In Breakable Glasses: Toward a Naturalist Orientational Cosmology

The author develops the formula, "that process that gives rise to all that exists," as a specification of the cosmos within which human life may find meaningful, ethical orientation. Her position intends to be consonant with the natural sciences and conversant with traditional orientational cosmologies of the world religions. After analyzing each of the key terms in this central formula, she provisionally proposes three ethical stances (humility, responsibility, and celebration) that might follow from orientation to the cosmos seen as "that process that gives rise to all that exists.

Study of Human-Animal Interactions in Siberian Pastoral Systems via GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

International audienceIn this article we propose an exploratory study of human-animal relations via GIS (Geographic Information Systems) among two different nomadic pastoral populations — the Buryats of the Aga district (Transbaikalia) and the Evens of Central Kamchatka. In this research, we used GPS receivers, which allowed us to produce a geographic location of the data and to represent on maps the herders’ and animals’ movements with respect to fixed reference points (pastures, encampments, etc.), allowing a new approach in the study of human-animal interactions.Данная статья посвящена изучению отношений между человеком и животными с помощью ГИС (географическая информационная система) у двух кочевых народов — Агинских бурят Забайкальского края, и эвенов Быстринского района Камчатского края. В исследовании был использован GPS-приёмник, который дал возможность произвести географическую локализацию данных, изобразить на карте передвижения скотоводов и животных в отношении к неподвижным точкам (пастибще, стоянка и пр. …), а так же взаимодействия человека с животными

Propter vitandum scandalum. Histoire d'une catégorie juridique (XIIe-XVe siècles)

International audienceEntre le XIIe et le XVe siècle, les emplois de la caté- gorie juridique de scandalum dans la documentation pratique de la papauté, et tout particulièrement de la Pénitencerie Apostolique, n'ont qu'un rapport lointain avec l'usage scripturaire puis théologique le plus fréquent du terme, mais aussi avec les quelques emplois repérables dans le droit public germanique du Haut Moyen Âge. Les juges ecclésiastiques et les juristes - du moins les canonistes, puisqu'on ne trouve aucune trace de cette catégorie dans le droit justinien relu par les médiévaux - ont donc révisé et considérablement modifié le sens de ce mot. En retour, le scandalum a contribué à redéfinir les contours de la justice médié- vale, qu'elle soit pénale, pénitentielle ou disciplinaire. Dans cet article, nous montrons que cette catégorie révèle parfaitement la nature de l'activité judiciaire et administrative de l'Église pontificale aux XIIIe-XIVe siècles, et constitue sans doute une matrice de la "sphère publique" médiévale

Où est passée la sociologie de la critique ? : À l’épreuve d’Affaires, scandales et grandes causes

International audienceCe texte consacré au dialogue entre histoire, anthropologie et sociologie en France, est une recension de l'ouvrage "Affaires, scandales et grande causes. De Socrate à Pinochet" dirigé par Luc Boltanski, Elisabeth Caverie, Nicolas Offenstadt et Stéphane van Damme. Suite à un colloque organisé en 2004 sur les scandales et les affaires, sociologues et historiens français ont rassemblé leurs contributions dans le cadre d’un ouvrage placé sous le signe de la « sociologie de la critique » initiée par Luc Boltanski dans les années quatre-vingt. Les nombreuses études de cas historiques et la tentative louable de comparatisme et de « typification » suscitent l’intérêt du lecteur. Mais aucun des auteurs ne prend en compte les qualifications juridiques, la manière dont elles orientent ou influencent le sens critique des « petits » et la façon dont, très tôt en Occident (dès le XIIe siècle au moins), le pouvoir souverain s’est saisi des compétences critiques des acteurs

Field Test of Classical Symmetric Encryption with Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution

We report on the design and performance of a point-to-point classical symmetric encryption link with fast key renewal provided by a Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution (CVQKD) system. Our system was operational and able to encrypt point-to-point communications during more than six months, from the end of July 2010 until the beginning of February 2011. This field test was the first demonstration of the reliability of a CVQKD system over a long period of time in a server room environment. This strengthens the potential of CVQKD for information technology security infrastructure deployments

Implementation of a Nondeterministic Optical Noiseless Amplifier

International audienceQuantum mechanics imposes that any amplifier that works independently on the phase of the input signal has to introduce some excess noise. The impossibility of such a noiseless amplifier is rooted into unitarity and linearity of quantum evolution. A possible way to circumvent this limitation is to interrupt such evolution via a measurement, providing a random outcome able to herald a successful - and noiseless - amplification event. Here we show a successful realisation of such an approach; we perform a full characterization of an amplified coherent state using quantum homodyne tomography, and observe a strong heralded amplification, with about 6dB gain and a noise level significantly smaller than the minimal allowed for any ordinary phase-independent device

Improvement of continuous-variable quantum key distribution systems by using optical preamplifiers

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocols, based on Gaussian modulation of the quadratures of coherent states, have been implemented in recent experiments. A present limitation of such systems is the finite efficiency of the detectors, which can in principle be compensated for by the use of classical optical preamplifiers. Here we study this possibility in detail, by deriving the modified secret key generation rates when an optical parametric amplifier is placed at the output of the quantum channel. After presenting a general set of security proofs, we show that the use of preamplifiers does compensate for all the imperfections of the detectors when the amplifier is optimal in terms of gain and noise. Imperfect amplifiers can also enhance the system performance, under conditions which are generally satisfied in practice.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to J. Phys. B (special issue on Few Atoms Optics

A balanced homodyne detector for high-rate Gaussian-modulated coherent-state quantum key distribution

We discuss excess noise contributions of a practical balanced homodyne detector in Gaussian-modulated coherent-state (GMCS) quantum key distribution (QKD). We point out the key generated from the original realistic model of GMCS QKD may not be secure. In our refined realistic model, we take into account excess noise due to the finite bandwidth of the homodyne detector and the fluctuation of the local oscillator. A high speed balanced homodyne detector suitable for GMCS QKD in the telecommunication wavelength region is built and experimentally tested. The 3dB bandwidth of the balanced homodyne detector is found to be 104MHz and its electronic noise level is 13dB below the shot noise at a local oscillator level of 8.5*10^8 photon per pulse. The secure key rate of a GMCS QKD experiment with this homodyne detector is expected to reach Mbits/s over a few kilometers.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure

Optical, vibrational, thermal, electrical, damage and phase-matching properties of lithium thioindate

Lithium thioindate (LiInS$_{2}$) is a new nonlinear chalcogenide biaxial material transparent from 0.4 to 12 $\mu$m, that has been successfully grown in large sizes and good optical quality. We report on new physical properties that are relevant for laser and nonlinear optics applications. With respect to AgGaS(e)$_2$ ternary chalcopyrite materials, LiInS$_{2}$ displays a nearly-isotropic thermal expansion behavior, a 5-times larger thermal conductivity associated with high optical damage thresholds, and an extremely low intensity-dependent absorption allowing direct high-power downconversion from the near-IR to the deep mid-IR. Continuous-wave difference-frequency generation (5-11$\mu$m) of Ti:sapphire laser sources is reported for the first time.Comment: 27 pages, 21 figures. Replaces the previous preprint (physics/0307082) with the final version as it will be published in J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 21(11) (Nov. 2004 issue

Modulation of synaptic plasticity in the cortex needs to understand all the players

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in cognitive tasks such as working memory, decision making, risk assessment and regulation of attention. These functions performed by the PFC are supposed to rely on rhythmic electrical activity generated by neuronal network oscillations determined by a precise balance between excitation and inhibition balance (E/I balance) resulting from the coordinated activities of recurrent excitation and feedback and feedforward inhibition. Functional alterations in PFC functions have been associated with cognitive deficits in several pathologies such as major depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. These pathological situations are correlated with alterations of different neurotransmitter systems (i.e., serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine...) that result in alterations of the E/I balance. The aim of this review article is to cover the basic aspects of the regulation of the E/I balance as well as to highlight the importance of the complementarity role of several neurotransmitters in the modulation of the plasticity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. We illustrate our purpose by recent findings that demonstrate that 5-HT and DA cooperate to regulate the plasticity of excitatory and inhibitory synapses targeting layer 5 pyramidal neurons (L5PyNs) of the PFC and to fine tune the E/I balance. Using a method based on the decomposition of the synaptic conductance into its excitatory and inhibitory components, we show that concomitant activation of D1-like receptors (D1Rs) and 5-HT1ARs, through a modulation of NMDA receptors, favors long term potentiation (LTP) of both excitation and inhibition and consequently does not modify the E/I balance. We also demonstrate that activation of D2-receptors requires functional 5-HT1ARs to shift the E-I balance towards more inhibition and to favor long term depression (LTD) of excitatory synapses through the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). This cooperation between different neurotransmitters is particularly relevant in view of pathological situations in which alterations of one neurotransmitter system will also have consequences on the regulation of synaptic efficacy by other neurotransmitters. This opens up new perspectives in the development of therapeutic strategies for the pharmacological treatment of neuronal disorders.</p