Foreign Policy Analysis and the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy - Understanding the Formal and Informal Processes

The EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has witnessed important institutional developments since its creation in the 1991 Maastricht Treaty. These developments have led to increased coherence and visibility of the CFSP in certain regions of the world. Contrary to the belief that the CFSP is essentially conducted according to an intergovernmental decision-making process, the thesis shows how the creation of the post of the High Representative has led to a new system of governance in the field, with the Secretariat General of the Council of the EU at its core and the European Commission in a secondary but nevertheless crucial role. This second pillar system of governance is crucial in encouraging member-states to formulate and implement common positions. However, the dissertation also emphasizes the crucial role played by EU member-states in CFSP, as they are still the actors who need to initiate the process of "devolution" to the High Representative. In addition, the dissertation singles out the crucial role played by the United States in the second pillar, especially important when military issues are part of the process. The empirical analysis shows that when the issue is not of contention for the transatlantic relation, then the EU seems to act in a more unified way. To explain this new system of governance, the thesis uses foreign policy analysis (FPA) as the theoretical framework. It shows how this approach can be adapted from its state-centric focus to the study of the EU, by incorporating elements of the EU institutionalism literature in order to better grasp the specifics of the EU institutions

Effects of Clove Oil (Eugenol) on Proprioceptive Neurons, Heart Rate, and Behavior in Model Crustaceans

Clove oil contains eugenol as an active ingredient and is used as a topical anesthetic in mammals to remedy pain and to anesthetize fish and other seafood for short periods; however, the exact mechanism of action of eugenol is not fully understood. We examined use of eugenol as a reversible anesthetic in crustaceans by examining its effect on sensory and motor neurons in the Red Swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and Whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with electrophysiological recordings. The neurogenic heart rate in the three species was also monitored along with behaviors and responsiveness to sensory stimuli. The activity of the primary proprioceptive neurons was reduced at 200 ppm and ceased at 400 ppm for both crayfish (i.e., muscle receptor organ) and crab (i.e., leg PD organ) preparations when exposed to saline containing eugenol. Flushing out eugenol resulted in recovery in the majority of the preparations within five to ten minutes. Administering eugenol to crayfish and crabs both systemically and through environmental exposure resulted in the animals becoming lethargic. Direct injection into the hemolymph was quicker to decrease reflexes and sensory perception, but heart rate was still maintained. Eugenol at a circulating level of 400 ppm decreased electromyogram activity in the claw muscle of crabs. Surprisingly, this study found no change in heart rate despite administering eugenol into the hemolymph to reach 400 ppm in crabs or crayfish but heart rate in shrimp preparations decreased. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of eugenol as a short-term anesthetic for crustaceans to decrease stress during handling or transportation, considering its effectiveness at decreasing sensory input and the quick recovery of upon removal of eugenol. A neurophysiology course took this project on as an authentic course-based undergraduate research experience (ACURE)

"The institutions of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy: How bureaucratic politics meets network analysis"

The paper is divided in two parts. The first part offers an overview of the institutions of the EU foreign policy as they have unfolded over time: from the EPC until the Amsterdam Treaty. I show that although changes have been brought to the CFSP institutional framework, it mainly remains intergovernmental. The second part of the paper turns to the two theoretical frameworks chosen to explain why the institutions of the CFSP do not work. I first show how the institutional framework is the source of inter- and intra-structural clashes, using a bureaucratic politics approach issued mainly from the works of Graham Allison, Morton Halperin and Guy Peters. I then turn to network analysis, and show why it is the sufficient complement to bureaucratic politics. Finally, I conclude by analyzing theoretical and policy implications of the framework used, and by pointing to some criticisms that can be addressed to network analysis

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Médée à l'opéra

Dossier coordonné par Claire Lechevalier et Romain Piana.N° de : "Skén&graphie", ISSN 2272-0642, (2016), n°4.International audienc

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Le théâtre antique entre France et Allemagne (XIXe-XXe siècles)

Au XIXe et au XXe siècle, le théâtre antique a été l'objet d'une vive rivalité mais aussi un terrain d'échanges fructueux entre la France et l'Allemagne. Qu'il s'agisse de traduction, d'interprétation ou de représentation, le rapport des Français au répertoire antique et plus précisément à la tragédie grecque s'est souvent trouvé médiatisé par l'Allemagne, et réciproquement, dans une relation triangulaire faite de défiance et de fascination, largement surdéterminée par les querelles esthétiques et les conflits politiques qui ont jalonné l'histoire des deux pays. Cet ouvrage collectif se propose de revenir sur ce dialogue franco-allemand et d'en éclairer les enjeux, depuis les premiers échanges qui remontent à l'orée du XIXe siècle - à l'occasion des ruptures décisives que furent la traduction d'Eschyle par Humboldt, celle de Sophocle par Hölderlin, ou encore la création d'Antigone à Postdam en 1841, première mise en scène d'une tragédie grecque - jusqu'aux débats contemporains, concernant notamment la redéfinition du rôle des universitaires dans le processus de réception. Réunissant treize contributions de spécialistes venus d'horizons divers (hellénistes, germanistes, comparatistes, historiens du théâtre, traducteurs et musicologues), il propose une approche décloisonnée et interdisciplinaire du théâtre antique et de sa traduction. Cet ouvrage s'adresse aux chercheurs (historiens du théâtre, de la traduction, philologues, comparatistes) et aux étudiants, mais il peut également intéresser tout public curieux du théâtre antique et de l'histoire de sa réception

Correlations between IL-6 serum level and olfactory dysfunction severity in COVID-19 patients: a preliminary study

Background: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is secreted by cells infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and it is widely recognized as a negative prognostic factor. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlations between the olfactory scores determined by psychophysical tests and the serum levels of IL-6 in patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Methods: Patients underwent psychophysical olfactory assessment with Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center test and IL-6 plasma level determination within 10 days of the clinical onset of COVID-19. Results: Seventy-four COVID-19 patients were included in this study. COVID-19 staged as mild in 34 patients, moderate in 26 and severe in 14 cases. There were no significant differences in olfactory scores across the different COVID-19 severity groups. In the patient series, the median plasma level of IL-6 was 7.7 pg/mL (IQR 3.7–18.8). The concentration of IL-6 was found to be significantly correlated with the severity of COVID-19 with a directly proportional relationship. The correlation between IL-6 plasma concentrations and olfactory scores was weak (rs = 0.182) and not significant (p = 0.12). Conclusions: In COVID-19 patients, psychophysical olfactory scores did not show significant correlations with the plasma levels of a well-recognized negative prognostic factor such as IL-6. This observation casts some shadows on the positive prognostic value of olfactory dysfunctions.SCOPUS: ar.jDecretOANoAutActifinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe