L’ambiguïté d’une relation amicale : Nietzsche et Strindberg

Cet article porte sur la correspondance entre Friedrich Nietzsche et August Strindberg. Il précise en premier lieu les circonstances dans lesquelles les deux hommes se sont « rencontrés » : de fait, un intermédiaire avisé a joué, à l’arrière-plan, un rôle capital. Mais, en tentant de comprendre plus avant leurs motivations, l’équivoque « sulfureuse » de leurs desseins « misogynes » se fait jour. Deux manières de traiter la difficulté sont envisagées. D’une part, il s’agit d’examiner si les ténèbres de telles considérations ne pourraient pas être adoucies par un exercice d’interprétation qui consiste à croiser la lecture de textes du philosophe avec l’analyse d’une grande œuvre dramatique du Suédois. Nous avançons, d’autre part, l’idée que l’ambiguïté, qu’il serait vain de prétendre éliminer, peut être vue, à contre-courant de nos habitudes, comme un facteur de stimulation intellectuelle. Sous le signe de cette énigmatique incertitude, d’ailleurs, l’amitié entre ces auteurs nous apparaîtra plus riche de sens philosophique.This paper is concerned with the correspondence between Friedrich Nietzsche and August Strindberg. It specifies first the circumstances in which both men “encountered” themselves: in fact, an informed intermediary played, in the background, a major role. But, by trying to understand more profoundly their motivations, the “sulphurous” ambiguity of their “misogynous” intentions appears. Two manners to handle such a difficulty are studied. On the one hand, the issue at stake is to estimate to what extent the darkness of such considerations can be decreased thanks to the exercise of interpretation which consists in crossing the reading of texts of the philosopher with the analysis of an important dramatic work of the Swede. We move, forward, on the other hand, the idea that ambiguity, which it would be vain to claim to clear up, can be seen, against the current of our habits, as a factor of intellectual stimulation. Under the sign of this enigmatic uncertainty, moreover, the friendship between these authors will seem to us richer in philosophical sense

A Multilaboratory Comparison of Calibration Accuracy and the Performance of External References in Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a first principles based method to determine absolute sedimentation coefficients and buoyant molar masses of macromolecules and their complexes, reporting on their size and shape in free solution. The purpose of this multi-laboratory study was to establish the precision and accuracy of basic data dimensions in AUC and validate previously proposed calibration techniques. Three kits of AUC cell assemblies containing radial and temperature calibration tools and a bovine serum albumin (BSA) reference sample were shared among 67 laboratories, generating 129 comprehensive data sets. These allowed for an assessment of many parameters of instrument performance, including accuracy of the reported scan time after the start of centrifugation, the accuracy of the temperature calibration, and the accuracy of the radial magnification. The range of sedimentation coefficients obtained for BSA monomer in different instruments and using different optical systems was from 3.655 S to 4.949 S, with a mean and standard deviation of (4.304 ± 0.188) S (4.4%). After the combined application of correction factors derived from the external calibration references for elapsed time, scan velocity, temperature, and radial magnification, the range of s-values was reduced 7-fold with a mean of 4.325 S and a 6-fold reduced standard deviation of ± 0.030 S (0.7%). In addition, the large data set provided an opportunity to determine the instrument-to-instrument variation of the absolute radial positions reported in the scan files, the precision of photometric or refractometric signal magnitudes, and the precision of the calculated apparent molar mass of BSA monomer and the fraction of BSA dimers. These results highlight the necessity and effectiveness of independent calibration of basic AUC data dimensions for reliable quantitative studies

A multilaboratory comparison of calibration accuracy and the performance of external references in analytical ultracentrifugation.

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a first principles based method to determine absolute sedimentation coefficients and buoyant molar masses of macromolecules and their complexes, reporting on their size and shape in free solution. The purpose of this multi-laboratory study was to establish the precision and accuracy of basic data dimensions in AUC and validate previously proposed calibration techniques. Three kits of AUC cell assemblies containing radial and temperature calibration tools and a bovine serum albumin (BSA) reference sample were shared among 67 laboratories, generating 129 comprehensive data sets. These allowed for an assessment of many parameters of instrument performance, including accuracy of the reported scan time after the start of centrifugation, the accuracy of the temperature calibration, and the accuracy of the radial magnification. The range of sedimentation coefficients obtained for BSA monomer in different instruments and using different optical systems was from 3.655 S to 4.949 S, with a mean and standard deviation of (4.304 ± 0.188) S (4.4%). After the combined application of correction factors derived from the external calibration references for elapsed time, scan velocity, temperature, and radial magnification, the range of s-values was reduced 7-fold with a mean of 4.325 S and a 6-fold reduced standard deviation of ± 0.030 S (0.7%). In addition, the large data set provided an opportunity to determine the instrument-to-instrument variation of the absolute radial positions reported in the scan files, the precision of photometric or refractometric signal magnitudes, and the precision of the calculated apparent molar mass of BSA monomer and the fraction of BSA dimers. These results highlight the necessity and effectiveness of independent calibration of basic AUC data dimensions for reliable quantitative studies

A Multilaboratory Comparison of Calibration Accuracy and the Performance of External References in Analytical Ultracentrifugation

Analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is a first principles based method to determine absolute sedimentation coefficients and buoyant molar masses of macromolecules and their complexes, reporting on their size and shape in free solution. The purpose of this multi-laboratory study was to establish the precision and accuracy of basic data dimensions in AUC and validate previously proposed calibration techniques. Three kits of AUC cell assemblies containing radial and temperature calibration tools and a bovine serum albumin (BSA) reference sample were shared among 67 laboratories, generating 129 comprehensive data sets. These allowed for an assessment of many parameters of instrument performance, including accuracy of the reported scan time after the start of centrifugation, the accuracy of the temperature calibration, and the accuracy of the radial magnification. The range of sedimentation coefficients obtained for BSA monomer in different instruments and using different optical systems was from 3.655 S to 4.949 S, with a mean and standard deviation of (4.304 ± 0.188) S (4.4%). After the combined application of correction factors derived from the external calibration references for elapsed time, scan velocity, temperature, and radial magnification, the range of s-values was reduced 7-fold with a mean of 4.325 S and a 6-fold reduced standard deviation of ± 0.030 S (0.7%). In addition, the large data set provided an opportunity to determine the instrument-to-instrument variation of the absolute radial positions reported in the scan files, the precision of photometric or refractometric signal magnitudes, and the precision of the calculated apparent molar mass of BSA monomer and the fraction of BSA dimers. These results highlight the necessity and effectiveness of independent calibration of basic AUC data dimensions for reliable quantitative studies

Biomechanical analysis of practitioner's gesture for peripheral venous catheter insertion

Peripheral venous catheter insertion (PVCI) is one of the most common procedures performed by healthcare professionals but remains technically difficult. To develop new medical simulators with better representativeness of the human forearm, an experimental study was performed to collect data related to the puncturing of human skin and a vein in the antebrachial area. A total of 31 volunteers participated in this study. Force sensors and digital image correlation were used to measure the force during the palpation and puncturing of the vein and to retrieve the kinematics of the practitioner's gesture. The in vivo skin rupture load, vein rupture load, and friction loads for skin only and for both the skin and vein were (mean ± standard deviation) 0.85±0.34N, 1.25±0.37N, -0.49±0.19N, and -0.51±0.16N, respectively. The results of this study can be used to develop realistic skin and vein substitutes and mechanically assess them by reproducing the practitioner's gesture in a controlled fashion

Predictors of long-term effectiveness to mandibular repositioning device treatment in obstructive sleep apnea patients after 1000 days

International audienceObjective/backgroundIn obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), long-term adherence to treatment is crucial. This prospective single-center study investigated factors associated with long-term adherence to mandibular repositioning device (MRD) therapy.Patients/methodsAll OSA patients who had MRD treatment initiated in the previous year were prospectively contacted to evaluate long-term effectiveness and compliance. Long-term adherence was based on continuation of treatment (yes/no). Predictors of long-term adherence were analyzed using an adjusted multivariate analysis.ResultsMedian follow-up was 1002 days (interquartile range: 668–1345) in 279 patients (age 58 [50–64] years); 63% of patients were continuing MRD treatment with a good efficacy, tolerability and compliance over time. In some patients, relapse of nocturia was observed while efficacy was maintained for snoring and somnolence. In adjusted multivariate analysis, significant predictors of continuing MRD treatment were early ≥50% reduction in AHI (odds ratio [OR] 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.466–5.10; p = 0.0002) and complete symptom resolution (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.74–8.48; p = 0.0014). In the 37% of patients who stopped MRD treatment, median treatment duration was 351 (174–752) days. The main reasons for late stopping of treatment were inefficacy (26.2%), discomfort (25.2%) and side effects (21.4%).ConclusionsAfter three years, MRD was effective for the two-thirds of OSA patients who continued treatment. Relapse of nocturia might be an early signal of MRD wear that may explain long-term cessation of treatment in some patients. Short-term control of OSA by MAD was predictive of long-term efficiency. The major criteria were a ≥50% reduction in AHI and complete symptom resolution at short-term evaluation

Mandibular advancement reveals long-term suppression of breathing discomfort in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

International audienceObstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) patients do not report breathing discomfort in spite of abnormal upper airway mechanics. We studied respiratory sensations in OSAS patients without and with mandibular advancement device (MAD).Fifty-seven moderate to severe non obese OSAS patients were asked about breathing discomfort using visual analogue scales (VAS) in the sitting position (VAS-1), after lying down (VAS-2), then with MAD (VAS-3). Awake critical closing pressure (awake Pcrit) was measured in 15 patients without then with MAD.None of the patients reported breathing discomfort when sitting but 19 patients (33%) did when lying (VAS-2: -20% or less). A feeling of "easier breathing" with MAD was observed and was more marked in patients reporting breathing discomfort when supine (VAS-3: +66.0% [49.0; 89.0]) than in those not doing so (VAS-3: +28.5% [1.0; 56.5], p = 0.007). MAD-induced change in awake Pcrit was correlated to VAS-3.In conclusion, MAD revealed “latent dyspnea” related to the severity of upper airways mechanics abnormalities in OSAS patients