Communauté d'universités et établissements de Toulouse

Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) involves applying small electrical currents to the vestibular organs via electrodes placed on the mastoids, providing a powerful tool for investigating vestibular function. Despite its long history, GVS remains highly relevant for researchers due to its ability to probe the vestibular system's role in posture, gaze control, perception, and cortical processing. Recent technical advances have considerably expanded its application in both basic research and clinical practice. Despite the fact it is not realistic to cover all aspects of GVS within the constraints of a manuscript, this narrative review summarizes the history and neurophysiological mechanisms of GVS and provides new insights and perspectives for current and future studies, both in fundamental and clinical applications. We synthesize the main findings from neurophysiological, behavioral, and neuroimaging studies, focusing on the effects of GVS on postural control, ocular responses, cortical activity, and self-motion perception. Then diagnostic and therapeutic applications are explored in balance disorders, stroke rehabilitation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical approaches could benefit from greater reliance on laboratory research to refine stimulation protocols, for maximum efficacy in its therapeutic use. A final discussion summarizes what is currently well-established with regard to GVS and opens up new and exciting perspectives in basic science and clinical applications.

INTRODUCTION: Keratoconus has a significant impact on patients' quality of life (QoL), from diagnosis to the advanced stages of the disease. The aim of this research was to identify domains of QoL affected by this disease and its treatment. METHODS: Phone interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, with patients with keratoconus stratified according to their current treatment. A board of keratoconus experts helped identify the guide's main themes. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients (rigid contact lenses, n = 9; cross-linking, n = 9; corneal ring implants, n = 8; and corneal transplantation, n = 9) were interviewed by qualitative researchers. Phone interviews revealed several QoL domains affected by the disease and its treatments: "psychological", "social life", "professional life", "financial costs" and "student life". All domains were impacted, independently of the treatment history. Few differences were found between treatment regimens and keratoconus stages. Qualitative analysis enabled the development of a conceptual framework based on Wilson and Cleary's model for patient outcomes common to all patients. This conceptual model describes the relationship between patients' characteristics, their symptoms, their environment, their functional visual impairment and the impact on their QoL. CONCLUSIONS: These qualitative findings supported the generation of a questionnaire to evaluate the impact of keratoconus and its treatment on patients' QoL. Cognitive debriefings confirmed its content validity. The questionnaire is applicable for all stages of keratoconus and treatments and may help tracking change over time in regular clinical settings. Psychometric validation is yet to be performed before its use in research and clinical practices.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of gait disorders in patients with neuromotor conditions, such as cerebral palsy (CP), has been a focus of clinical and research attention, with electromyography (EMG) offering a nuanced understanding of neurological and neuromuscular disorders. However, the interpretation of EMG data in the context of gait analysis remains challenging due to the complexity of neuromotor dynamics and variability in assessment methodologies. RESEARCH QUESTION: To which consensus can we get in a group of experts in the fields of neurological and neuromuscular disorders, biomechanics, and clinical gait analysis to establish standardized protocols and a common language for the measurement and analysis of EMG data in gait disorders, particularly in people living with CP? METHODS: A three-round Delphi process was conducted from February to September 2023 to gather opinions of 53 experts on the use of surface EMG data during gait in the context of CP. The surveys were conducted using the tool 'SoSci Survey' with a focus on free-text answers. RESULTS: The experts agreed on the usefulness of EMG data, but a consensus on specific clinical decisions involving EMG could not be reached. Additionally, the study provides a terminological framework for EMG evaluation during gait and a comprehensive list of practical problems and solutions, when evaluating EMG data. The study indicates that, despite a general community consensus on the ideal approaches to data processing and evaluation, these methods are not commonly implemented in a standardized manner. Both raw and enveloped data are widely used in clinical routines, however, the protocol for generating normative data lacks consistency across gait laboratories. SIGNIFICANCE: The study suggests that while there may be differences in the way EMG data is analyzed, there is a shared understanding of the key features that are relevant for gait analysis.

Though modern neural networks have achieved impressive performance in both vision and language tasks, we know little about the functions that they implement. One possibility is that neural networks implicitly break down complex tasks into subroutines, implement modular solutions to these subroutines, and compose them into an overall solution to a task - a property we term structural compositionality. Another possibility is that they may simply learn to match new inputs to learned templates, eliding task decomposition entirely. Here, we leverage model pruning techniques to investigate this question in both vision and language across a variety of architectures, tasks, and pretraining regimens. Our results demonstrate that models often implement solutions to subroutines via modular subnetworks, which can be ablated while maintaining the functionality of other subnetworks. This suggests that neural networks may be able to learn compositionality, obviating the need for specialized symbolic mechanisms.

National audience

June 09, 2011, 09.40–11.10, Bramante CWimmer Teresa (DE), Seifert-Klauss Vanadin, Müller Dirk1, Schuster Tibor2, Goppel KatharinaFrauenklinik und Poliklinik, Technical University Munich 1Institut f...

Path Integral methods have demonstrated remarkable capabilities for solving non-linear stochastic optimal control problems through sampling-based optimization. However, their computational complexity grows linearly with the prediction horizon, limiting long-term reasoning, while constraints are merely enforced through handcrafted penalties. In this work, we propose a unified and efficient framework for enabling long-horizon reasoning and constraint enforcement within Model Predictive Path Integral (MPPI) control. First, we introduce a practical method to incorporate a terminal value function, learned offline via temporal-difference learning, to approximate the long-term cost-to-go. This allows for significantly shorter roll-outs while enabling infinite-horizon reasoning, thereby improving computational efficiency and motion performance. Second, we propose a discount modulation strategy that adjusts the return of sampled trajectories based on constraint violations. This provides a more interpretable and effective mechanism for enforcing constraints compared to traditional cost shaping. Our formulation retains the flexibility and sampling efficiency of MPPI while supporting structured integration of long-term objectives and constraint handling. We validate our approach on both simulated and real-world robotic locomotion tasks, demonstrating improved performance, constraint-awareness, and generalization under reduced computational budgets.

This work focuses on inferring design life levels for extreme events under non-stationary conditions. Its objectives are twofold. The first one is to provide a single indicator that summarizes relevant and interpretable information about large values in time series, even when stationarity cannot be assumed. Classical risk indicators such as the 100-year return level become difficult to interpret in a non-stationary framework. To address this, we leverage the existing concept of the equivalent reliability (ER) level. Under stationarity, the ER level coincides with the classical return level, but it differs otherwise. More precisely, the ER level ensures that the probability of having all observations below the ER level during a specified design period is controlled. This definition ensures interpretability in terms of safety or failure risk. A second objective is to capture stochastic and estimation uncertainty, a key aspect in any risk analysis, as uncertainties due to inference schemes can grow with extreme intensities. We incorporate both by using the Bayesian predictive distribution. Although well known in Bayesian statistics, the predictive distribution has rarely been applied to climatological time series risk analysis. Our approach is demonstrated on simulated data and on a case study of annual maxima of temperatures at a site in Southern France. To do so, a non-stationary Bayesian hierarchical extreme value model is used to combine data from 26 CMIP6 general circulation model simulations (SSP2-4.5, 1850-2100) with observations. The resulting predictive ER levels clearly indicate that non-stationarity over a design period of interest, as well as sampling and estimation uncertainty, have to be taken into account for risk assessment. For example, the 1000-year posterior predictive ER level for 2050-2100 is higher than any non-stationary 1000-year return level median estimate over the same period, reflecting the increasing risk due to the non-stationarity of the SSP 2-4.5 pathway.

Context. The standard nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) multi-level radiative transfer problem only takes into account the deviation of the radiation field and atomic populations from their equilibrium distribution. Aims. We aim to show how to solve for the full non-LTE (FNLTE) multi-level radiative transfer problem, also accounting for deviation of the velocity distribution of the massive particles from Maxwellian. We considered, as a first step, a three-level atom with zero natural broadening. Methods. In this work, we present a new numerical scheme. Its initialisation relies on the classic, multi-level approximate Λ-iteration (MALI) method for the standard non-LTE problem. The radiative transfer equations, the kinetic equilibrium equations for atomic populations, and the Boltzmann equations for the velocity distribution functions were simultaneously iterated in order to obtain self-consistent particle distributions. During the process, the observer’s frame absorption and emission profiles were re-computed at every iterative step by convolving the atomic frame quantities with the relevant velocity distribution function. Results. We validate our numerical strategy by comparing our results with the standard non-LTE solutions in the limit of a two-level atom with Hummer’s partial redistribution in frequency, and with a three-level atom with complete redistribution. In this work, we considered the so-called cross-redistribution problem. We then show new FNLTE results for a simple three-level atom while evaluating the assumptions made for the emission and absorption profiles of the standard non-LTE problem with partial and cross-redistribution.

This study investigates the mechanisms underlying colour production in the family Coccinellidae, focusing on two model species: Adalia bipunctata (L.) and Calvia quatuordecimguttata (L.). In this family, colours have traditionally been attributed primarily to pigments such as carotenoids and melanins. We propose an alternative perspective, considering the elytra as an integrated optical medium whose optical properties - and hence colouration - result from both its architectural design and the properties of its constituent materials, including matrix and pigments. In the present work, the elytron microstructure was precisely determined by transmission electron microscopy and the numerical replica was then injected into numerical simulations of the microstructure's interaction with light, showing that the elytron structure is able to select a range of wavelengths and then generate colour. Coupling these results with local pigment analyses and microstructural examination of elytra, we show that while pigments are central to patterning and contribute to colour, the overall colour also results from one or more physical mechanisms that may operate simultaneously. In the light of these results, we suggest that the complex and diverse colouration in the Coccinellidae can only be elucidated by considering the interplay of pigments and the optical properties of the elytron cuticle. From an evolutionary ecology point of view, elytra structure influence on colouration may provide new insights into colour signalling in this insect family.

Rapport d'expertise collective Tome 1 p282 Annexes Tome p228 Tome 1 et Tome 2

This work presents a carbon footprint plugin designed to extend the capabilities of the Batsim simulator by allowing the calculation of CO2 emissions during simulation runs. The goal is to assess the environmental impact associated with task and resource management strategies in simulated environments. The plugin is developed within SimGrid—the underlying simulation framework of Batsim—and computes carbon emissions based on the simulated platform’s energy consumption and carbon intensity factor of the simulated machines. Once implemented, it is integrated into Batsim, ensuring compatibility with existing simulation workflows and enabling researchers to assess the carbon efficiency of their scheduling strategies.

L’adaptation d’images en dessins en relief constitue un enjeu important pour l’accessibilité des contenus visuels destinés aux personnes déficientes visuelles. Cette étude explore les pratiques professionnelles des transcripteurs-adaptateurs, à travers une enquête menée en collaboration avec l’Association des Transcripteurs Adaptateurs Francophones. L’enquête vise à caractériser les demandes et étapes de réalisation des adaptations en dessins en relief. La méthode repose sur la collecte de données quantitatives et qualitatives via un questionnaire en ligne diffusé auprès des transcripteurs-adaptateurs professionnels français. Les résultats révèlent plusieurs phénomènes : un déficit de transmission des informations essentielles dans les demandes d’adaptation, des difficultés à analyser le contenu des images complexes, un manque de retours d’utilisation et de relecture des adaptations. L’étude révèle des similarités entre les pratiques d’adaptation d’images en dessin en relief et la démarche d’ingénierie classique de conception de ressources pédagogiques. Enfin, des recommandations sont formulées pour améliorer les pratiques.

American literature has a rich potential for delivering the narratives of the American people, who are often confined by their race, ethnicity, gender, social class, economic situation, or, in very simple terms, by the conditions of their birth. In this context, the volume focuses on the confinement narratives within the products of literature, with a wide array of chapters from different periods of American literary history.

Urban wind energy has received increasing attention as a potential clean energy resource. Roofs have been identified as the primary site for urban wind energy development. This study analyzes the impact of different eave deflector panel parameters on rooftop wind energy. The findings indicate that adding an eave deflector panel above or on the eaves facing the wind can enhance the rooftop wind energy. Wind energy density of the selected models with eave panel can raise to 1.88∼2.71 times of the reference model without a eave panel. Among the eave panels of various heights, the lowest wind-facing one is optimal. The optimal angle for a cantilevered eave panel is approximately 36°, with a rooftop wind density 1.1∼4.4 times of the case at 0°. Increasing the length of the cantilevered eave panel, raising wind turbine height, and selecting taller buildings all contribute to enhancing the rooftop wind energy. At lower evaluation heights, turbines should be placed in the eave area with a slight forward tilt to utilize upstream wind energy. At higher evaluation heights, it is advisable to place turbines in the upstream areas of wind-facing eaves. This study helps identify the basic patterns of how different eave panel parameters affect rooftop wind energy, aiding in retrofitting practices for improving wind energy utilization of existing buildings and enhancing urban wind energy development.

International audience

Face aux évolutions qui touchent aujourd’hui le champ des activités physiques et sportives, les notions de responsabilité sociale, de solidarité et d’affinité doivent être repensées au filtre de nouvelles problématiques : insertion par le sport, gouvernances, sport-santé, conquête de nouveaux publics… C’est dans ce cadre fluctuant que les auteurs interrogent les permanences et mutations du mouvement sportif associatif, à travers l’exemple de la Fédération Sportive et Culturelle de France, afin de comprendre comment une fédération affinitaire parvient à relever le défi de la participation à l’action publique tout en préservant son projet global d’épanouissement et de formation des personnes. Quelle place peut occuper une fédération affinitaire dans ce nouvel univers sportif et quel rôle peut-elle y jouer ? Telles sont les questions auxquelles cet ouvrage apporte un éclairage en analysant les stratégies des acteurs associatifs qui tentent, par leur engagement, de « faire société ».

Surface dielectric barrier discharges (SDBDs) operating in atmospheric air are efficient sources of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), making them promising candidates for food decontamination applications. However, their chemical output strongly depends on operating conditions and environmental humidity that can affect treatment efficacy and reproducibility. In this work, we characterize the transition between ozone-dominant (O3 mode) and nitrogen-oxidesdominant (NOX mode) operating regimes by combining ICCD imaging, optical emission spectroscopy, and time-resolved absorption measurements of O3 and NO2 . We demonstrate that an increase of the applied voltage and the dielectric temperature accelerates the shift from net ozone production to rapid O₃ destruction driven by NOx catalytic cycles, while water vapor further suppresses ozone formation through enhanced OH-and H-driven reactions. Spatiotemporal ICCD measurements reveal that humidity simultaneously modifies streamer morphology and enhances overall plasma intensity. These findings establish quantitative operating windows to control RONS production for applications requiring either oxidative (O3 -rich) or nitrosative (NOx -rich) biocidal environments, providing essential knowledge for optimizing plasma-based food safety technologies.

This paper is devoted to propagation phenomena for reaction-diffusion-advection equations in one-dimensional heterogeneous environments, where heterogeneity is reflected by the nonlinearity term - being KPP type on ( − ∞ , − L ] (-\infty , -L] and being bistable type on [ L , + ∞ ) [L,+\infty ) for some L > 0 L>0 . A comprehensive analysis is presented on the influence of advection and heterogeneous reactions, based on various values of the advection rate c c . Denote by c m c_m the minimal wave speed of KPP equation and by c b c_b the unique wave speed of bistable equation, respectively. When c > − c m c>-c_m , it is shown that propagation can always occur with leftward spreading speed c m + c c_m+c and rightward spreading speed min ( max ( c b − c , 0 ) , c m − c ) \min \big (\max (c_b-c,0),c_m-c\big ) . Moreover, a logarithmic delay of the level sets in the left direction is discovered. When c ≤

Anomaly detection methods often have uncertain behavior with respect to samples near the distribution boundary, limiting their ability to anticipate future anomalies. This work introduces the concept of near-anomalies that, while not yet anomalous, lie close to the boundary and are likely to transition into anomalies in the near future. To address this, we propose an unsupervised method, named Christoffel-based ANomaly Anticipation for eaRly dIscovery (CANARI), which leverages the strong theoretical foundations of the Christoffel function to detect near-anomalies. The method is validated on industrial in-circuit testing data from printed circuit boards, with synthetically generated near-anomaly samples due to the lack of real-world data labeling. Experimental results show that CANARI outperforms the compared baselines that generally use a dual-threshold mechanism (one for anomalies and one for near-anomalies). It therefore provides a proactive solution for anticipating anomalies before they occur, offering a promising approach for resilience, predictive maintenance, and quality control.