Technological innovations and regional diversity in Western Europe at ca. the MIS 11 threshold: a cladistic approach

International audienceThe ca: Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 interglacial is considered to be a threshold for behavioural innovations in Western Europe. Innovations both in technology and subsistence are observed, as well as the appearance of Neanderthal anatomical features. Core technologies and Large Cutting Tools reflect changes in behaviours and innovations, with for instance, the onset and diffusion of the iconic Levallois core technology associated with more complex and standardized debitage. Following the severe glacial event of MIS 12, the lithic assemblages yield evidence of both innovations, but the chronology of their appearance remains unclear. For tracking these innovations and generally characterizing the technological and typological features of this period of time, a large database of the available ca. MIS 11 assemblages (from MIS 12 to MIS 10) has been built including a revision of some of the assemblages. In order to unravel the relationship between sites of this period, we applied a cladistic approach using three-item analysis, considering the assemblages themselves as the object of analysis, with an emphasis on core technology. We show how three-item analysis is an efficient method capable of correctly analysing characters from lithic technologies that appear to be intrinsically hierarchical. Our results suggest that Levallois core technology survived during the glacial event of MIS 12 and diversified during the long interglacial of MIS 11. Our results also show the absence of cultural endemism, which may be linked to significant mingling between northern and southern Europe

Typography Meets Responsibility: Exploring Communicators’ Resistance And Motivation Through The Dragons Of Inaction

International audienceThis research examines the role of typography as a tool for responsible and societal communication in a context of growing sustainability expectations. While traditionally considered in terms of aesthetics and legibility, its potential contribution to responsible communication strategies remains underexplored in marketing and communication research. This doctoral project investigates how so-called “responsible” typefaces are perceived and used by communication professionals and consumers. Focusing on the professional perspective, this paper presents a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with communication practitioners. The analysis explores how professionals define and perceive responsible typography, how they integrate it into their design practices, and the barriers and motivations influencing its adoption. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how typographic choices can support communication strategies aligned with sustainability and social responsibility principle

Bilharziose en Europe : d’où vient cette maladie parasitaire et comment s’en protéger ?

International audienceLes schistosomes, de petits vers parasites, sont à l’origine d’une maladie aux conséquences potentiellement graves : la schistosomiase ou bilharziose. Une simple baignade dans des eaux infestées par leurs larves peut suffire à être contaminé. Longtemps cantonnée à certains pays tropicaux, la maladie s’étend. Elle aborde désormais le sud de l’Europe : des cas ont été recensés en Corse, ces dernières années

Exploring the relationships between Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)/Luminescence (OSL/TL) properties and trace element composition from quartz in various bedrocks (Strengbach catchment, Vosges)

International audienceQuartz Thermoluminescence (TL), Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) offer valuable quantitative tools both for understanding sediment provenance and surface processes. However, the variability of quartz sensitivity remains an issue, attributed either to the intrinsic properties of source bedrock, to processes during sediment transport and deposition, or to both. This study addresses these questions by investigating quartz from magmatic, metamorphic, and sedimentary formations in the Strengbach catchment (Vosges Massif, France). Using a combination of ESR, TL, OSL, and LA-ICPMS (Laser-Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) trace element analyses, our study reveals significant relationships between quartz TL-OSL/ESR sensitivities and source bedrock characteristics, such as lithology, crystallization conditions, and deformation histories. ESR Ti-centre and TL-OSL signals are notably influenced by trace elements like Al, Li, and Ti. Quartz that underwent high pressure during metamorphism along with those located in the tectonic shear zone show both lowest TL-OSL and ESR intensities, while higher sensitivities are observed in quartz from plutonic rocks and sandstones. This suggests that (i) pressure can be one of the prevailing factors driving changes in quartz TL-OSL/ESR sensitivities (ii) enhanced quartz TL-OSL sensitivity in mature and recycled sediments (sandstones) highlight the importance of sedimentary transport and reworking on TL-OSL and ESR signals.Our results highlight the need for careful interpretation of ESR and TL-OSL signals, both for dating or sourcing, particularly in sediments derived from metamorphic terrains.</p

Bilateral asymmetry in the lower limbs in medieval humans and La Ferrassie Neandertals LF1 and LF2

International audienceBilateral asymmetry in the lower limbs can provide insights into habitual biomechanical loading and mobility patterns in past populations. Previous studies have typically examined lower-limb elements in isolation, potentially overlooking integrated functional signals across the entire limb. Here, we present new data on bilateral asymmetry in medieval humans and the La Ferrassie Neandertals (LF1 and LF2), combining external measurements with cross-sectional biomechanical analyses. We quantified directional (DA) and absolute asymmetry (AA) in femora, tibiae and the first (MT1) and fifth metatarsals (MT5) to evaluate habitual mechanical loading. Medieval humans showed moderate asymmetry in MT1 and the tibia, but no consistent side dominance or inter-element correlations, suggesting substantial individual variation. LF1 and LF2 exhibited higher DA, with distinct patterns between individuals, most likely reflecting adaptation to more intense or repetitive lower-limb loading. Overall, our results highlight individual variability, possible sexual dimorphism and segment-specific adaptation, while underscoring that metatarsal asymmetry in past populations has not been well documented to date. In addition, thanks to high-resolution CT data for LF1 and LF2, our study produced revised and more precise estimates of their biomechanical properties.L’asymétrie bilatérale des membres inférieurs peut fournir des informations sur les contraintes biomécaniques habituelles et les schémas de mobilité des populations anciennes. Les études précédentes ont généralement analysé les différents éléments du membre inférieur de manière isolée, ce qui a potentiellement négligé les signaux fonctionnels intégrés à l’échelle du membre. Nous présentons ici de nouvelles données sur l’asymétrie bilatérale chez des humains médiévaux et chez les Néandertaliens de La Ferrassie (LF1 et LF2), en combinant des mesures externes à des analyses biomécaniques transversales. Nous avons quantifié l’asymétrie directionnelle (DA) et l’asymétrie absolue (AA) du fémur, du tibia, ainsi que du premier (MT1) et du cinquième métatarsien (MT5), afin d’évaluer les chargements mécaniques habituels. Les humains médiévaux présentaient une asymétrie modérée du MT1 et du tibia, sans dominance latérale constante ni corrélation entre les différents os, ce qui suggère une forte variabilité individuelle. LF1 et LF2 présentaient une DA plus élevée, avec des profils distincts entre individus, probablement liés à des charges mécaniques plus intenses ou plus répétitives au niveau des membres inférieurs. Dans l’ensemble, nos résultats mettent en évidence la variabilité individuelle, un possible dimorphisme sexuel et des adaptations spécifiques selon les segments, tout en soulignant que l’asymétrie des métatarsiens reste encore peu documentée dans les populations fossiles. De plus, les données issues de CT scans à haute résolution ont permis de recalculer plus précisément les propriétés biomécaniques de LF1 et LF2

L’écologie de la Santé en Camargue

International audienc

Légalité de la dénomination semi-générique IGP « Fleur de sel de Camargue »

International audienceObservations sous Tribunal de l'Union européenne, 10 septembre 2025, aff. T-190/2

Characterization of Transcriptional, Epigenetic, and Phenotypic Plasticity and Discovery of Biomarkers in Acute and Chronic Murine Schistosomiasis Infection

International audienceParasites can induce changes in their hosts, favoring the success of the infection and its development at each stage of their life cycle. The host minimizes the effects of the parasite's presence through its defense system, balancing the parasite–host relationship. The intricate parasite–host relationship provides physiological, immunological, and molecular cues that suggest interaction and mutual regulation of the transcriptome and epigenome, promoting phenotypic plasticity and survival in a changing environment. There has been a growing interest in the epigenetic mechanisms of Schistosoma mansoni , a parasite with remarkable phenotypic plasticity in response to signals from the environment and its hosts. Several studies emphasize the epigenetic mechanisms behind the phenotypic plasticity of Schistosoma . Regarding the host's gene expression in the face of infection, however, there is little evidence of which pathways are altered by the passage of the parasite through the lungs and by the pathogenesis in the hepatic portal system. In this work, we characterized S. mansoni infection in parasitological and biochemical aspects of the murine model in comparison with the profile of the initial, acute, and chronic phases of infection (3, 7, and 20 wpi (weeks postinfection), respectively). The biochemical and morphological results of the infection at 3, 7, and 20 wpi show the phenotypic changes of schistosomiasis in the murine model. ATAC‐seq (Assay for Transposase‐Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) at 7 wpi shows a chromatin with higher accessibility for infected individuals, and Western blotting at 7 wpi shows an increase in histone marks H3K9ac and H3K9me3, indicating a change in chromatin status after infection. RNA‐seq (RNA sequencing) for 7 wpi results show a differential profile of lipid metabolism genes that are negatively modulated, while immune system genes are positively modulated. It is interesting to note that the negative modulation of mRNA expression of lipid pathway genes causes the rates of these metabolites to appear decreased in the blood, while the increased expression of immune system defense genes is in accordance with liver histology data, which shows an inflammatory profile

Les sites de la Peyzie (Lisle, Dordogne). Une histoire en construction

International audienceThe Dordogne department and, in particular theVézère valley, played a key role in the developmentof prehistoric archaeology and the recognition of theauthenticity of its artistic productions. Many of thesites in the area have been the focus of sustainedand regular research for over 150 years, polarisingscientific and economic interests. But other parts ofthe department, rich in prehistoric sites, appear tohave been neglected. Located in the north-west ofthe Dordogne department, the mid-Dronne valleyis one of these little-known areas, even though anumber of sites excavated during the 20th centuryreveal recurrent settlement during the Upper andLate Palaeolithic periods.Located in the present-day commune of Lisle, La Peyzie is a steepslope with several small south-facing caves opening onto a small,flat valley, which may have functioned seasonally as a fluvio-polje.The site is a limestone ledge on the right bank of the Donzelle river,300 m long and around ten meters high. It is a little-known site, bothto the non-specialist public and to prehistorians themselves. Rarelymentioned in scientific literature, the site is best known for havingyielded a number of singular objects that have now disappeared.This lack of knowledge of the site is due as much to a gap in thedocumentation surrounding the first excavations carried out inPeyzie I under the direction of Paul-Émile Jude in the 1930s, as to thedispersal of the artefacts unearthed. Nearly 90 years later, throughthe compilation of unpublished archives and a return to the field,we propose to redefine the geomorphological and historiographicalframework of the Peyzie sites in order to see what contributions(and limitations) they have made to the construction of regionalprehistoric archaeology.The archives relating to the early excavations at Peyzie I include anumber of previously unpublished documents, such as manuscriptsand letters from the main protagonists at the time, various illus-trations, as well as some of the archaeological material recovered.They enable us to reconstruct some of the events that took placeon the site nearly a century ago, and to link them to the historyof local prehistoric archaeology, which was still in its infancy atthe time. First of all, they reveal that emblematic names in Frenchprehistory, such as Henri Begouën and Denis Peyrony, visited the siteand encouraged its excavation. But despite the support and adviceof his contemporaries, Jude left behind very little usable data fromhis excavations at Peyzie I. The difficult excavation conditions in thecave (in particular the rising water table) probably partly explainthis finding, at a time when the search for beautiful objects (rare atPeyzie I) was still a widespread practice.In addition, the compilation and revision of this data mean that,if not confirming the archaeo-sequence established by Jude(centered on the Upper Magdalenian and Azilian periods), we canat least complete it by recognising both earlier (during the earlymiddle Magdalenian) and more recent passages (during the earlyLaborian). It is also surprising to note that Peyzie I is better knowntoday for its contribution to the characterisation of the (beginningof the) MM – which P.-É. Jude did not recognise on excavation – thanto that of the upper Magdalenian or Azilian. Finally, these archivesconfirm the paucity of usable data left by these early excavations.This deprives us today of a sequence that could have contributedto characterising the evolution of human societies during thePleistocene/Holocene transition in the north-east of the AquitaineBasin, and in particular to the debates surrounding the azilianisationprocess. It is on the strength of this desire to find and reconstruct thePeyzie I archaeosequence that we have begun a research program inthe Donzelle valley in 2019.The aim of this return to the field was (1) to find the site excavated inthe 1930s by P.-É. Jude and check whether any archaeological levelswere still present and usable, (2) to test the archaeological potentialof the rest of the calcareous escarpment, and (3) to characterisethe geomorphological formation of the valley and its sedimentaryevolution. The two excavation campaigns we carried out at Peyzie Icall into question the archaeological potential of the site. Althoughthe bone industry describes a possible Magdalenian level at thebase of the fill, several elements argue in favour of sorted andmixed assemblages. Firstly, the absence of clearly individualisedarchaeo-stratigraphic units in the pit, the inconsistent stratigraphicposition of the only dated faunal remain and the lack of "beautifulobjects". This is also the case with the intrusion of elements fromthe modern period throughout the sequence (i.e. glass, plastic,wood, iron elements, etc.), as well as from the Ice Age in the first(supposedly Azilian) strippings. Lastly, this is supported by thearchival documents to which we have had access, which describethe Jude excavations as having extended over the entire cave andreaching the rocky floor in places. In short, there is every reasonto believe that the survey we began in 2019 intersects a series ofbackfills from the Jude excavations and flood deposits that wouldhave redeposited in the cavity. Given the difficult excavation condi-tions (cramped conditions and rising water table), these elementsno longer reassure us of the value of excavating this site, whichdoes not present the conditions of archaeological integrity requiredas part of our research project. But if these initial results appearnegative, they will at least have had the merit of drawing attentionto this limestone ledge, whose archaeological potential is far fromexhausted.Indeed, the discovery of Peyzie IV in 2019, a small cave about70 metres northeast of Peyzie I, opens up new avenues of researchin this sector. The excavations we have carried out over 12.5 m2 onthe entrance porch have revealed not only surface levels disturbedby various taphonomic processes, but also a homogeneous deeperlevel attributed to a period of the recent Palaeolithic that is stilllittle known in the region (the late Middle Magdalenian). Continuedresearch in this area will enable us to check the homogeneity andextent of this level and to study its various components. Ultimately,this will enable us to reconstruct environmental variations in thenortheastern Aquitaine Basin during the Heinrich stadial 1, a par-ticularly cold and dry episode during the last deglaciation whoseeffects on landscapes, animal and human communities have yetto be described. So, in addition to the sites of Rochereil and Pontd'Ambon, which represent the upper Magdalenian/Azilian/Laboriansequence (Célérier 1998; Paillet, Paillet 2022), this sector now offers,over an area of less than a square kilometer, unrivalled potentialfor documenting the adaptations and evolutions of human groupsin Northern Aquitaine during the early Dryas (terrestrial equivalentof the Heinrich 1 event).Bien qu’aujourd’hui largement méconnue, la cor-niche rocheuse de la Peyzie s’inscrit pourtant dansl’histoire de l’archéologie préhistorique locale.Localisée dans la moyenne vallée de la Dronne(Dordogne), à proximité de sites de renom commePont d’Ambon ou le Fourneau du Diable, elle a livréplusieurs grottes dont l’une (Peyzie I) fut fouilléedès les années 1930 par Paul-Émile Jude alors enquête d’une première expérience de fouille. Menéesdans des conditions difficiles (liées aux remontées de la nappephréatique), ces fouilles n’ont laissé que peu de données exploi-tables, parmi lesquelles figurent plusieurs objets remarquables,d’origine douteuse ou aujourd’hui disparus. À travers la compilationd’archives inédites, assortie d’un retour sur le terrain à des fins géo-morphologique et archéologique, cette contribution fait le point surles apports et les limites des grottes de la Peyzie à la constructionde l’archéologie préhistorique régionale. Si cette reprise d’étudeinvalide le potentiel archéologique de Peyzie I (dont l’archéo-séquence est plus étendue que ce que P.-É. Jude avait initialementperçu), la campagne de sondages à laquelle nous avons procédéle long de la corniche a permis de mettre au jour un nouveau sitemagdalénien, Peyzie IV, dont l’étude (en cours) s’avère prometteusepour éclairer l’évolution des sociétés humaines au cours du Dryasancien (équivalent terrestre de l’évènement d’Heinrich 1)

Kruskal-EDS: Edge Dynamic Stratification: A Distribution-Adaptive Minimum Spanning Tree Algorithm Inspired by Ergodic Theory

Kruskal-EDS: Edge Dynamic StratificationInternational audienceWe introduce Kruskal-EDS (Edge Dynamic Stratification), a distribution-adaptive variant ofKruskal’s minimum spanning tree (MST) algorithm that replaces the mandatory Θ(m log m)global sort with a three-phase√procedure inspired by Birkhoff’s ergodic theorem. In Phase 1, a sample of m edges estimates the weight distribution in O (m log m) time. In Phase 2, all m edges are assigned to k strata in O(m log k) time via binary search on quantile boundaries — no global sort. In Phase 3, strata are sorted and processed in order; execution halts as soon as n−1 MST edges are accepted. We prove an effective complexity of O(m + p · (m/k) log(m/k)), where p ≤ k is the number of strata actually processed. On sparse graphs or heavy-tailed weight distributions, p ≪ k and the algorithm achieves near-O(m) behaviour. We further derive the optimalp strata count k∗ = ⌈ m/ ln(m + 1) ⌉, balancing partition overhead against intra-stratum sortcost. An extensive benchmark on 14 graph families demonstrates correctness on 12 test casesand practical speedups reaching 10× in wall-clock time and 33× in sort operations overstandard Kruskal. A 3-dimensional TikZ visualisation of the complexity landscape illus-trates the algorithm’s adaptive behaviour as a function of graph density and weight distri-bution skewness