Rappeler Roland : une traduction de La Chanson de Roland au présent. Entretien avec Frédéric Boyer

À propos de Rappeler Roland (2013), son dernier livre paru, Frédéric Boyer évoque le travail de « translateur » qui a été le sien quand il a traduit une chanson de geste, La Chanson de Roland, dans la langue d’usage de notre présent. Cette chanson est-elle une chanson de vétérans qui témoigne d’un rapport vivant à un passé épique ? En quoi sa traduction enrichit-elle notre langue aujourd’hui ? Qu’est-ce qu’une bataille perdue par Roland dans un très lointain Moyen Âge raconte lyriquement aujourd’hui ? La traduction est un art d’affrontement volontaire et positif ; qui mobilise des outils très spécifiques : ceux de la transposition, de la trans- ou de la télédéportation au sein même de la langue.In Rappeler Roland (2013), his latest published book, Frédéric Boyer evokes his work, that of the ‘translateur’, when he translated La Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland), a chanson de geste, into the language spoken today. Is this chanson a song of veterans which bears witness to a living connection with an epic past? How does his translation enrich the language we speak today? What does a battle lost by Roland in a very distant past that is the Middle Ages tell us in a lyrical way today? Translation is an art of voluntary and constructive confrontation, which mobilizes very specific tools: those of transposition and of trans- or teleportation within the very language itself

The Role of Low-Energy (≤ 20 eV) Electrons in Astrochemistry

UV photon-driven condensed phase cosmic ice reactions have been the main focus in understanding the extraterrestrial synthesis of complex organic molecules. Low-energy (≤20 eV) electron-induced reactions, on the other hand, have been largely ignored. In this article, we review studies employing surface science techniques to study low-energy electron-induced condensed phase reactions relevant to astrochemistry. In particular, we show that low-energy electron irradiation of methanol ices leads to the synthesis of many of the same complex molecules formed through UV irradiation. Moreover, our results are qualitatively consistent with the hypothesis that high-energy condensed phase radiolysis is mediated by low-energy electron-induced reactions. In addition, due to the numbers of available low-energy secondary electrons resulting from the interaction of high-energy radiation with matter as well as differences between electron- and photon-induced processes, low-energy electron-induced reactions are perhaps as, or even more, effective than photon-induced reactions in initiating condensed-phase chemical reactions in the interstellar medium. Consequently, we illustrate a need for astrochemical models to include the details of electron-induced reactions in addition to those driven by UV photons. Finally, we show that low-energy electron-induced reactions may lead to the production of unique molecular species that could serve as tracer molecules for electron-induced condensed phase reactions in the interstellar medium

Comparing available rainfall gridded datasets for West Africa and the impact on rainfall-runoff modelling results, the case of Burkina-Faso

Monthly rainfall data in Burkina-Faso, West Africa, over a period of 77 years are extracted from three different gridded data sets, available either on the web: CRU (Climatic Research Unit, Norwich, UK), SIEREM (HydroSciences Montpellier, France), or from the National Meteorological Center of Burkina-Faso. With a view to modelling the runoff-rainfall relationship at the monthly time step, these data are used at the 0.5°∗0.5° scale. Despite mean, minimum, standard deviation and inter-annual variability being very similar for the period 1922 to 1998, the three gridded data sets used show an important spatial variability of values with time, and some differences are observed which lead to significantly different runoff-rainfall simulations. Comparison of the rainfall grids has shown that differences between the precipitation grids are more pronounced during years when the rainfall is lower; this also applies to areas where the rainfall is lower. The three different rainfall grids produce differences in mean rainfall of 4 to 11%, depending on the grids that are compared. While these results are obviously specific to the station networks and interpolation method used, they provide an indication of the differences that can arise.It is recommended that as many stations as possible are used to better assess areal rainfall. These biases have a strong influence on the results of the runoff-rainfall modelling (using the GR2M conceptual model): the Nash criteria show differences of about 20% and calculated flow of 30% to 40%. This study illustrates the levels of uncertainty when using available rainfall gridded data sets, for rainfall-runoff studies in West African developing countries, which is important in the context of predicting water resources for the future from the GCM outputs for the 21st century.Keywords: Burkina-Faso, database, runoff, rainfall, rainfall-runoff modelling, West Afric

IFI35, mir-99a and HCV Genotype to Predict Sustained Virological Response to Pegylated-Interferon Plus Ribavirin in Chronic Hepatitis C

International audienceAlthough, the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) greatly improved with the use of direct antiviral agents, pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin remains an option for many patients, worldwide. The intra-hepatic level of expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) and the rs12979860 CC genotype located within IFNL3 have been associated with sustained virological response (SVR), in patients with CHC. The aim of the study was to identify micro-RNAs associated with SVR and to build an accurate signature to predict SVR. Pre-treatment liver biopsies from 111 patients, treated with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin, were studied. Fifty-seven patients had SVR, 36 non-response (NR) and 18 relapse (RR). The expression of 851 human miRNAs and 30 selected mRNAs, including ISGs, was assessed by RT-qPCR. In the first group of patients (screen), 20 miRNAs out of the 851 studied were deregulated between NRs and SVRs. From the 4 miRNAs validated (mir-23a, mir-181a*, mir-217 and mir-99a), in the second group of patients (validation), 3 (mir-23a, mir-181a* and mir-99a) were down-regulated in NRs as compared to SVRs. The ISGs, studied, were accumulated in SVRs and IFNL3 rs12979860 CT/TT carriers compared respectively to NRs and CC carriers. Combining, clinical data together with the expression of selected genes and micro-RNAs, we identified a signature (IFI35, mir-99a and HCV genotype) to predict SVR (AUC:0.876) with a positive predictive value of 86.54% with high sensibility (80%) and specificity (80.4%). This signature may help to characterize patients with low chance to respond to PEG-IFN/ribavirin and to elucidate mechanisms of NR

Functionalized superhydrophobic coatings with micro-/nanostructured ZnO particles in a sol–gel matrix

Among the methods to create superhydrophobic surfaces by wet chemistry, one of the strategies consists in coating the substrate with a hydrophobic polymer with specific morphology. Such elaborated surfaces are largely developed and can present complex architectures but are generally fragile. Ceramic-based coatings show better durability. In this work, a new route associating inorganic and polymeric parts is used. Surfaces with superhydrophobic properties are prepared with a mixture of zinc oxide (ZnO) particles in a hybrid organic inorganic matrix prepared via sol–gel route. ZnO particles were synthesized by the inorganic polycondensation route and exhibit an appropriate micro-/nanostructure for superhydrophobicity. Sol–gel matrix is obtained by the alkoxide route with aluminum-tri-secbutoxide (ASB) and (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS). A step of octadecylphosphonic acid (ODP) functionalization on ZnO particles and on film surfaces was employed to considerably improve hydrophobic properties. This new route enables to obtain superhydrophobic coatings that exhibitwater contact angles superior to 150°. These coatings show a homogeneous and smooth coverage on aluminum alloy substrate. Results attest the significance of the synergy for superhydrophobic coatings: a micro-/nanostructured surface and an intrinsic hydrophobic property of the material. The durability of the coatings has also been demonstrated with only a slight decrease in hydrophobicity after erosion

Correlation between morphology and electrochemical behavior of chromium-free conversion coatings for aluminum alloys corrosion protection

Chromium(III)-based, tungstate-based and cerium(III)-based conversion coatings on AA2024-T3 are compared in terms of morphology and electrochemical behavior. The durability of coatings is studied under neutral salt spray conditions and in a weakly aggressive electrolyte composed of 0.1 mol/L Na2SO4 and 10−3 mol/L NaCl. The use of both microscopic and electrochemical analyses such as fitting of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy diagrams allows one to have a better insight into the influence of the interfacial and conversion layers on the degradation phenomena. The role of the remaining native interfacial oxide layer is particularly highlighted, its resistance being the highest at the beginning of the exposure. The degradation of the barrier effect of this interfacial layer is demonstrated to be closely related to the performances of the conversion layer both in terms of passive protection and a reservoir of corrosion inhibitor. Finally, coupled analyses from EIS fitting and microscopic observations allow one to reach a precise interpretation of the strengths and weak points of such system. This diagnostic is an important step towards the optimization of the chromium-free systems