The Notion of Eikos Within Conspiracy Theories. A Rhetorical Analysis

Based on the analysis of one specific conspiracy theory, this paper will explore, from the rhetorical framework, the antic concept of likelihood [eikos]. Indeed, we believe that the rhetorical approach could allow us, on a larger scale, to (re)question, in the light of contemporary challenges, the complex relationship we have with the notions of rationality and truth. More precisely, to proceed with the rhetorical analysis, we will mobilise two types of logical reasoning: first, “the logic of the pot” argument from pragmatic logic and second, the logic of amplification and poetization of discourse. This will allow us to draw some comparisons between conspiracist speeches and, respectively, the rhetorical genres of judicial and epideictic discourses. The comparisons will be based on the criteria of likelihood, eikos, in order to propose a first definition of this notion in conspiracist discourses

Deliberation and the Extraordinary: The mobilization of fear and hope in divination and conspiracy theories

Divination and conspiracy theories are societal phenomena that share at least two features: they both seek out explanation for a peculiar state of the world and perplex most members of our modern occidental societies. In this paper, we will explore these phenomena through the glance of rhetorical deliberation, with a particular focus on the impact of fear and hope on the process. Doing so, we hope to achieve a better understanding of the deliberative genre, especially for what concerns the role of the emotions of fear and hope in persuasio

Le témoin face au défi de la vraisemblance. L’usage de l’ekphrasis chez une rescapée du génocide des Tutsi au Rwanda

Cet article part du constat suivant : même si penser le génocide n’est pas nouveau, chaque massacre de cette nature reste un événement inédit dans sa singularité. Or, comment faire pour raconter un événement qui est, par essence, unique, un événement qui, littéralement, ne ressemble à rien de connu ? Ce défi-ci, est d’un ordre particulier : il n’est ni juridique, ni historique, il est rhétorique. Le défi rhétorique que constitue l’expression d’un fait ineffable, ici génocidaire, a notamment été étudié par Marc Dominicy et Emmanuelle Danblon qui, dans leurs travaux sur les témoignages des rescapés de la Shoah, ont souligné deux points. Ils remarquent le recours aux figures pour exprimer l’ineffable et ont qualifié ce défi, de défi pour la vraisemblance. Dans cet article, nous nous proposons, à partir de ces deux considérations, d’analyser l’ekphrasis comme stratégie du témoin pour figurer l’invraisemblable. Plus précisément, nous soutiendrons que le recours à cette figure permet deux choses. D’une part, l’évocation mentale et sensorielle de ce que peut être un génocide. D’autre part, l’évocation d’une image mémorielle que l’on peut ensuite transmettre. Enfin, la question de la transmission nous permettra de clôturer notre étude par une brève réflexion sur la fonction sociétale des témoins rescapés des grandes catastrophes humaines

Nouvelle rhétorique et formation du citoyen : perspectives sur l’enseignement du discours à partir d’une université d’été

Il est maintenant clairement établi que le modèle rhétorique fournit une réponse pertinente aux questionnements sur les méthodes et sur les contenus d’une formation à la citoyenneté en démocratie. En Europe toutefois, ce modèle rencontre encore des difficultés pour être reconnu comme une formation au discours légitime. À partir de l’expérience d’une université d’été intitulée « Citoyenneté européenne et argumentation rhétorique : le cas du changement climatique », nous répondons aux principales critiques adressées au modèle rhétorique et montrons comment il peut être utilisé, aujourd’hui, pour développer l’esprit critique et les compétences citoyennes.Even though it is now clearly established that the rhetorical education model provides a relevant framework to question the methods and contents of a democratic citizenship education, this model still encounters difficulties in Europe for recognition as a valid pedagogical approach for working on critical thinking and citizenship skills. Based on the experience of a summer school entitled “European Citizenship and Rhetorical argumentation: the case of climate change”, we will try to answer the criticisms addressed to rhetoric and show how it can be used to develop citizenship skills nowadays

Histopathological growth patterns of neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases

Histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) of liver metastases represent a potential biomarker for prognosis after resection. They have never been studied in neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases (NETLM). This study evaluated if distinct HGPs can be observed in resected NETLM and if they have prognostic value. Sixty-three patients who underwent resection of NETLM between 01–01-2001 and 31–12-2021 were retrospectively included. HGPs were scored on Haematoxylin&amp;Eosin slides using light microscopy, distinguishing desmoplastic- (dHGP), pushing- (pHGP) and replacement HGP (rHGP). Average HGP scores were calculated per patient. Each patient was classified according to predominant HGP. Overall and Disease-Free Survival (OS and DFS) were evaluated through Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression. Eighteen patients had predominant dHGP (29%), 33 had predominant pHGP (52%) and 11 had predominant rHGP (17%). One patient had mixed HGP (2%). Five-year OS was 76% (95%CI: 66–87%) for the overall cohort. Five-year OS was 92% (95%CI: 77–100%) for dHGP, was 73% (95%CI: 59–91%) for pHGP, 50% (95%CI: 25–100%) for rHGP. Five-year DFS was 39% (95%CI: 19–83%) for dHGP, 44% (95%CI: 27–71%) for rHGP and 50% (95%CI: 23–100%) for pHGP. There was no significant association between HGP and OS or DFS in multivariable analysis. Distinct HGPs could be identified in NETLM. In patients who underwent resection of NETLM, no association was found between HGPs and postoperative survival. Half of the patients with NETLM have a predominant pushing growth pattern, which is a rare growth pattern in liver metastases from breast and colorectal cancer.</p

Enseigner la rhétorique à l’École de Bruxelles

Cet article expose la conception de l’enseignement de la rhétorique à l’École de Bruxelles. Il explique l’origine de la démarche dans la pensée de Perelman. Il montre ensuite comment l’équipe du GRAL a retrouvé l’enseignement des exercices de rhétorique par les sophistes. Il propose une réflexion épistémologique pour montrer la spécificité de cet enseignement. Il termine enfin par l’exposé d’un exercice de délibération conçu et animé par les membres du GRAL

Immunogenicity of targeted lentivectors

To increase the safety and possibly efficacy of HIV-1 derived lentivectors (LVs) as an anti-cancer vaccine, we recently developed the Nanobody (Nb) display technology to target LVs to antigen presenting cells (APCs). In this study, we extend these data with exclusive targeting of LVs to conventional dendritic cells (DCs), which are believed to be the main cross-presenting APCs for the induction of a TH1-conducted antitumor immune response. The immunogenicity of these DC-subtype targeted LVs was compared to that of broad tropism, general APC-targeted and non-infectious LVs. Intranodal immunization with ovalbumin encoding LVs induced proliferation of antigen specific CD4(+) T cells, irrespective of the LVs' targeting ability. However, the cytokine secretion profile of the restimulated CD4(+) T cells demonstrated that general APC targeting induced a similar TH1-profile as the broad tropism LVs while transduction of conventional DCs alone induced a similar and less potent TH1 profile as the non-infectious LVs. This observation contradicts the hypothesis that conventional DCs are the most important APCs and suggests that the activation of other APCs is also meaningful. Despite these differences, all targeted LVs were able to stimulate cytotoxic T lymphocytes, be it to a lesser extent than broad tropism LVs. Furthermore this induction was shown to be dependent on type I interferon for the targeted and non-infectious LVs, but not for broad tropism LVs. Finally we demonstrated that the APC-targeted LVs were as potent in therapy as broad tropism LVs and as such deliver on their promise as safer and efficacious LV-based vaccines

Spontaneous Splenic Rupture: A Rare Complication of Acute Pancreatitis in a Patient with Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It frequently involves the ileum, colon and the anorectum. Although rare, acute pancreatitis as a complication of CD involving the duodenum has been described in the literature. We describe a 37-year-old male with CD presenting with acute pancreatitis and spontaneous splenic rupture. The potential mechanisms associated with acute pancreatitis along with spontaneous rupture of the spleen in this patient population and its treatment will be discussed. Common complaints such as upper abdominal pain in a patient with CD should undergo workup to exclude less commonly involved sites such as the pancreas and spleen. Close monitoring in the critical care setting is recommended in carefully selected and hemodynamically stable patients with splenic rupture. Surgical treatment is considered as the standard of care in hemodynamically unstable patients

Secondary technical resectability of colorectal cancer liver metastases after chemotherapy with or without selective internal radiotherapy in the randomized SIRFLOX trial

Secondary resection of initially unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) can prolong survival. The added value of selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) to downsize lesions for resection is not known. This study evaluated the change in technical resectability of CRLM with the addition of SIRT to FOLFOX-based chemotherapy. Baseline and follow-up hepatic imaging of patients who received modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX6: fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin) chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab (control arm) versus mFOLFOX6 (with or without bevacizumab) plus SIRT using yttrium-90 resin microspheres (SIRT arm) in the phase III SIRFLOX trial were reviewed by three or five (of 14) expert hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons for resectability. Reviewers were blinded to one another, treatment assignment, extrahepatic disease status, and information on clinical and scanning time points. Technical resectability was defined as at least 60 per cent of reviewers (3 of 5, or 2 of 3) assessing a patient’s liver metastases as surgically removable. Some 472 patients were evaluable (SIRT, 244; control, 228). There was no significant baseline difference in the proportion of technically resectable liver metastases between SIRT (29, 11⋅9 per cent) and control (25, 11⋅0 per cent) arms (P = 0⋅775). At follow-up, significantly more patients in both arms were deemed technically resectable compared with baseline: 159 of 472 (33⋅7 per cent) versus 54 of 472 (11⋅4 per cent) respectively (P = 0⋅001). More patients were resectable in the SIRT than in the control arm: 93 of 244 (38⋅1 per cent) versus 66 of 228 (28⋅9 per cent) respectively (P < 0⋅001). Adding SIRT to chemotherapy may improve the resectability of unresectable CRLM