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Cognitive function in recovered COVID-19 Lebanese patients with schizophrenia
No full textInternational audienceAbstract Introduction It remains unclear whether COVID-19 which is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is associated with the deterioration of cognitive function among patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to evaluate changes in cognitive function before and after COVID-19 and associated factors among patients with schizophrenia at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross (HPC). Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted among 95 patients with schizophrenia followed from mid-2019 until June 2021 at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross (HPC). This cohort was divided into a group diagnosed with COVID-19 ( n = 71) and another not diagnosed with COVID-19 ( n = 24). The questionnaire included the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Results The repeated-measures ANOVA showed no significant effect of time and the interaction between time and being diagnosed or not with COVID-19 on cognition. However, being diagnosed or not with COVID-19 had a significant effect on global cognitive function ( p = 0.046), verbal memory ( p = 0.046), and working memory ( p = 0.047). The interaction between being diagnosed with COVID-19 and cognitive impairment at baseline was significantly associated with a higher cognitive deficit (Beta = 0.81; p = 0.005). Clinical symptoms, autonomy, and depression were not associated with the cognition ( p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion COVID-19 disease affected global cognition and memory: patients diagnosed with COVID-19 had more deficits in these domains than those without COVID-19. Further studies are necessary to clarify the variation of cognitive function among schizophrenic patients with COVID-19
How Cultural Leadership Ideals Shape Entrepreneurship?
No full textInternational audiencePurpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of culturally endorsed implicit leadership theories (CLTs), specifically the cultural assumptions regarding ideal leadership, on individual entrepreneurship within the context of Lebanese culture. This paper investigates the relationship between culture and entrepreneurship by incorporating cultural values such as uncertainty avoidance and in-group collectivism, cultural practices and two types of CLTs: self-protective and charismatic. By exploring these factors, this study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the role of culture in shaping entrepreneurial behavior. Design/methodology/approach: As a fundamental quantitative research, this study used a snowball sampling method to collect primary data from 118 Lebanese entrepreneurs, avoiding selection biases. Three models were used, relevant to nascent entrepreneurship, new entrepreneurship and old entrepreneurship, and the data was analyzed using logistic regression analysis and likelihood ratio tests. Findings: The findings indicate that there is a correlation between CLTs, cultural values and practices and individual entrepreneurship. However, this study did not find evidence of a causal relationship between cultural values and individual entrepreneurship through the mediating role of self-protective and charismatic CLTs. Practical implications: The research findings shed light on the beneficial synergy between cultural leadership ideals and individual entrepreneurship in the Lebanese context, providing a closer and more productive approach to studying entrepreneurship and leadership. From a managerial standpoint, these results have important implications for promoting entrepreneurship among various stakeholders, including educators, policymakers and support organizations. Originality/value: This study differs from previous research by examining a country that demonstrates high levels of entrepreneurial awareness and involvement despite its unstable political and economic conditions. \textcopyright 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited
Peptides in Dentistry: A Scoping Review
No full textCurrently, it remains unclear which specific peptides could be appropriate for applications in different fields of dentistry. The aim of this scoping review was to scan the contemporary scientific papers related to the types, uses and applications of peptides in dentistry at the moment. Literature database searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Scielo. A total of 133 articles involving the use of peptides in dentistry-related applications were included. The studies involved experimental designs in animals, microorganisms, or cells; clinical trials were also identified within this review. Most of the applications of peptides included caries management, implant osseointegration, guided tissue regeneration, vital pulp therapy, antimicrobial activity, enamel remineralization, periodontal therapy, the surface modification of tooth implants, and the modification of other restorative materials such as dental adhesives and denture base resins. The in vitro and in vivo studies included in this review suggested that peptides may have beneficial effects for treating early carious lesions, promoting cell adhesion, enhancing the adhesion strength of dental implants, and in tissue engineering as healthy promotors of the periodontium and antimicrobial agents. The lack of clinical trials should be highlighted, leaving a wide space available for the investigation of peptides in dentistry. Keywords: antimicrobial; osseointegration; surface modification; tissue engineering
Consistance de la règle des k-plus proches voisins pour des données fonctionnelles
No full textInternational audienceThe problem of nonparametric classification by k-nearest neighbors rule in a general metric space will be considered. Consistency and strong consistency of the classifier will be established under mild conditions. Résumé. Le problème de la classification non paramétrique par la règle des k-plus proches voisins dans un espace métrique général sera considéré. La consistance et la forte consistance du classifieur seront établies sous des conditions légères.Le problème de la classification non paramétrique par la règle des k- plus proches voisins dans un espace métrique général sera considéré. La consistance et la forte consistance du classifieur seront établies sous des conditions légères
Comparative Study of Phytochemistry, Antioxidant and Biological Activities of Berberis libanotica Fruit and Leaf Extracts
No full textInternational audienceBerberis libanotica Ehrenb. ex C.K. Schneider of the Berberidaceae family is an endemic Lebanese plant and is widely used in folk medicine. This study highlights the phytochemical composition and biological activities (in vitro) of fruit and leaf extracts. The two organs were extracted by cold maceration with four solvents of increasing polarity: cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The extracts were screened for their chemical composition by HPLC-DAD to identify and quantify the phenolic compounds. Volatile compounds were detected by GC-MS. The antioxidant capacity through DPPH inhibition was tested. The anti-acetylcholinesterase, antibacterial and anti-proliferative activities were evaluated. Thirteen compounds, including 12 phenolics, were detected in the fruits, whereas 8 phenolic compounds were identified in the leaves. A total of 137 volatile compounds were identified in both organs. At 50 μg/mL, the methanolic leaf extract presented the highest antioxidant capacity, with an inhibition percentage of 54.9%. The dichloromethane fruit extract reduced the acetylcholinesterase activity by 65.3%. The cyclohexane leaf extract reduced the proliferation of the HCT-116 cells by 54.8%, while the dichloromethane fruit extract exhibited the best inhibition against the Caco-2 cells (54%). Interestingly, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of the cyclohexane fruit extract against Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky was 2.4 μg/mL, and the MIC value of the cyclohexane leaf extract against E. coli was 9.7 μg/mL
Altitude compensating ringed nozzle
No full textInternational audienceThe increased focus on supersonic and hypersonic flows necessitates methods to study such flows in laboratory-based facilities, thus motivating researchers to find effective, efficient, and affordable methods to produce them in laboratories. It is desirable for the rocket nozzles to operate efficiently at different altitudes, which made the Altitude Compensating Nozzles emerge as a solution. In this work, we propose a new design for such nozzles, namely, the ringed nozzle. The proposed nozzle consists of a stack of parallel rings that serve as a nozzle with bleeding slots. This design can be utilised to obtain different exit Mach numbers and attain the desired performance according to the pressure ratio, serving as an Altitude Compensating Nozzle. The stack of rings might be altered to tailor nozzle shape and area ratio corresponding to the nozzle requirement. The nozzle is analysed from an engineering perspective by comparing the thrust coefficient and specific impulse, and the numerical simulations show promising results
Colette méditerranéenne
No full textSimonetta Greggio, née le 21 avril 1961 à Rubano (province de Padoue) en Italie, est une romancière et traductrice italienne établie en France.International audience[...] Alors que nous commémorons cette année le 150e anniversaire de sa naissance, le Festival international des écrits de femmes, créé en 2012, dans son village natal, s’interroge sur la place de Colette dans notre histoire et son héritage littéraire et culturel. [...]Table ronde animée par Josyane Savigneau« Colette méditerranéenne »Simonetta Greggio, Angelo Molica Franco, Carmen Boustani et Paola Palma
Geochemical signature of the bed sediments at the outlet of the Ibrahim River (Lebanon): temporal variation
No full textInternational audienceBed sediments were collected monthly at the outlet of the Ibrahim River between May 2016 and July 2017. Their physical and chemical characteristics were studied to highlight the impact of seasonal variations and discharge on the sediments’ geochemical signatures. Granulometric analysis showed that samples collected after rain events contained abundant sand fractions (> 80%), while the clay fraction was more present at the beginning of the dry season, at low monthly average flows (1 m3/s). Ten major elements, 14 rare earth elements (REE), and 30 trace elements (TE) were analyzed. An excess of CaO reflected the contribution of the carbonate rocks of the Ibrahim karstic springs (30.35 ± 3.91%) but CaO concentration decreased during periods of high water. On another hand, no REE enrichment was detected, both in high and low flows. Most sediments collected at low flow had a pronounced REE depletion that occurred particularly for LREE composition (Nd, Pr, Ce, and La). A negative Ce anomaly (0.992) and a positive Eu anomaly (1.313) were revealed with an average La/Yb ratio of 0.570, reflecting a slight enrichment in HREE. Most studied TE were less concentrated than the averages mentioned in PAAS, UCC, and WSA references. However, a Ze enrichment was mainly due to the regional geochemical background, an As enrichment was associated with anthropogenic contribution, and a Zr enrichment was linked to discharges from pharmaceutical industries located at the river outlet. This study still needs to be complemented binding both spatial and temporal criteria for further fluvial sediments’ monitoring of the entire catchment area
Impacts of social restrictions on mental health and health behaviours of individuals with multimorbidity during Covid-19 pandemic
No full textInternational audienceBackground Social restrictions and their possible impact on lifestyle make people with multimorbidity (≥2 co-existing chronic conditions) more vulnerable to poor perceived mental health and health behaviours modifications during the COVID-19 pandemic.Objective To understand the mental health status and health behaviour modifications among individuals with multimorbidity during different levels of COVID-19 social restrictions.Methods Longitudinal multinational cohort study consisting of two online questionnaires with its first wave taken place while social restrictions were imposed (May 2020), and its second wave with less social restrictions in place (November 2020). Including 559 participants (wave 1) and 147 participants from wave 1 (wave 2) with an average age of 34.30±12.35 and 36.21±13.07 years old. Mostly females living in Canada, France, India and Lebanon.Results The prevalence of multimorbidity was 27.68% (wave 1) and 35.37% (wave 2). While social restrictions were imposed, people with multimorbidity were 2 to 3 times more likely to experience psychological distress, depressive symptoms, increased stress or isolation than those without multimorbidity. Health behaviours were also modified during this period with people with multimorbidity being more likely to reduce their physical activity and increased their fruit and vegetable consumption. In wave 2, regardless of multimorbidity status, sexual desire continuously decreased while stress and psychological distress increased.Conclusion Mental health and health behaviours modifications occurred while social restrictions were imposed and people with multimorbidity were more severely impacted than those without multimorbidity, indicating a need for a more adapted approach of care during socially restrictive periods for this population