Mining is a widespread industrial activity that in many cases, via mining wastes, leads to altered concentrations of metals in close vicinity to the mining activities. Metals in mining waste can have high toxicity and may persist in environments for long time periods. The presence of metals, such as lead (Pb), is known to contaminate and cause damage to nearby organisms and ecosystems. Birds are at risk of metal contamination and, since they are predators high up in the food chain, may face accumulation of metal in tissue over time, via consumption of contaminated prey. Small passerine species, such as the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), are suitable for studying metal contamination as they are ubiqutious, and high up in the food chain. Pied flycatchers feed exclusively on invertebrates, making the abundance, quality, and potential contamination of invertebrates interesting to study with regard to the health of the birds. Studies have shown that hemoglobin (Hb) levels in young pied flycatchers are reduced by high background levels of Pb.  This may be linked to prey availability and quality, as invertebrates are known to alter their composition, and contain higher Pb concentrations in Pb contaminated areas. Here, I investigated how invertebrate abundance and community composition, and pied flycatcher Hb concentrations (i.e. health), in reference and Pb contaminated areas, were related to each other. Invertebrate traps were set and sampled twice during the summer of 2018 to provide invertebrate data to the study. Bird Hb levels was acquired by taking blood samples from nearly fledged chicks in birdhouses placed in the different areas. I found a potential trend towards higher Hb levels in reference areas (p=0.110), suggesting that bird health is reduced by the presence of Pb, but this could not be explained by differences in invertebrate community composition or abundance (p>0.05). Hence, based on this study, high Pb concentrations in the soil does not directly, or indirectly via potential impacts on the prey community composition, influence the health of pied flycatchers.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'analyser l’utilité de la thermographie dans le cadre du diagnostic précoce du pied diabétique. Un protocole d'acquisition robuste des images thermiques est proposé, ainsi qu'un algorithme spécifique de traitement de ces images. Cet algorithme comporte une étape de prétraitement, suivie d'une segmentation et d’un recalage rigide. Différents paramètres sont ensuite évalués : la moyenne et l'écart type de la température de la voute plantaire de chacun des pieds droit et gauche, de même que le pourcentage des pixels pour lesquels la différence de température entre les pieds droit et gauche est supérieure à 2,2°C. Cela permet de mettre en évidence les régions en hyperthermie. Une étude clinique est menée sur une population de 85 personnes diabétiques. Ces patients sont classés sur critères médicaux dans trois groupes : risque faible, moyen ou élevé. Pour le groupe à faible risque, la température des pieds est proche de 32°C. Pour le groupe à risque moyen, elle descend à 31°C et remonte à 32°C pour le groupe risque élevé. Au stade précoce du pied diabétique, c'est-à-dire entre le risque faible et le risque moyen, la température de la surface plantaire diminue de 1°C : si ce résultat est confirmé par d'autres essais cliniques, cette information peut être utile pour le diagnostic précoce du pied diabétique. Enfin, 9 images sur les 85 étudiées révèlent une hyperthermie significative : cette indication d'hyperthermie peut être d'une aide considérable dans la prévention précoce de l'ulcère du pied et pourrait éviter des complications graves chez ces patients. / The object of the thesis is to analyze the potential of thermography in the early diagnosis of type 2 diabetic foot. The main advantages of thermography are that it is simple to use, non-invasive, contactless, non-irradiant, and fast. A robust acquisition protocol is proposed, as well as a dedicated image processing algorithm. The algorithm includes a pre-processing step, plus a segmentation and a rigid registration procedures. Various parameters are assessed: the mean and standard deviation of right and left feet plantar surfaces temperaure, as well as the percentage of pixels such that the absolute point to point temperature difference between right and left feet is greater than 2.2°C. A percentage greater than 1% indicates significative hyperthermia regions. A transversal clinical study is conducted on a population of 85 persons of type 2 diabetic foot. They are classified in one of these three groups: Low risk, Medium risk, and High risk. For the Low risk group, the mean temperature is close to 32°C. For the medium one, it goes down to 31°C, and increases for the High risk group to a value of 32°C. In the early stage of diabetic foot, i.e. from the Low risk group to Medium risk group, the plantar foot surface temperature is lowered by 1°C: if this result is confirmed by other clinical tests, this information can be useful for the early diagnosis of diabetic foot. Finally, 9 images out of the 85 show hyperthermia, mainly in the heel or toes regions. This hyperthermia indication may be of a substantial assistance in the early prevention of foot ulcer and can help in avoiding subsequent foot amputation.

This work deals with an analysis of breeding cattle in the agricultural cooperative Agra Březnice u Bechyně. Data on milk production and reproduction was obtained from records of performance tests and livestock records. The results of performance and reproduction in the years 2010 to 2012 shows that the monitored breeding achieved when compared to the average population of Czech Pied cattle bred in the Czech Republic, above-average values. The efficiency of milk production in the reporting period increased by an average of 394 kg. Milk composition is at the population level. The fat content was in the period, on average, 0.02% lower and the protein content was about 0.01% lower than the values of the population in the Czech Republic. The reproduction of purebred breeding is used in a closed herd turnover. The reproductive performance achieves significantly less value than the population average length of service period. The other reproductive indicators, with the exception of insemination index reached in the period better values than the average of these values achieved in the Czech Republic. The results showed that the most common reason for withdrawal from dairy herds are problems with disease of the legs and udder disease. These problems need to be addressed in the short term better approach to monitoring and prevention in the long term appears to be the most important completion of a new barn. The breeding value of bulls used in reproduction was satisfactory level.

The main objective of the thesis was to evaluate the reproductive utility and the achieved parameters of its own utility of the nucleus herd reared on the farm in Mladotice. The detected results have been compared with the average of the Prestice black-pied breed population. The attention has been paid to the lines of the boar representation. The number of all born piglets, the alive born ones and the weaned ones has been regarded during reproductive qualities assessment. The average daily growth, the muscle proportion and the back fat height have been evaluated while assessing the own utility. The origin of the Prestice black-pied breed with the following regeneration process with the assistance of Mirgorod, Liven, Cornwall, Berkshire, Wessex and German saddleback breeds, which contributed to the resistance of the Prestice black-pied breed, has been described in the literature review. The improvement process followed after the regeneration, especially by using Pietrain, Hampshire and Landrase breeds. The characteristics of the Prestice breed with reference to its tilted ear and typical black-pied coloring without body parts defining have been elaborated. Furthermore, the utility, the population development in the last five years and the preservation of the breed as a genetic resource have been described there. In the thesis the own utility of the Prestice black-pied breed of the nucleus herd reared on the Mladotice farm has been evaluated that does not reach breeding goal. The Akoga line is the best line considering its own utility. The reproductive utility has been evaluated as excellent. The Wiskont line has the best results. Statistically significant differences have been found among the lines considering both its own utility and reproduction.

The aim of this thesis was to evaluated fertility and milk performance due to multiple milking technology which was used. The monitoring was carried in 2011 in farms Agrospol, Malý Bor a.s. and the farm Dub. System evaluation of fertility and milk performance of dairy cows at multiple milking were evaluated in 186 lactations of Czech pied cattle breeding. The average number of milking in the parlour was 2.96x/day and robot 2.36x/day. 107 lactations were obtained during milking in the milking parlour and 79 of lactation during milking by robots. In this thesis were measured indicators of fertility (insemination interval, service period, the mean time and age at first calving) and indicators of milk production (lactation length, the amount of milk fat, protein and lactose content). In the reproductive indicators were taken statistically highly difference in age at first calving, where the average difference was 195 days. For other indicators of fertility were all statistically significant results in favor of milking in the milking parlour (2.96x/day). Czech pied cattle milked in the milking parlour per normative lactation average amount of milk produced 8 599.8 kg, cows milked by robot 7 272.5 kg. Among these values was statistically highly significant difference. The best results in the production of milk per normative lactation were gained by milked cows in the milking parlour (9 284.4 kg) and the second lactation cows milked in the milking parlour (9 033.0 kg) on the third and more lactation. The lowest milk production in normative lactation gained dairy cows milked by robot at first lactation (6 874.7 kg). The higher average fat content had dairy cows milked in the milking parlour with a value of 4.47 %, dairy cows milked by robot had fat content of 4.15 %. Between these values was statically highly significant difference. In the average protein content in dairy cows has been demonstrated statistically significant difference. Dairy cows milked in the milking parlour reached the value 3.41 % compared to cows milked by a robot, where the average value of protein was 3.47 %. The difference in lactose content between groups was not statistically significant.

This study examines to what extent preposition stranding is used in connection with which, whom and who in three different UK papers. Also what factors influence the use of preposition stranding has been studied. The hypothesis that pied-piping is more common than preposition stranding has been confirmed. A factor that has a certain influence on the use of preposition stranding is the style of the paper. The more formal of the papers studied, The Times, did not use preposition stranding to the same extent as the other two, The Sun and Today. The subject domain of the texts has influence on the use of preposition stranding, with more informal domains such as sports and miscellaneous (e.g. gossip) using stranding to a higher extent than the other domains, e.g. business, politics and culture. The prepositions themselves also influence the use of preposition stranding with some prepositions, such as on, with, for and into, that are likely to appear stranded and others, such as in that are likely to appear pied-piped.

Cette étude se focalise sur les mobilités quotidiennes des populations à faibles revenus habitant les quartiers périphériques Nord et Est de Libreville, éloignés des services et des lieux d’emplois. En croisant les outils de la géographie des transports qui éclairent les enjeux sociaux, spatiaux et environnementaux des transports avec ceux de la géographie sociale, qui concernent les représentations de l’espace et leur appropriation par les populations, ce travail tente de renouveler les connaissances sur la manière dont les populations pauvres se déplacent. Il relativise la place importante très souvent accordée à la marche à pied dans les travaux portant sur les villes subsahariennes. Il se dégage de cette étude que les mobilités des plus démunis reposent davantage sur l’usage des modes motorisés, particulièrement les transports dit « suburbains », plus disponibles et moins onéreux pour ces usagers. / This study focuses on the daily mobility of low-income populations, particularly those living in suburbs of the north and east of Libreville, far from remote services and places of employment. By using the tools of geographical transport, which sheds light on the social, spatial and environmental issues of transport, and mobilizing at the same time the concepts of social geography on the representations of space and ownership by the people, this work attempts to renew the knowledge on how poor people are moving. It put into perspective the importance often given to pedestrian mobility within Sub-Saharan cities. It emerges from this study that mobility of poor people rely more on the use of motorized transport especially, so called “suburban transports”, which are more available and less expensive for those users.

La foulée du coureur à pied est souvent assimilée à un ressort surmonté d'un masse. Le coureur prend appui au sol, brièvement, avec la plante du pied, rigidifie son membre inférieur et progresse en rebondissant. Pourtant, plusieurs études soutiennent qu'un appui long après une pose du pied par le talon améliore l'efficacité de la foulée. L'approche Volodalen prétend que les paramètres biomécaniques s'unifient en un système organisé selon deux grands processus d'optimisation : terrien et aérien. Le coureur aérien rebondit comme l'affirme le modèle masse-ressort. Le coureur terrien progresse en minimisant les mouvements donc l’énergie dépensée sur la verticale. Cette thèse confirme l'existence de deux modèles d'efficacité de la foulée.Le coureur terrien minimise le temps de vol et la raideur du membre inférieur et augmente le recrutement des extenseurs de hanche ainsi que l'avancée de son bassin sur l'appui. Le coureur aérien favorise un appui court, un temps de vol allongé, une activation précoce des gastrocnemii et une oscillation verticale du centre masse importante. Les deux coureurs présentent la même économie de course aux vitesses usuelles d'endurance. Selon l’approche Volodalen, ces deux processus d'optimisation sont médiés par le plaisir ressenti qui inciteraitle coureur à s'inscrire dans un environnement donné. Le coureur rebondi préfère courir plus vite. La compréhension de ces relations entre interne et externe pourrait permettre une meilleure individualisation de l'entrainement. Pourtant, les premières observations ne confirment pas l'existence d'une relation simple et directe entre la foulée du coureur à pied et un entrainement privilégié / Human motion is often modelled using a spring-madd model where the body balanced on a compressible spring. The runner bouces from one step to the next whit a mid or forefoot strike pattern and a stiff leg. However, some studies highlight that a long contact time and a rearfoot stike pattern enhance running economy. The Volodalen approach suggests that the biomechanical parameters interact in a holistic system following tow main locomotive optimization processes : terrestrial and aerial. Aerial runners bounce on the forepart of their foot following the spring-mass model, wheras terrestrial runners move forward from heel-to-toe with limites vertical desplacement. Through a series of experiments, this thesis verifies the existence of two biomechanial models to optimize running economy. Terrestrial runners seduce flight time and leg stiffness, uncreasing hip extensors recruitment and horizontal displacement during stance. Aerial runners favour a short contact time, a mid-forefoot strike pattern, a gastrocemius pre-activation, and a high vertical oscillation. Both types of runners exhibit similar running economy levels at sub-maximal running speeds. According to Volodalen, these two optimization process are mediated by runners' perceived pleasure that would guide the runner in preferntial environments. The arial runner prefers to run faster than the terrestrial runner.futher undrstanding the unerlying relation between internal processes and external environments could lead to enhanced invidualization of training. however, results from a trainning intervention indicate no differential benefit in undertaking rebound-based versus pushing-based training based.

No description available.

Thèse en cotutelle : Université Laval, Québec, Canada et Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Canada. / La fasciopathie plantaire est l'une des atteintes musculosquelettiques la plus commune aux pieds. Elle a une prévalence de 7% dans la population autant chez les hommes que chez les femmes et touche principalement la tranche d'âge se situant entre 45 et 64 ans. Le fascia plantaire a comme rôle le support des différentes arches plantaires ainsi que le transfert des forces durant les différentes phases de la marche. Une blessure à celui-ci peut avoir un impact sur la fonctionnalité de l'individu. Ce mémoire a pour but d'évaluer si la fasciopathie plantaire a un impact sur l'équilibre postural ainsi que le patron de marche dans différentes conditions. 30 participants (15 avec fasciopathie plantaire) ont eu à effectuer 5 tâches d'équilibre différentes sur une plateforme de force sur laquelle les déplacements du centre de pression étaient analysés pour évaluer le contrôle postural. Les participants devaient aussi effectuer un test de marche sur le système GaitRite en marchant selon 3 vitesses différentes pour l'évaluation de différentes données spatio-temporelles à la marche. De plus, différentes mesures du pied étaient effectuées pour évaluer la mobilité ainsi que la douleur. Aucune différence statistiquement significative n'a été trouvée entre les deux groupes pour ce qui est des mesures cliniques du pied, excepté pour la douleur à la palpation qui était significativement plus élevée chez le groupe avec fasciopathie plantaire. Pour l'équilibre postural, une différence significative a été observée entre les deux groupes pour la variable aire de centre de pression (p < 0,01; d = 0,08) et vitesse d'oscillation dans la direction antéro-postérieure (p = 0,022; d = 0,04), suggérant une diminution du contrôle postural parmi les participants avec fasciopathie plantaire. Pour la marche, il a été démontré chez le groupe pathologique une diminution de la vitesse (p < 0,01; d = 0,12), la longueur des pas (p < 0,01; d = 0,16) et de la largeur des pas (p < 0,01; d = 0,18) par rapport au groupe contrôle durant les trois vitesses de marche effectuées. En conclusion, les individus atteints de fasciopathie plantaire présentaient une diminution du contrôle postural, surtout lors d'une tâche d'équilibre plus difficile (semi-tandem et unipodal) ainsi que des changements dans leur patron de marche comparativement à un groupe contrôle. Ces résultats ont des implications pour la prise en charge clinique associée aux limitations physiques comme l'équilibre et la marche des individus souffrant de fasciopathie plantaire lors d'un programme de réadaptation.