Charrue et variétés de riz : maîtrise sociale des savoir -faire techniques au Lac Alaotra, Madagascar.

International audienceLe lac Alaotra, un des greniers à riz de Madagascar, est un lieu d'intervention privilégié de la puissance publique depuis plus d'un siècle, avec une prééminence des formes d'action par les projets de développement depuis les années 1950. Parallèlement, cette région a été la terre d'accueil d'un flux ininterrompu de migrants en provenance d'autres régions malgaches, attirés par la réputation de richesse agricole et d'espace à coloniser. Projets et migrants ont ainsi introduit une masse de connaissances nouvelles sur ce " front pionnier " permanent qu'est la zone du lac. Certains de ces savoirs ont été transformés en savoir-faire techniques selon des mécanismes d'appropriation et de transformation que nous voudrions discuter ici. L'analyse historique longue met en lumière la dimension sociale déterminante de ce processus de sélection. Elle est complétée par une observation concrète des pratiques agricoles en train de s'élaborer aujourd'hui dans différentes exploitations agricoles, en mettant en lumière les phases " d'hybridation " et d'adaptation de ces savoirs, pour qu'ils se transforment en savoir-faire techniques maîtrisés par les agriculteurs. Nous avons choisi d'illustrer cette double temporalité dans le parcours du changement technique par le devenir de deux " innovations " emblématiques des processus de création de nouveaux savoir-faire dans la région : la mécanisation de la mise en boue des rizières et la diffusion récente des variétés de riz très robustes vis-à-vis des aléas climatiques. L'histoire de la mécanisation depuis près d'un siècle se confond avec celle les stratégies des classes dominantes pour conforter leur rente foncière et des rapports de production inégalitaires

Use of fractal dimensions to quantify coral shape

A morphometrical method to quantify and characterize coral corallites using Richardson Plots and Kaye's notion of fractal dimensions is presented. A Jurassic coral species (Aplosmilia spinosa) and five Recent coral species were compared using the Box-Counting Method. This method enables the characterization of their morphologies at calicular and septal levels by their fractal dimensions (structural and textural). Moreover, it is possible to determine differences between species of Montastraea and to tackle the high phenotypic plasticity of Montastraea annularis. The use of fractal dimensions versus conventional methods (e.g., measurements of linear dimensions with a calliper, landmarks, Fourier analyses) to explore a rugged boundary object is discussed. It appears that fractal methods have the potential to considerably simplify the morphometrical and statistical approaches, and be a valuable addition to methods based on Euclidian geometr

Transarterial Radionuclide Therapy with 188Re-Labelled Lipiodol

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually detected late, in patients with advanced disease, who are thus not eligible for radical therapy. Despite this grim scenario, new treatment options for intermediate to advanced stages hold great promise, such as internal radionuclide therapy. Several techniques have been developed for radionuclide therapy of HCC. Among these, use of transarterial injection of a radiolabelled embolizing agent, such as microspheres or Lipiodol, has led to very encouraging results. Over the last few years, efforts to label Lipiodol with rhenium-188, an attractive beta-emitter, have led to a very active area of research. Lipiodol has been labelled either directly or by solubilisation of a lipophilic 188Re-labelled complex. Preliminary clinical findings indicate the feasibility of using 188Re-labelled Lipiodol, which has shown good tolerance and good response rates in the treatment of unresectable HCC as well as in adjuvant or neo-adjuvant settings

Long-term dynamics of flora of karst lakes: Changes and current state

Long-term observations of the rates and pattern of changes in flora and vegetation contribute to understanding of one of the most important contemporary global problems, the eutrophication of water bodies. In this study, using classical floristic methods, we attempt to determine (for a period of almost 80 years) the nature and possible causes of changes in the floristic composition of the lakes of karst origin, Velikoe and Parovoe (Pustinskaya lake-river system, the right bank of Nizhny Novgorod oblast). The paper shows that over a long period of observations a significant transformation of the vegetation cover has occurred in the lakes. The process was accompanied by the disappearance of a number of native species and appearance of others, including adventitious ones (for example, Elodea canadensis Michx., Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Stapf, Bidens frondosa L. and Epilobium adenocaulon Hausskn.). The weak saturation of the flora with adventive species indicates that the reservoirs are subject to moderate anthropogenic transformation. This is also indicated by the presence of characteristic indicator species, for example, Najas minor All., Glyceria fluitans (L.) R. Br., Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. and Stratiotes aloides L. in the plant communities. In addition, the studied water bodies are subject to a further increase in the degree of eutrophication. This can be judged by scattered records of Potamogeton trichoides Cham. et Schlecht., the disappearance of a number of species (such as Elatine alsinastrum L. and Callitriche hermaphroditica L.), as well as the presence of a significant number of macrophyte indicators of the eutrophic state of water bodies. We suggest that a gradual increase in the trophicity of the studied water bodies is due to a combination of anthropogenic impact (water withdrawal for economic needs, recreational load), natural and climatic features of the region (alternation of high and low water periods) and the natural succession processes associated with the current fundamental changes in the conditions of the runoff formation in the Volga River basin. As a result of studies conducted by authors in 2014–2015, it has been shown that in general the taxonomic and ecological structures of the flora of both lakes are quite diverse and traditional for the territory and the European part of Russia. Meanwhile, the flora of these two reservoirs insignificantly differs in taxonomic composition, which is due to their individual morphometric characteristics, the physical and chemical properties of the aquatic environment, and the nature of the anthropogenic load. At the same time, the equilibrium balance of coastal and aquatic plants in the flora of Lake Parovoe (in contrast to Lake Velikoe) indicates a degree of successional stability of its floristic complex.Long-term observations of the rates and pattern of changes in flora and vegetation contribute to understanding of one of the most important contemporary global problems, the eutrophication of water bodies. In this study, using classical floristic methods, we attempt to determine (for a period of almost 80 years) the nature and possible causes of changes in the floristic composition of the lakes of karst origin, Velikoe and Parovoe (Pustinskaya lake-river system, the right bank of Nizhny Novgorod oblast). The paper shows that over a long period of observations a significant transformation of the vegetation cover has occurred in the lakes. The process was accompanied by the disappearance of a number of native species and appearance of others, including adventitious ones (for example, Elodea canadensis Michx., Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Stapf, Bidens frondosa L. and Epilobium adenocaulon Hausskn.). The weak saturation of the flora with adventive species indicates that the reservoirs are subject to moderate anthropogenic transformation. This is also indicated by the presence of characteristic indicator species, for example, Najas minor All., Glyceria fluitans (L.) R. Br., Hydrocharis morsus-ranae L. and Stratiotes aloides L. in the plant communities. In addition, the studied water bodies are subject to a further increase in the degree of eutrophication. This can be judged by scattered records of Potamogeton trichoides Cham. et Schlecht., the disappearance of a number of species (such as Elatine alsinastrum L. and Callitriche hermaphroditica L.), as well as the presence of a significant number of macrophyte indicators of the eutrophic state of water bodies. We suggest that a gradual increase in the trophicity of the studied water bodies is due to a combination of anthropogenic impact (water withdrawal for economic needs, recreational load), natural and climatic features of the region (alternation of high and low water periods) and the natural succession processes associated with the current fundamental changes in the conditions of the runoff formation in the Volga River basin. As a result of studies conducted by authors in 2014–2015, it has been shown that in general the taxonomic and ecological structures of the flora of both lakes are quite diverse and traditional for the territory and the European part of Russia. Meanwhile, the flora of these two reservoirs insignificantly differs in taxonomic composition, which is due to their individual morphometric characteristics, the physical and chemical properties of the aquatic environment, and the nature of the anthropogenic load. At the same time, the equilibrium balance of coastal and aquatic plants in the flora of Lake Parovoe (in contrast to Lake Velikoe) indicates a degree of successional stability of its floristic complex

Influence of cobalt and molybdenum additives on the structure and shape memory parameters of reaction-sintered porous nickel titanium alloys

We have studied the structure and properties of porous nickel titanium (TiNi) alloys obtained upon reaction sintering of Ti and Ni powders with Co and Mo additives. It is established that Co and Mo doping additives retain the compaction of Ni powder achieved at the initial stage of sintering. The maximum deformation of porous samples loaded in the austenite state was observed upon adding Co, while the addition of Mo resulted in minimum deformation. The addition of Co leads to single-stage martensitic transformation in TiNi phase, while the addition of Mo leads to the two-stage transformation that is more homogeneous over the volume. Both Co and Mo additives lead to increase in the maximum accumulated strain due to the formation of favorably oriented stress-induced martensite and reoriented quench-induced martensite

Transmitting Digital Lutherie Knowledge: The Rashomon Effect for DMI Designers

As the field around computer-mediated musical interaction drives attention to its sociotechnical, political and epistemological exigencies, it becomes important to be guided by disability studies, and for researchers and designers of accessible digital musical instruments (ADMIs) to foreground the lived experience of disabled musicians. This resonates with the movement to promote disability justice in HCI. In this paper, we introduce a case study of the design of a string-less guitar, which was developed in collaboration with a guitarist who lost his ability to play due to impairment. We present this work as an exploration of the Rashomon effect, a term that refers to the phenomenon of multiple witnesses describing the same event from their own perspective. We argue that the Rashomon effect is a useful way to explore how digital musical instrument (DMI) designers respond to NIME's interdisciplinarity, and to reflect on how we produce and transmit knowledge within our field

Immune risk phenotype is associated with nosocomial lung infections in elderly in-patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nosocomial infections are extremely common in the elderly and may be related to ageing of the immune system. The Immune Risk Phenotype (IRP), which predicts shorter survival in elderly patients, has not been evaluated as a possible risk factor for nosocomial infection. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of nosocomial infections in elderly in-patients and to investigate potential relationships between nosocomial infections and the immunophenotype, including IRP parameters.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We included 252 consecutive in-patients aged 70 years or over (mean age, 85 ± 6.2 years), between 2006 and 2008. Among them, 97 experienced nosocomial infections, yielding a prevalence rate of 38.5% (95% confidence interval, 32.5-44.5). The main infection sites were the respiratory tract (21%) and urinary tract (17.1%) When we compared immunological parameters including cell counts determined by flow cytometry in the groups with and without nosocomial infections, we found that the group with nosocomial infections had significantly lower values for the CD4/CD8 ratio and naive CD8 and CD4 T-cell counts and higher counts of memory CD8 T-cells with a significant increase in CD28-negative CD8-T cells. Neither cytomegalovirus status (positive in 193/246 patients) nor presence of the IRP was associated with nosocomial infections. However, nosocomial pneumonia was significantly more common among IRP-positive patients than IRP-negative patients (17/60 versus 28/180; <it>p </it>= 0.036).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Immunological parameters that are easy to determine in everyday practice and known to be associated with immune system ageing and shorter survival in the elderly are also associated with an elevated risk of nosocomial pneumonia in the relatively short term.</p

A2 gene of Old World cutaneous Leishmania is a single highly conserved functional gene

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniases are among the most proteiform parasitic infections in humans ranging from unapparent to cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral diseases. The various clinical issues depend on complex and still poorly understood mechanisms where both host and parasite factors are interacting. Among the candidate factors of parasite virulence are the A2 genes, a family of multiple genes that are developmentally expressed in species of the Leishmania donovani group responsible for visceral diseases (VL). By contrast, in L. major determining cutaneous infections (CL) we showed that A2 genes are present in a truncated form only. Furthermore, the A2 genomic sequences of L. major were considered subsequently to represent non-expressed pseudogenes [1]. Consequently, it was suggested that the structural and functional properties of A2 genes could play a role in the differential tropism of CL and VL leishmanias. On this basis, it was of importance to determine whether the observed structural/functional particularities of the L. major A2 genes were shared by other CL Leishmania, therefore representing a proper characteristic of CL A2 genes as opposed to those of VL isolates. METHODS: In the present study we amplified by PCR and sequenced the A2 genes from genomic DNA and from clonal libraries of the four Old World CL species comparatively to a clonal population of L. infantum VL parasites. Using RT-PCR we also amplified and sequenced A2 mRNA transcripts from L. major. RESULTS: A unique A2 sequence was identified in Old World cutaneous Leishmania by sequencing. The shared sequence was highly conserved among the various CL strains and species analysed, showing a single polymorphism C/G at position 58. The CL A2 gene was found to be functionally transcribed at both parasite stages. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that cutaneous strains of leishmania share a conserved functional A2 gene. As opposed to the multiple A2 genes described in VL isolates, the CL A2 gene is unique, lacking most of the nucleotide repeats that constitute the variable region at the 5'end of the VL A2 sequences. As the variable region of the VL A2 gene has been shown to correspond to a portion of the protein which is highly immunogenic, the present results support the hypothesis of a possible role of the A2 gene in the differential tropism of CL and VL leishmania parasites

Флора карстовых озер государственного природного заказника «Пустынский» (Нижегородская область)

Pustynsky State Natural Reserve of Regional Importance (area 19,730 hectares) was established by decree of the administration of Nizhny Novgorod oblast on September 16, 2013. It is located in the Tyoshe-Seryozhinsky karst area of the Oka-Sura karst region or Seryozhe-Panskoy karst lake district. Its creation is justified by the need to protect the rare species of living organisms, diverse types of vegetation, unique landscapes and plant communities that are concentrated in this territory. Despite the fact that in 1934 on the shore of the Great Lake in the Staraya Pustyn village the biological station of the State University of Nizhny Novgorod was founded, local flora of the karst lakes which are linked into a single system by the channel of the River Seryozha, remains insufficiently studied. In 2014 and 2015 the authors conducted a study of the flora of the Pustynsky lake-river complex. The collection of material for study of the taxonomic composition of the flora of the reservoirs and the collection of herbarium material were carried out by the route method from a rowing boat and, in part, by traversing along the shore. Taxonomic, ecological (including the spectrum of life forms of plants) and ecobiomorphological analysis of the flora, including the analysis of the ratio of its latitudinal and longitude elements, was carried out in cameral conditions. The taxonomic analysis of flora showed 162&nbsp;species of vascular plants from 61 genera and 42 families, 6 of these species – Najas minor All., N. major All., Trapa natans L., Potamogeton praelongus Wulf., P. trichoides Cham. et Schlecht. and Carex bohemica Schreb, being included in the List of Rare and Protected Species on the Territory of Nizhny Novgorod oblast. On the basis of the annotated list of plant species, taxonomic, geographic, ecological-coenotic and ecobiomorphological analysis of the flora of the water reservoirs was made. We confirmed that the flora of the lake-river complex is traditional for this territory. Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Polygonaceae and Asteraceae belong to the dominant families and Potamogeton L., Carex L., Juncus L. and Salix L. belong to the dominant genera of the Pustynsky lake-river system. The level of the hybrid component of the flora is extremely low, which is typical for the watershed lakes. We found that a 6.5 km stretch of the Seryozha River accounts for about 30% of species of the vascular plants belonging to the flora in the Volga River basin. The high species richness of the flora of this territory is due, primarily, to the specific features of the shoreline, forming a broad range of habitats and the relatively stable water level regime despite the strong fluctuation in the level of anthropogenic pressure. We found that boreal and plurizonal elements dominate zonally but Holarctic and Eurasian species – regionally. The predominance of species typical for the ecotone zones of lakes (hygrophytes, hydrophytes and mesophytes) is an integral feature of the ecological-coenotic diversity which is characteristic of the Volga River basin. According to the Raunkiaer classification of life forms, hemicryptophytes are the most numerous group and the hamephytes are the least numerous one. A biomorphological analysis shows the predominance of vegetative mobile, clearly polycentric and vegetative immobile monocentric ecobiomorphs.&nbsp;Государственный природный заказник регионального значения «Пустынский» площадью 19&nbsp;730 га, образован постановлением правительства Нижегородской области от 16 сентября 2013 г., и расположен в Теше-Сережинском карстовом районе Окско-Сурской карстовой области или Сереже-Пьянском карстовом озерном районе. Его создание обосновано необходимостью охраны редких видов живых организмов, разнообразных типов растительности, уникальных ландшафтов и фитоценозов, сосредоточенных на данной территории. Несмотря на то, что уже в 1934 г. на берегу оз. Великое в с. Старая Пустынь образована биологическая станция Нижегородского государственного университета, флора местных озер карстового происхождения, связанных между собой в единую систему руслом р. Сережа, по-прежнему изучена недостаточно полно. В 2014 и 2015 годах авторами проведено исследование флоры Пустынского озерно-речного комплекса. Выявлен таксономический состав флоры сосудистых растений, насчитывающий 162 вида, из них 6 (Najas minor All., N. major All., Trapa natans L., Potamogeton praelongus Wulf., P. trichoides Cham. et Schlecht. и Carex bohemica Schreb) входят в перечень редких и особо охраняемых видов Нижегородской области. На основе представленного в работе аннотированного списка видов выполнен таксономический, географический, эколого-ценотический и экобиоморфологический анализ флоры водоемов. По&nbsp;таксономической и экологической структуре флора исследуемого озерно-речного комплекса традиционна для данной территории. Различия во флоре отдельных озер обусловлены разнообразием биотопов, степенью сохранности растительного покрова и характером антропогенной нагрузки. Особенностью озерно-речной системы является то, что на участке длиной 6,5 км сосредоточено около 30% таксонов сосудистых растений, входящих в состав флоры бассейна р. Волга.&nbsp