L’Île-d’Yeu – Pointe de la Tranche

Le site de la Tranche est localisé sur la pointe du même nom, au sud-ouest de l’île d’Yeu. Barré par un talus sur son pan nord-est, ce gisement s’étend sur environ 1 ha. Cet éperon d’orthogneiss culmine à 22 m NGF et surplombe la mer d’environ 18 m. De récentes prospections corrélées à l’observation d’éléments affleurant ont rapidement attiré notre attention. Aujourd’hui encore des structures subsistent en surface. Outre un talus de terre sur le pan nord-nord-est de l’éperon ainsi que des str..

L’Île-d’Yeu – Pointe de la Tranche

Le site de la pointe de la Tranche occupe un éperon d’orthogneiss culminant à 22 m NGF au sud-ouest de l’île d’Yeu. De récentes prospections ont livré un assemblage lithique conséquent qui n’est pas sans rappeler le Néolithique récent. Des indices d’anthropisation sont également encore visibles en surface du gisement. Ainsi entre deux affleurements massifs, sur environ 80 m de long, des dalles disposées à la verticale barrent l’éperon. Cette ligne de blocs ordonnée en arc de cercle marque ain..

Occupations insulaires au Néolithique récent : Groah Denn 1 à Hoëdic (Morbihan)

L’archéologie en contexte insulaire n’est pas nouvelle. La richesse archéologique de l’île d’Hoedic est ainsi connue dès la fin du XIXe siècle. La récente fouille de l’alignement mégalithique de Groah Denn livre néanmoins d’inédites informations sur l’occupation insulaire. Des zones d’ateliers (amas de débitage) dévolus à la production d’outils lithiques ainsi que des dépôts lithique et céramique se développent de part et d’autre de la file de blocs. Corrélés à l’absence d’habitat proche, ces faits ponctuels donnent à ce gisement un statut tout à fait particulier. Ces phénomènes relèvent d’une même phase chronologique qu’est le Néolithique récent, comme en atteste nettement la culture matérielle, mais de moments différents. Le mobilier lithique et céramique mis au jour renvoie ainsi au Néolithique récent régional (IVe millénaire av. J.-C.) et plus précisément au Groh Collé. La production céramique se distingue par la présence de motifs Groh Collé mais également de quelques formes proches du Conguel. Bien qu’en contexte insulaire, les productions découvertes sur le gisement ne diffèrent en rien des productions continentales. Le mobilier recueilli révèle également des échanges avec les côtes proches mais également plus lointaines de matières, de produits ou encore d’idées. Les populations insulaires, au Néolithique récent, ne sont pas isolées mais participent au contraire aux échanges, dépassant largement les limites imposées par la mer.Archaeology in an island context is no new thing. For instance, the archaeological wealth of Hoédic has been known since the end of the 19th century. The recent excavation of the megalithic alignment of Groat Denn gives new information on the occupation of the island. Zones of “workshops” (marked by heaps of debris) producing stone tools, as well as lithic and ceramic deposits are to be found on either side of the alignment. Together with the absence of nearby domestic settlements, this gives the site a status of its own. These facts belong to the same period of time, namely the late Neolithic, as is clearly evidenced by the material culture from different moments. So, the lithic and ceramic items brought to light send us back to the late Neolithic (4th millennium B.C.) in the district, more precisely at Groh Collé. The ceramic production stands out, with the presence of Groh Collé motifs as well as some shapes close to Conguel. Though found in an island context, those productions are in no way different from continental ones. The items found there also reveal exchanges of materials, products, and ideas, with nearby shores as well as with more distant ones. The island populations, in the late Neolithic, are not isolated; on the contrary, they take part in exchanges that widely exceed the limits imposed by the sea

Histoires de mégalithes : enquête à Port-Blanc (Saint-Pierre-Quiberon, Morbihan)

Au nord-ouest de la presqu’île quiberonnaise, l’ensemble mégalithique de Port-Blanc (ou Porz Guen) à Saint-Pierre-Quiberon (Morbihan) occupe un rebord de falaise. À la fin du xixe siècle, Félix Gaillard le fouille méticuleusement, suite à la visite nocturne de quelques chercheurs de trésor. Au cours de cette opération archéologique, de nombreux os humains, parfois en connexion, ont été découverts ; fait relativement rare dans l’Ouest de la France. À l’occasion de la récente restauration de ce monument, des observations complémentaires et de nouveaux relevés ont pu être effectués. Cette étude architecturale (matériaux utilisés, techniques employées, etc.) offre des informations inédites. Celles-ci méritent ici d’être croisées avec les diverses données accumulées au cours des 130 années qui se sont écoulées depuis le début de la première intervention de terrain, un certain dimanche 18 février 1883…To the northwest of the Quiberon peninsula, the megalithic group of Port-Blanc (or Porz Guen) at Saint-Pierre-Quiberon (Morbihan) occupies a cliff edge. At the end of nineteenth century, further to the night-visit of some treasure hunters, it was fastidiously excavated by Félix Gaillard. During this archaeological dig, some human bones, sometimes connected, were discovered; a relatively rare occurrence in Western France. With the recent restoration of this monument, additional research has been undertaken and new samples taken. This architectural study (raw material, techniques of construction, etc.) offers new information that deserves to be cross-analysed with the data accumulated over the 130 years since the beginning of the first intervention, on Sunday 18th February 1883

Santé et inscription territoriale des populations - apports et enjeux autour des notions de genre, territoire et santé

Le dossier thématique « Genre, Territoire et Santé » ouvert dans la RFST fait suite à un séminaire d’une journée organisé en janvier 2014 à Paris par un collectif de chercheuses (Audrey Bochaton, Alice Denoyel-Jaumard, Emmanuelle Faure, Clélia Gasquet-Blanchard et Sandrine Halfen) dans le cadre de l’Axe « Santé et inscription territoriale des populations » du Collège international des sciences du territoire (CIST). Cette journée avait comme objectif, par une approche pluridisciplinaire, de mieux comprendre l’articulation entre le genre, le territoire et la santé. En effet, en géographie et en sociologie, les inégalités entre hommes et femmes en termes d’occupation, d’appropriation ou d’évitement de l’espace (privé ou public), ou encore d’accès aux connaissances, aux pouvoirs et aux ressources font l’objet de nombreux travaux. Dans les recherches en santé publique, de nombreux travaux montrent aussi d’importantes disparités entre hommes et femmes, en matière d’espérance de vie, de mortalité, de morbidité, mais également de représentations de la santé et plus généralement de comportements de santé. Or, malgré ces constats, la réflexion sur l’articulation entre genre, territoire et santé reste encore novatrice. Les contributions à ce dossier apportent des éclairages originaux, du fait de leur ancrage disciplinaire et leurs terrains respectifs, et posent notamment deux questions centrales : comment les différences de pratiques spatiales des hommes et des femmes se traduisent-elles sur leur état de santé et leurs comportements sanitaires ? Quel est le rôle du genre, parmi d’autres déterminants, dans les parcours sanitaires et les caractéristiques de l’état de santé des populations ? Le principe des dossiers thématiques de la RFST étant qu’ils restent ouverts en permanence, de nouveaux textes viendront dans le futur proposer des réponses à ces questions et probablement en poser de nouvelles.This special report of the RFST journal is linked to a one-day seminar held in January 2014 in Paris by the College international des sciences du territoire (CIST), area of work “health and territorial inclusion of populations”. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the aim of the seminar was to better understand the relationship between gender, territory and health. In geography and sociology, inequalities between men and women has been widely documented in terms of occupation, ownership or avoidance of space (private or public) or in terms of access to knowledge, power and resources. A lot of studies in the field of public health also show significant differences between men and women in terms of life expectancy, mortality, morbidity but also representation of health, and more generally health behaviors. But despite these observations, considerations on relationship between gender, territory and health still remain innovative. The contributions of this special report bring original insights by their disciplinary anchor and their own field research, and lead to two central questions: how differences between men and women in spatial practices reflect on their health and their health behaviors? And, what is the role of gender, among other determinants, in the health care pathways and the health of the population? The special reports of the RFST remain open permanently. It means that new texts will be added in the future and will provide answers to these questions and probably will submit new questions

Implication of scavenger receptors in the interactions between diesel exhaust particles and immature or mature dendritic cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP) is associated with an increased incidence of respiratory diseases. However, the mechanisms by which DEP have an effect on human health are not completely understood. In addition to their action on macrophages and airway epithelial cells, DEP also modulate the functions of dendritic cells (DC). These professional antigen-presenting cells are able to discriminate unmodified self from non-self thanks to pattern recognition receptors such as the Toll like Receptors (TLR) and Scavenger Receptors (SR). SR were originally identified by their ability to bind and internalize modified lipoproteins and microorganisms but also particles and TLR agonists. In this study, we assessed the implication of SR in the effects of DEP associated or not with TLR agonists on monocyte-derived DC (MDDC). For this, we studied the regulation of CD36, CXCL16, LOX-1, SR-A1 and SR-B1 expression on MDDC treated with DEP associated or not with TLR2, 3 and 4 ligands. Then, the capacity of SR ligands (dextran sulfate and maleylated-ovalbumin) to block the effects of DEP on the function of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated DC has been evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our data demonstrate that TLR2 agonists mainly augmented CXCL16, LOX-1 and SR-B1 expression whereas DEP alone had only a weak effect. Interestingly, DEP modulated the action of TLR2 and TLR4 ligands on the expression of LOX-1 and SR-B1. Pretreatment with the SR ligand maleylated-ovalbumin but not dextran sulfate inhibited the endocytosis of DEP by MDDC. Moreover, this SR ligand blocked the effect by DEP at low dose (1 μg/ml) on MDDC phenotype (a decrease of CD86 and HLA-DR expression) and on the secretion of CXCL10, IL-12 and TNF-α. In contrast, the decrease of IL-12 and CXCL10 secretion and the generation of oxygen metabolite induced by DEP at 10 μg/ml was not affected by SR ligands</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show for the first time that the modulation of DC functions by DEP implicates SR. TLR agonists upregulated SR expression in contrast to DEP. Interfering with the expression and/or the function of SR might be one way to limit the impact of DEP on lung immune response.</p

Effects of community health worker interventions on socioeconomic inequities in maternal and newborn health in low-income and middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review

Introduction Community health worker (CHW) interventions are promoted to improve maternal and newborn health in low-income and middle-income countries. We reviewed the evidence on their effectiveness in reducing socioeconomic inequities in maternal and newborn health outcomes, how they achieve these effects, and contextual processes that shape these effects. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies published between 1996 and 2017 in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases. We included studies examining the effects of CHW interventions in low-income and middle-income countries on maternal and newborn health outcomes across socioeconomic groups (wealth, occupation, education, class, caste or tribe and religion). We then conducted a narrative synthesis of evidence. Results We identified 1919 articles, of which 22 met the inclusion criteria. CHWs facilitated four types of interventions: home visits, community-based groups, cash transfers or combinat

‘That is because we are alone’:A relational qualitative study of socio-spatial inequities in maternal and newborn health programme coverage in rural Uttar Pradesh, India

This qualitative study was conducted in Uttar Pradesh state, India to explore how interrelated socio-economic position and spatial characteristics of four diverse villages may have influenced equity in coverage of community-based maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. We conducted social mapping and three focus group discussions in each village, among women of lower and higher socio-economic position who recently gave birth, and with community health workers (n = 134). Data were analysed in NVivo 11.0 using thematic framework analysis. The extent of socio-economic hierarchies and spatial disparateness within the village, combined with distance to larger centers, together shaped villages’ level of socio-spatial remoteness. Disadvantaged socio-economic groups expressed being more often spatially isolated, with less access to infrastructure, resources or services, which was heightened if the village was physically distant from larger centers. In more socio-spatially remote villages, inequities in coverage of MNH services that disadvantaged lower socio-economic position groups were compounded as these groups more often experienced ASHA vacancies, as well as greater distance to and poorer perceived quality of health services nearest the village. The results inform a conceptual framework of ‘socio-spatial remoteness’ that can guide public health research and programmes to more comprehensively address health inequities within India and beyond.</p

‘That is because we are alone’:A relational qualitative study of socio-spatial inequities in maternal and newborn health programme coverage in rural Uttar Pradesh, India

This qualitative study was conducted in Uttar Pradesh state, India to explore how interrelated socio-economic position and spatial characteristics of four diverse villages may have influenced equity in coverage of community-based maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. We conducted social mapping and three focus group discussions in each village, among women of lower and higher socio-economic position who recently gave birth, and with community health workers (n = 134). Data were analysed in NVivo 11.0 using thematic framework analysis. The extent of socio-economic hierarchies and spatial disparateness within the village, combined with distance to larger centers, together shaped villages’ level of socio-spatial remoteness. Disadvantaged socio-economic groups expressed being more often spatially isolated, with less access to infrastructure, resources or services, which was heightened if the village was physically distant from larger centers. In more socio-spatially remote villages, inequities in coverage of MNH services that disadvantaged lower socio-economic position groups were compounded as these groups more often experienced ASHA vacancies, as well as greater distance to and poorer perceived quality of health services nearest the village. The results inform a conceptual framework of ‘socio-spatial remoteness’ that can guide public health research and programmes to more comprehensively address health inequities within India and beyond.</p

Understanding the roles of community health workers in improving perinatal health equity in rural Uttar Pradesh, India: a qualitative study

Background: Despite substantial reductions in perinatal deaths (stillbirths and early neonatal deaths), India’s perinatal mortality rates remain high, both nationally and in individual states. Rates are highest among disadvantaged socio-economic groups. To address this, India’s National Health Mission has trained community health workers called Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to counsel and support women by visiting them at home before and after childbirth. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the roles of ASHAs’ home visits in improving equity in perinatal health between socio-economic position groups in rural Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Methods: We conducted social mapping in four villages of two districts in UP, followed by three focus group discussions in each village (12 in total) with ASHAs and women who had recently given birth belonging to ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ socio-economic position groups (n = 134 participants). We analysed the data in NVivo and Dedoose using a thematic framework approach. Results: Home visits enabled ASHAs to build trusting relationships with women, offer information about health services, schemes and preventive care, and provide practical support for accessing maternity care. This helped many women and families prepare for birth and motivated them to deliver in health facilities. In particular, ASHAs encouraged women who were poorer, less educated or from lower caste groups to give birth in public Community Health Centres (CHCs). However, women who gave birth at CHCs often experienced insufficient emergency obstetric care, mistreatment from staff, indirect costs, lack of medicines, and referrals to higher-level facilities when complications occurred. Referrals often led to delays and higher fees that placed the greatest burden on families who were considered of lower socio-economic position or living in remote areas, and increased their risk of experiencing perinatal loss. Conclusions: The study found that ASHAs built relationships, counselled and supported many pregnant women of lower socio-economic positions. Ongoing inequities in health facility births and perinatal mortality were perpetuated by overlapping contextual issues beyond the ASHAs’ purview. Supporting ASHAs’ integration with community organisations and health system strategies more broadly is needed to address these issues and optimise pathways between equity in intervention coverage, processes and perinatal health outcomes