French Norwegian Foundation

The time interval between 4 Ma and 0.8 Ma is pivotal for the evolutionary history of hominids in eastern Africa, and particularly in the Turkana Depression (East African Rift System, Kenya / Ethiopia). It coincides with a number of major evolutionary events, including the evolution and disappearance of the genus Australopithecus, the appearance of the genus Homo, the first expansions to Eurasia, and many technological innovations, especially the Lomekwian, Oldowayan and Acheulean lithic industries. This period is also marked by pronounced environmental changes, relatively well constrained at the global scale using marine records, but still poorly documented on the continents. Indeed, little information exists on their impact on landscapes, whose configuration, dynamics, spatial expansion are inevitably intertwined with other factors at play at the regional and local scale.In this contribution, we aim at reconstructing the evolution of sedimentary environments and landscapes in the Lower Omo Valley (Ethiopia) for the past four million years to provide a better understanding of the physical environments in which local biological and cultural evolutions took place. To do so, we investigated the evolution of sedimentary systems and landscape dynamics in the Lower Omo Valley combining a Landscape Evolution Model (Landlab) to constrain the input sediment flux with a stratigraphic forward model (DionisosFlow, Beicip-Franlab). To assess the consistency of model reconstructions, we compare model outputs to sedimentary architectures, volumes of eroded and deposited sediments and facies distribution derived from field observations and seismic data. Subsequently, we will present and discuss the roles of the different forcings, such as changes in precipitation and tectonic uplift, that drove the evolution of the sedimentary system.

Background: Anterior shoulder pain is frequently attributed to pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT), leading to the common surgical practice of tenotomy or tenodesis during rotator cuff repair. However, the routine sacrifice of a macroscopically normal LHBT remains controversial due to potential postoperative complications and a lack of consensus regarding the precise nosological origin of pain when intrinsic tendon damage is absent. Objective: This article describes the "biceps box" concept, a functional geometric model designed to map the anatomical environment of the LHBT and differentiate between intrinsic tendon lesions and extrinsic damage to adjacent stabilizing structures. Key Points: The LHBT is modeled within a rectangular cuboid representing the rotator interval. The posterior wall comprises the five-layered supraspinatus tendon, while the superior wall consists of the coracohumeral complex and superior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL). The subscapularis and SGHL form the anterior wall, and the lateral wall is defined by the biceps pulley and semicircular humeral ligament. This tissue continuum maintains LHBT stability through interconnected structures, including the fasciculus obliquus and rotator cable. Clinical studies indicate that interobserver reliability in diagnosing LHBT instability is often low, potentially leading to unnecessary surgical intervention. Furthermore, the model accounts for sensory innervation of the rotator interval by the lateral pectoral nerve, suggesting that anterosuperior humeral head decentering may result in nerve entrapment and referred pain. Conclusion: The biceps box model provides a framework for identifying anterior shoulder pain arising from extrinsic structural or neurological involvement. This approach encourages conservative management, such as dynamic humeral centering and targeted nerve blocks, when the LHBT appears healthy.

Scientific literature is sparse about the association of vaccination with the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups. Immunization by vaccines of the entire population is crucially important for public health. To evaluate the risk of hospitalization for severe MS flare-ups after vaccination in patients with MS. This cohort study included patients diagnosed with MS between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017, who were included in the System of National Health Databases, a national health claims database in France. In a nested case-crossover analysis, cases were defined by vaccine exposure prior to the onset of hospitalization due to an MS flare-up, and flare-up rates were compared with those that occurred prior to vaccine exposure in up to 4 control time windows immediately preceding the at-risk time window (ie, the MS flare-up) for each patient. Data were analyzed from January 2022 to December 2022. Receipt of at least 1 vaccination, including the diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pertussis, or Haemophilus influenzae (DTPPHi) vaccine, influenza vaccine, and pneumococcal vaccine, during follow-up. The primary outcome was the risk of hospitalization for an MS flare-up after receipt of a vaccine. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% CIs were derived using conditional logistic regression to measure the risk of hospitalization for an MS flare-up associated with vaccination. A total of 106 523 patients constituted the MS cohort (mean [SD] age, 43.9 [13.8] years; 76 471 females [71.8%]; 33 864 patients [31.8%] had incident MS and 72 659 patients [68.2%] had prevalent MS) and were followed up for a mean (SD) of 8.8 (3.1) years. Of these patients, 35 265 (33.1%) were hospitalized for MS flare-ups during the follow-up period for a total of 54 036 MS-related hospitalizations. The AORs of hospitalization for an MS flare-up and vaccine exposure in the 60 days prior to the flare-up were 1.00 (95% CI, 0.92-1.09) for all vaccines, 0.95 (95% CI, 0.82-1.11) for the DTPPHi, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.88-1.09) for the influenza vaccine, and 1.20 (95% CI, 0.94-1.55) for the pneumococcal vaccine. A nationwide study of the French population found no association between vaccination and the risk of hospitalization due to MS flare-ups. However, considering the number of vaccine subtypes available, further studies are needed to confirm these results.

ABSTRACT The elastic modulus of an asphalt mixture varies with temperature and frequency of load due to its visco-elastic nature, and this behaviour is represented by a master curve constructed by either laboratory tests or predictive models based on known material properties. The predictive approach is based on the material specifications and enables to estimate the modulus over a range of frequency without any laboratory tests. However, this estimated curve should be corrected with respect to a measured reference value, which can be obtained from non-destructive methods. In this study, ultrasonic surface waves (USW) and light weight deflectometer (LWD) tests are conducted on two laboratory slab specimens and an as built pavement, and the experimental results are compared with the predictive master curves. The measured dynamic moduli are found consistently higher than the predictive master curves indicating that the model underestimates the modulus of asphalt mix. Finally, the method is verified by shifting the moduli measured at different frequencies to the 25-Hz-design modulus, of which those obtained by the USW tests from the laboratory and field match very well, whereas those by the USW and the LWD tests from the as built pavement are also found highly consistent with each other.

Abstract Background Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IDA imposes a substantial economic burden on healthcare payers resulting primarily from increased medical costs and increased rates of hospital admission. Most guidelines recommend oral iron as first-line treatment, with IV iron if oral supplementation is ineffective or poorly tolerated. Intolerance to ferrous (Fe2+) oral iron is common in patients with IBD. Ferric maltol (FM), a stable oral complex of ferric (Fe3+) iron and maltol, is designed to reduce exposure to elemental iron and thus limit gastrointestinal damage. This analysis compares the Healthcare resource use (HCRU) associated with oral FM and IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) treatment. Methods Patients with IBD and IDA (haemoglobin [Hb] ≥8.0 g/dl and ≤11.0 g/dl for women or ≥8.0 g/dl and ≤12.0 g/dl for men, and ferritin <30 ng/ml or ferritin <100 ng/ml with transferrin saturation <20%) were randomised to FM (30 mg b.i.d) or IV FCM (as per local SmPC) in an open-label, Phase 3b non-inferiority study. The primary endpoint was Hb responder rate (proportion of patients achieving a ≥2 g/dl increase or normalisation of Hb at week 12); the margin for non-inferiority was 20%. HCRU was assessed based on the total costs of iron therapy (including drug costs and administration), and the number of hospital/outpatient visits during the initial 12-week study period. Costs of IV FCM and FM were applied to a German setting. Results 250 patients were randomised: 125 to FM and 125 to IV FCM. The primary endpoint was not met. Mean (standard deviation; SD) total treatment costs per patient in the FM and IV FCM arms were €302.27 (€80.68) and €489.37 (€147.19) respectively. Eighty-seven per cent of FM patients were still receiving treatment at week 12, and 45% and 36% of IV FCM patients required a repeat course of IV iron at weeks 4 and 12, respectively. The mean (SD) number of hospital/outpatient visits during the study period for patients receiving IV FCM was 2.30 (0.88) and the total dose of IV FCM received was 1621 mg (491 mg). Conclusion Total per patient drug costs were approximately 1.6 times higher for treatment with IV FCM than FM. The total cost of IV FCM is not only influenced by the higher drug cost, but additional costs associated with IV administration which was required to be carried out in a hospital or outpatient setting. FM has no additional costs or resource use associated with administration and is, therefore, less of a burden on local healthcare systems. FM is associated with substantially lower HCRU than IV FCM, and may provide a cost-effective oral alternative to IV iron in patients with IBD.