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Animal movement has been identified as a key feature in understanding animal behavior, distribution and habitat use and foraging strategies among others. At the same time, technological improvements now allow for generating large datasets of high sampled GPS data over a long period of time. However, such datasets often remain unused or used only in part due to the lack of practical models that can directly infer the desired features from raw GPS locations and the complexity of existing approaches. Some of them being disputed for their lack of rational or biological justifications in their design. We propose a simple model of individual movement with explicit parameters based on essential features of animal behavior. The main thrust was to stick to empirical observations, rather than using black-box models that could possibly perform very well while providing little insight from an ecological perspective. We used a simple model, based on a two-dimensional biased and correlated random walk with three forces related to advection, attraction and immobility of the animal. These forces can be directly estimated using individual raw GPS data. The performance of the model is assessed through 5 statistics that describe the spatial features of animal movement. We demonstrate the approach by using GPS data of 5 roe deer with high frequency sampling. We show that combining the three forces significantly improves the model performance. We also found that the model’s parameters are not affected by the sampling rate of the GPS, suggesting that our model could also be used with low frequency sampling GPS devices. Additionally, the practical design of the model was verified for detecting spatial feature abnormalities (such as voids) and for providing estimates of density and abundance of wild animals. Our results show that a simple and practicable random walk template can account for the spatial complexity of wild animals. Integrating even more additional features of animal movement, such as individuals’ interactions or environmental repellents, could help to better understand the spatial behavior of wild animals.

Sex is a major factor influencing best performances and world records. Here the evolution of the difference between men and women's best performances is characterized through the analysis of 82 quantifiable events since the beginning of the Olympic era. For each event in swimming, athletics, track cycling, weightlifting and speed skating the gender gap is fitted to compare male and female records. It is also studied through the best performance of the top 10 performers in each gender for swimming and athletics. A stabilization of the gender gap in world records is observed after 1983, at a mean difference of 10.0% ± 2.94 between men and women for all events. The gender gap ranges from 5.5% (800-m freestyle, swimming) to 18.8% (long jump). The mean gap is 10.7% for running performances, 17.5% for jumps, 8.9% for swimming races, 7.0% for speed skating and 8.7% in cycling. The top ten performers' analysis reveals a similar gender gap trend with a stabilization in 1982 at 11.7%, despite the large growth in participation of women from eastern and western countries, that coincided with later- published evidence of state-institutionalized or individual doping. These results suggest that women will not run, jump, swim or ride as fast as men. Key pointsSex is a major factor influencing best performances and world records.A stabilization of the gender gap in world records is observed after 1983, at a mean difference of 10.0% ± 2.94 between men and women for all events.The gender gap ranges from 5.5% (800-m freestyle, swimming) to 36.8% (weight lifting).The top ten performers' analysis reveals a similar gender gap trend with a stabilization in 1982 at 11.7%.Results suggest that women will not run, jump, swim or ride as fast as men.

Laparoscopic treatment of small intestinal obstruction is associated with immediate advantages and it may be expected that the recurrence rate will be decreased because of the reduction of wound scars. Between September 1989 and October 1994, 30 patients (19 men and 11 women), mean age 54.4 years, underwent initial laparoscopy for acute small intestinal obstruction. These patients had undergone a total of 52 (1.6 per patient) laparotomies, 15 years before, on average. One patient had never been operated on, 15 had one previous laparotomy, seven had two, five had three, and two had four previous laparotomies. Laparoscopic treatment of intestinal obstruction was possible in 10 cases, including three cases of bands, and six instances of adhesion and one small bowel strangulation in a trocar hole from a previous laparoscopy. In 20 cases, laparoscopy had to be completed by laparotomy, 17 immediately and three secondarily. The cause of immediate failure was the impossibility of finding and/or treating the cause...

Nous présentons un modèle de spécification composé d'un ensemble de réseaux de Petri temporels évoluant en parallèle. Nous avons développé, dans [BOU,93], une approche de construction du graphe d'atteignabilité pour un réseau de Petri temporel. Il s'agit d'étendre et d'adapter cette approche au modèle présenté ici. (Résumé d'auteur)

Intra-abdominal endoscopy, routinely used for gynecologic operations can be extended safely for cholecystectomy in uncomplicated cholelithiasis. Thirty-six patients underwent coelioscopic cholecystectomy with few and only benign complications. The main advantages are cosmetic preservation, reduction of postoperative pain, shortening of hospital stay, and early recovery of a normal activity.

Resume Le passage endobronchique de deux cyclines d'administration orale, la minocycline et la doxycycline et une cycline d'administration veineuse classee parmi les prodrogues, la rolitetracycline a ete etudie chez 110 malades. Les dosages ont ete effectues par une technique de diffusion en milieu gelose sur des prelevements simultanes de serum et de secretions bronchiques obtenues par fibroscopie protegee. Les resultats prouvent une bonne diffusion endobronchique des tetracyclines : le pic bronchique est atteint en trois heures pour la voie orale et en deux heures pour la voie veineuse. Le taux maximum est identique pour la rolitetracycline et la minocycline dont les voies d'administration sont differentes. Les taux seriques et bronchiques assez stables, decroissent lentement. Le rapport taux bronchique/taux serique est eleve, surtout pour la rolitetracycline. On ne note pas d'effet cumulatif avec un traitement prolonge. Il n'y a pas de correlation significative entre le degre d'inflammation (apprecie par la purulence de l'expectoration et le taux des proteines bronchiques) et le taux bronchique d'antibiotique. Ces resultats de dosages indiquent des valeurs superieures aux C.M.I. des bacteries habituellement responsables d'infections respiratoires.

Resume En raison du role pathogene croissant des Acinetobacter et de leur habituelle resistance a de nombreux antibiotiques, les auteurs ont procede a une etude comparative de l'activite de 7 aminosides sur 215 souches hospitalieres repertoriees sur 6 annees. Cette etude a permis aussi d'objectiver l'evolution de la sensibilite et l'augmentation des resistances des souches pendant cette periode d'observation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the penetration of cefsulodin, a new cephalosporin active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, into the bronchial secretions. The study was carried out in 28 patients with respiratory infections; 11 patients received a single dose of 1 g i.v. (bolus); 17 patients received multiple doses of 1 g every 8 h for 48 h. Simultaneous samples of blood and bronchial secretions were collected 30 min and 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after injection. Bronchial secretions were obtained from 23 patients by means of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and in 5 tracheostomized patients (with severe respiratory insufficiency) through a tracheostomy cannula. The assays of cefsulodin were performed by means of the microbiological agar diffusion technique. The results of the study showed a noticeable penetration of the drug into the bronchial secretions, with a mean peak reaching 3.1-5.3 micrograms/ml at the 3rd or 4th hour, a slow elimination and residual levels at 6 h ranging between 2.0 and 6.0 micrograms/ml. The rate of penetration was not influenced by the administration of multiple doses of the drug. The ratios between bronchial concentrations and simultaneous serum concentrations ranged between 10 and 30%, corresponding to the usual values found for other cephalosporins. In conclusion, this study provides satisfactory results and confirms the presence of bronchial levels capable of inhibiting P. aeruginosa.

The broad spectrum of activity and the beta-lactamase stability of cefmenoxime provide this new cephalosporin a possible efficacy in the treatment of obstetrical infections. This study was designed to evaluate the placental transfer of cefmenoxime. The study group consisted of 21 pregnant women undergoing a cesarian section. After a single intramuscular injection of 1 g of cefmenoxime, samples of maternal blood and amniotic fluid were taken 30 min before and at delivery; the same samples as well as umbilical cord blood samples were also taken 1, 2, 3 or 4 h after the injection, in order to evaluate the kinetics of the drug. The antibiotic assay was carried out by microbiological procedure. The results of the study showed (1) a peak level of 16 micrograms/ml in maternal serum, with a slow decrease and a residual value of 3 micrograms/ml at 4 h; (2) increasing levels of the drug in cord blood, with a peak value of 4.8 micrograms/ml; (3) a progressive diffusion of cefmenoxime in amniotic fluid, reaching the highest value of 4.7 micrograms/ml at 3 h, and (4) parallel kinetics of the drug in amniotic fluid and in cord blood. On the whole, this study showed a significant placental transfer of cefmenoxime, achieving therapeutic concentrations required against microorganisms responsible for obstetrical infections.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration in the bronchial secretions of a new injectable cephalosporin, cefotiam, which is characterized by an excellent antibacterial activity, stability against beta-lactamases and interesting pharmacokinetic properties. 30 patients suffering from acute exacerbation of a chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis with expectoration, received either 1 g i. v. of cefotiam in a single dose or four doses of 1 g each over a period of 3 days. The bronchial secretion samples were obtained by fibroscopy, 1, 2, or 4 h after the last dose, in order to evaluate the kinetics of the bronchial concentration of cefotiam. Blood samples were taken simultaneously in order to establish a possible correlation between the bronchial and serum levels of the drug. The results of the study show a rapid and significant transfer of the drug through the bronchoalveolar capillaries, elevated bronchial concentrations starting from the 2nd h, reaching 10 micrograms/ml (or more) in certain cases, slow elimination with bronchial concentrations persisting at high levels for up to 4 h and a ratio between bronchial and serum concentrations of 25-60% at the 2nd h and more than 100% at the 3rd and 4th h. These results confirm the excellent diffusion of cefotiam, especially in the respiratory tract, allowing bronchial levels largely superior to the minimum inhibitory concentrations required to kill the bacteria usually responsible for lower respiratory tract infections.

In treating severe respiratory infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in patients with cystic fibrosis, new anti-pseudomonal beta-lactams constitute a good alternative to the traditional aminoglycoside antibiotic therapy. Among several criteria for the choice of an antibiotic, estimation of intrabronchial levels is to be taken into account. The authors report the results of the study of a new semi-synthetic penicillin, apalcillin, and two cephalosporins (cefsulodin, ceftazidime), active in vitro against Pseudomonas; their penetration into respiratory secretions was evaluated in 48 patients, intubated, tracheostomized, or undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Antibiotic concentrations were measured by the microbiological procedure. Bronchial penetration of apalcillin was early and noticeable, reaching a bronchial peak representing 20% of the simultaneous seric concentration. The local levels of cefsulodin and of ceftazidime did not differ from those achieved with cephalosporins studied previously; the bronchial peak reached 5,6 micrograms/ml for both drugs 2 hours after administration; this bronchial level corresponded to 15 to 20% of the serum concentration. The clinical response could not be evaluated due to the severe underlying pathology which compromised the outcome of the disease in the patients of this study. However, at least for apalcillin, a significant correlation was noted between bronchial levels, susceptibility of bacteria isolated in patients, and eradication of susceptible organisms.