methods in Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering (780 pages, Cambridge University Press, 2010). La taille de ces deux volumes et de leurs sections bibliographiques sont les témoins de la vitalité de ce domaine de recherche et de son développement impressionnant. Les fonctions booléennes comptent en effet parmi les objets les plus fondamentaux étudiés en mathématiques. Elles interviennent dans de nombreux modèles utilisés en recherche opérationnelle, informatique, intelligence artificielle, économie, ingénierie, cryptographie, biologie et autres domaines d'application. Dans cet exposé, nous proposons un bref aperçu de quelques modèles booléens fondamentaux et de leurs applications. [less ▲]

Nouvelles perspectives pour l’alimentation des prématurés et leur croissance postnatale

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2013), 68(2), 79-85

Adolescents' self-control. Which impact os Societal Vulnerability and Violent Values ? A gender comparison.

in Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice (2013), 29(1), 13-31

The present study contributes to the study of self-control among adolescents by testing how self-control is affected by societal vulnerability and violent values and by investigating how (in)variant this ... [more ▼]

The present study contributes to the study of self-control among adolescents by testing how self-control is affected by societal vulnerability and violent values and by investigating how (in)variant this relationship is for boys and girls. The Belgian International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-2) data were used to assess to what extent positive attitudes toward violence can be seen as mediators in the relationship between societal vulnerability and self-control. The findings suggest that violent values mediate the relationship between societal vulnerability and self-control. Despite results indicating higher self-control among females, when conducting the analyses separately by gender, we found that the relationship between societal vulnerability and self-control was very similar for boys and girls. It is concluded that societally vulnerable boys and girls are equally affected by the intermediate mechanism of violent values. [less ▲]

A Continuum Damage Mechanics Model for the Analysis of the Crashworthiness of Composite Structures: A work in progress

in Proceedings of the 15th Australian Aeronautical Conference (2013, February)

The crashworthiness capability of an aircraft structure is dependent on its ability to attenuate crash loading via the controlled deformation of energy absorbing devices. An energy-based constitutive ... [more ▼]

The crashworthiness capability of an aircraft structure is dependent on its ability to attenuate crash loading via the controlled deformation of energy absorbing devices. An energy-based constitutive relation was employed to model the behaviour of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy resin composite material under crush loading. Each of the damage modes in the fibre and matrix was treated separately with its own damage initiation and progression relationships as well as a damage parameter that tracks damage progression. Each damage parameter dictates the reduction in stiffness in the respective principal loading directions. This model was implemented for a 3D solid brick element in contrast to shell-based formulations currently available. Crushing composite structures were modelled and the results validated against experimental data. The force-displacement response / specific energy absorption and the failure modes obtained from the simulation show that the underlying physics of the crushing have been captured by the proposed model but that further work is required for reliable quantitative correlation. [less ▲]

Tumor microenvironment converts plasmacytoid dendritic cells into immunosuppressive/tolerogenic cells: insight into the molecular mechanisms

in Journal of Leukocyte Biology (2013), 93

Human pDCs represent a rare population of circulating cells characterized by a rapid and massive TLR-dependent secretion of type I IFN in response to pathogenic agents or danger signals. Through their ... [more ▼]

Human pDCs represent a rare population of circulating cells characterized by a rapid and massive TLR-dependent secretion of type I IFN in response to pathogenic agents or danger signals. Through their capacity to bring together innate and adaptive immunity and to secrete soluble factors controlling cancer development, these cells could represent important actors in antitumor immunity. However, accumulating evidence suggests that pDCs recruited to the tumor microenvironment often display a nonactivated state and are associated with the development and maintenance of immunosuppression. Here, we present an overview of neoplastic lesions associated with an infiltration of immunosuppressive/ tolerogenic pDC. Moreover, as the proper response of pDC against cancer depends on a critical balance between immune-activating and immune-suppressing mechanisms, we summarize current knowledge about the molecular pathways developed by tumors to prevent antitumoral pDC immune responses. A better understanding of the mechanisms regulating pDC function in tumors could aid in the development of new therapies. Indeed, effective cancer vaccines or therapies could combine immunoactivating strategies (i.e., TLR agonists) with elimination of immune-suppressing mechanisms, leading to pDC reprogramming and thus, allowing tumor rejection in a clinical setting. [less ▲]

L'intérêt des races mixtes dans les systèmes laitiers : enseignements du projet BlueSel

in 18ième Carrefour des Productions animales : Nouvelles approches pour une optimisation de nos élevages laitiers (2013, February)

La « Bleue Mixte » (BM) est une race à petit effectif localisée de part et d’autre de la frontière franco-belge. Menacée de disparition, elle bénéficie d’un projet transfrontalier BlueSel soutenu par le ... [more ▼]

La « Bleue Mixte » (BM) est une race à petit effectif localisée de part et d’autre de la frontière franco-belge. Menacée de disparition, elle bénéficie d’un projet transfrontalier BlueSel soutenu par le programme européen INTERREG IV et les autorités françaises et wallonnes. L’objectif de ce projet est d’assurer la conservation, la sélection et la promotion de la BM. L’un des volets du programme a consisté à étudier la rentabilité économique des troupeaux BM. Il s’est appuyé sur un réseau de 16 fermes de références mis en place fin 2008 jusque mi 2012. La collecte des données techniques et économiques sur les 4 années comptables de 2007 à 2010 a reposé sur la méthodologie mise en oeuvre au sein du dispositif français des Réseaux d’élevage. Les exploitations BM ont été regroupées selon deux systèmes, herbivore et polyculture-élevage, et comparées aux exploitations laitières Prim’Holstein (PH) du Réseau d’élevage de Nord-Picardie. Les résultats démontrent la capacité des éleveurs de vaches BM à obtenir de bonnes performances économiques malgré de plus faibles productivité laitière (4225 l/VL) et taux (3,70 % de MG et 3,22 % de protéines), et un moindre prix du lait, grâce notamment à une conduite de troupeaux bien maîtrisée, des surfaces fourragères très bien valorisées, et la mixité lait-viande très affirmée de la race qui atténue les fluctuations du prix du lait. En système herbivore, les exploitations BM s’avèrent économes et autonomes avec une excellente valorisation des prairies. En système de polyculture-élevage, les troupeaux sont conduits de façon à peine plus intensive qu’en système herbivore, contrairement aux troupeaux PH. [less ▲]

Implication of microRNAs in the response of Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv. root system architecture to rhizobacterial volatiles

Scientific conference (2013, February)

The metabolic roles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and the identity of the molecules responsible for the growth promotion are still poorly ... [more ▼]

The metabolic roles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and the identity of the molecules responsible for the growth promotion are still poorly documented. As well, the implication of microRNAs in root development is a recent discovery that deserves to be explored. In this study, the implication of microRNAs in the response of Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv. Bd21 root architecture to rhizobacterial VOCs was investigated. Nineteen PGPR strains were screened to select those showing the strongest phenotypic effects. The strain Bacillus subtilis AP305-GB03 induced the most important promotion of biomass production and root development. Total RNA extraction and RT-qPCR analysis of microRNAs were performed on Bd21 root samples. The expression of miR160 a-d, miR164 f, miR167 c-d, miR397 b and miR399 a-b was measured in roots every 2 days during the first 10 days of Bd21 development, in the presence or absence of the bacterial VOCs. Differences in the expression profile of miR164 f and miR167 c-d were observed in the roots exposed to GB03 VOCs, as compared to the control. These differences could be correlated to the root system architecture modifications observed after 10 days of growth with GB03. miR397 b and miR399 a-b also showed differences in the expression profile of roots exposed to the bacterial VOCs. These microRNAs have been respectively involved in cold stress tolerance and in the response to phosphate starvation. [less ▲]

Pentecostalism and Politics in Congo (DRC): Pentecotization of the Political Field or Political Liturgies’ Legacy

Conference (2013, February)

How democracies deal with disasters. A comparison between the 3.11 disaster in Japan and the Katrina disaster in the U.S

Conference (2013, January 31)