Editorial

National audienceL'éditorial explique comment ce numéro de la revue cherche à éclairer la manière dont l’agronomie, seule ou avec d’autres disciplines, peut être mise à contribution pour faire face aux multiples enjeux concernant la raréfaction des ressources naturelles qui concernent l’agriculture

Editorial

National audienceL'éditorial explique comment ce numéro de la revue cherche à éclairer la manière dont l’agronomie, seule ou avec d’autres disciplines, peut être mise à contribution pour faire face aux multiples enjeux concernant la raréfaction des ressources naturelles qui concernent l’agriculture

Resolving the bouba-kiki effect enigma by rooting iconic sound symbolism in physical properties of round and spiky objects

International audienceThe “bouba-kiki effect”, where “bouba” is perceived round and “kiki” spiky, remains a puzzling enigma. We solve it by combining mathematical findings largely unknown in the field, with computational models and novel experimental evidence. We reveal that this effect relies on two acoustic cues: spectral balance and temporal continuity. We demonstrate that it is not speech-specific but rather rooted in physical properties of objects, creating audiovisual regularities in the environment. Round items are mathematically bound to produce, when hitting or rolling on a surface, lower-frequency spectra and more continuous sounds than same-size spiky objects. Finally, we show that adults are sensitive to such regularities. Hence, intuitive physics impacts language perception and possibly language acquisition and evolution too

Resolving the bouba-kiki effect enigma by rooting iconic sound symbolism in physical properties of round and spiky objects

International audienceThe “bouba-kiki effect”, where “bouba” is perceived round and “kiki” spiky, remains a puzzling enigma. We solve it by combining mathematical findings largely unknown in the field, with computational models and novel experimental evidence. We reveal that this effect relies on two acoustic cues: spectral balance and temporal continuity. We demonstrate that it is not speech-specific but rather rooted in physical properties of objects, creating audiovisual regularities in the environment. Round items are mathematically bound to produce, when hitting or rolling on a surface, lower-frequency spectra and more continuous sounds than same-size spiky objects. Finally, we show that adults are sensitive to such regularities. Hence, intuitive physics impacts language perception and possibly language acquisition and evolution too

Nurses’ Occupational and Medical Risks Factors of Leaving the Profession in Nursing Homes

This study aimed to evaluate the association between intention to leave work, and working conditions and health status among female care-staff in nursing homes. A multicenter cross-sectional study included female care-staff in 105 nursing homes for the elderly. We used validated questionnaires to assess occupational, psychosocial and medical data in a multicenter transverse study. Univariate analysis on chi² test was performed with stratification according to job (nurse, nursing assistant), and variables found to be significant on each dimension were included on multivariate models. 1428 nursing assistants and 342 registered nurses were included. 391 nursing assistants and 85 registered nurses intended to leave their work with the elderly. The registered nurses’ intention to leave was associated with deteriorated care-team or residents relations, and with perceived elevated hardship due to the proximity of residents’ death. The nursing assistants’ intention to leave was associated with deteriorated management relation, with job insecurity and elevated hardship due to the residents’ intellectual deterioration. Impaired physical or psychological health status also correlated with this intention. Policy to reduce voluntary turnover of care-staff in nursing homes for the elderly could be based on multifactorial management, acting on work organization and reducing psychosocial stress

Landsliding in the Himalayas: causes and consequences

International audienceThis chapter reviews the state-of-the-art and current challenges concerning our understanding of the natural controls of landsliding in the Himalaya. Throughout the Himalaya, landslides occur predominantly during the monsoon season, which is approximately from June to late September. Several studies have produced comprehensive landslide inventories in parts of the Himalayan range, attempting to link monsoon-induced landslides to hydrometeorologic variables. The chapter explores the links between landsliding and societies in the Himalaya as well as potential for mitigation, in the context of global climate change. Mostly, landslides inflict damages in their immediate surrounding, destroying arable fields, infrastructure and buildings. There are numerous cases when landslides have triggered consecutive events with devastating effects tens of kilometers away from the landslide source. High-tech and costly methods of landslide mitigation are rarely implemented because of the prevailing low- and middle-income countries in the region

Tunable Aggregation and Gelation of Thermoresponsive Suspensions of Polymer-Grafted Cellulose Nanocrystals

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Novel AChE Inhibitors for Sustainable Insecticide Resistance Management

International audienceResistance to insecticides has become a critical issue in pest management and it is particularly chronic in the control of human disease vectors. The gravity of this situation is being exacerbated since there has not been a new insecticide class produced for over twenty years. Reasoned strategies have been developed to limit resistance spread but have proven difficult to implement in the field. Here we propose a new conceptual strategy based on inhibitors that preferentially target mosquitoes already resistant to a currently used insecticide. Application of such inhibitors in rotation with the insecticide against which resistance has been selected initially is expected to restore vector control efficacy and reduce the odds of neo-resistance. We validated this strategy by screening for inhibitors of the G119S mutated acetylcholinesterase-1 (AChE1), which mediates insensitivity to the widely used organophosphates (OP) and carbamates (CX) insecticides. PyrimidineTrione Furan-substituted (PTF) compounds came out as best hits, acting biochemically as reversible and competitive inhibitors of mosquito AChE1 and preferentially inhibiting the mutated form, insensitive to OP and CX. PTF application in bioassays preferentially killed OP-resistant Culex pipiens and Anopheles gambiae larvae as a consequence of AChE1 inhibition. Modeling the evolution of frequencies of wild type and OP-insensitive AChE1 alleles in PTF-treated populations using the selectivity parameters estimated from bioassays predicts a rapid rise in the wild type allele frequency. This study identifies the first compound class that preferentially targets OP-resistant mosquitoes, thus restoring OP-susceptibility, which validates a new prospect of sustainable insecticide resistance management. Citation: Alout H, Labbé P, Berthomieu A, Djogbénou L, Leonetti J-P, et al. (2012) Novel AChE Inhibitors for Sustainable Insecticide Resistance Management. PLoS ONE 7(10): e47125