French responses to the Prague Spring: connections, (mis)perception and appropriation

Looking at the vast literature on the events of 1968 in various European countries, it is striking that the histories of '1968' of the Western and Eastern halves of the continent are largely still written separately.1 Nevertheless, despite the very different political and socio-economic contexts, the protest movements on both sides of the Iron Curtain shared a number of characteristics. The 1968 events in Czechoslovakia and Western Europe were, reduced to the basics, investigations into the possibility of marrying social justice with liberty, and thus reflected a tension within European Marxism. This essay provides an analysis specifically of the responses by the French left—the Communist Party, the student movements and the gauchistes—to the Prague Spring, characterised by misunderstandings and strategic appropriation. The Prague Spring was seen by both the reformist and the radical left in France as a moderate movement. This limited interpretation of the Prague Spring as a liberal democratic project continues to inform our memory of it

Expression of citrulline and homocitrulline residues in the lungs of non-smokers and smokers : implications for autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Smoking is a well-established risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and it has been proposed that smoking-induced citrullination renders autoantigens immunogenic. To investigate this mechanism, we examined human lung tissue from 40 subjects with defined smoking status, with or without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and control tissues from other organs for citrullinated proteins and the deiminating enzymes peptidylarginine deiminase type-2 (PAD2) and -4 (PAD4). Methods: Lung tissue samples, dissected from lobectomy specimens from 10 never smokers, 10 smokers without airflow limitation, 13 COPD smokers and eight COPD ex-smokers, and control tissue samples (spleen, skeletal muscle, liver, ovary, lymph node, kidney and heart), were analysed for citrullinated proteins, PAD2 and PAD4 by immunoblotting. Citrulline and homocitrulline residues in enolase and vimentin were analysed by partial purification by gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry in 12 of the lung samples and one from each control tissues. Band intensities were scored semi-quantitatively and analysed by two-tailed Mann-Whitney T-test. Results: Within the lung tissue samples, citrullinated proteins, PAD2 and PAD4 were found in all samples, with an increase in citrullination in COPD (P = 0.039), but minimal difference between smokers and non-smokers (P = 0.77). Citrullination was also detected at lower levels in the tissues from other organs, principally in lymph node, kidney and skeletal muscle. Mass spectrometry of the lung samples showed that vimentin was citrullinated at positions 71, 304, 346, 410 and 450 in non-smokers and smokers both with and without COPD. A homocitrulline at position 104 was found in four out of six COPD samples and one out of six non-COPD. Citrulline-450 was also found in three of the control tissues. There were no citrulline or homocitrulline residues demonstrated in a-enolase. Conclusions: We have shown evidence of citrullination of vimentin, a major autoantigen in RA, in both non-smokers and smokers. The increase in citrullinated proteins in COPD suggests that citrullination in the lungs of smokers is mainly due to inflammation. The ubiquity of citrullination of vimentin in the lungs and other tissues suggests that the relationship between smoking and autoimmunity in RA may be more complex than previously thought

Assessment of fine scale population genetic diversity and regeneration in Congo basin logged forests

In the Congo Basin most of the light-demanding timber tree species display a deficit of natural regeneration which is a major handicap for sustainable production and certification. Whilst the majority of scientists investigate abiotic and biotic factors explaining that pattern, we hypothesize that tree population density or individual spatial isolation may also affect the tree fitness through inbreeding. In this study, we integrate ecological and genetic approaches to characterize the regeneration potential of a set of priority timber species by (i) estimating pollen dispersal distances at various tree population densities, and (ii) evaluating the impact of increasing spatial isolation on mating characteristics and tree fitness. The ultimate goal is the proposal of minimum population density that prevents inbreeding consequences. Method This ongoing study focuses on 10 timber species (Pericopsis elata, Milicia excelsa, Baillonella toxisperma, Entandrophragma cylindricum, E. utile, E. angolense, E. candollei, Afzelia bipindensis, Erythrophleum suaveloens, Terminalia superba). The data collection was carried out in the logging concession granted to Pallisco in Cameroon. We established two 400-ha plots, where all individuals (DBH > 10 cm) of the target species were inventoried and mapped. A sample of leave or cambium was collected for each of these individuals, as well as for seedlings to characterize patterns of gene flow using genetic tools (nuclear microsatellites). Dispersal agents were identified by direct observations and camera traps. Germination success was characterized in nursery for seeds collected on trees under an increasing isolation gradient. Results Main dispersal agents (wind, bat, rodent) and predators (rodent) were identified for all the species. The gene flow and germination data is still being analyzed and the main results will be presented in the poster. Conclusion Our data will allow characterizing the reproductive biology of a set of important timber species from the Congo basin. These information will strengthen sustainable forest management and the application of certification by adjusting harvesting norms through the use of scientifically-relevant data. In particular, we will tentatively define a maximum distance to be maintained between two adults to allow a qualitative reproduction

Activation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells by all-trans-retinoic acid.

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA), like insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and tamoxifen, inhibit invasion of human MCF-7/6 mammary cancer cells in vitro. For tamoxifen and for IGF-I, activation of the invasion-suppressor function of the E-cadherin/catenin complex was shown to be the most probable mechanism of the anti-invasive action. We did a series of experiments to determine whether the anti-invasive effect of RA also implicated the invasion-suppressor E-cadherin/catenin complex. Human MCF-7/6 mammary and HCT-8/R1 colon cancer cells, both with a dysfunctional E-cadherin/catenin complex, were treated with RA and the function of the complex was evaluated through Ca(2+)-dependent fast aggregation. Fast aggregation of both MCF-7/6 and HCT-8/R1 cells was induced by 1 microM RA. This effect was abolished by antibodies against E-cadherin. RA-induced fast aggregation was not sensitive to cycloheximide, tyrosine kinase inhibitors or antibodies against IGF-I or against the IGF-I receptor. RA did not stimulate IGF-I receptor phosphorylation or alter the E-cadherin/catenin complex, as evidenced by immunoprecipitation. RA up-regulates the function of the invasion-suppressor complex E-cadherin/catenin. Its action mechanism is different from that of IGF-I. RA may act as an anti-invasive agent with unique mechanisms of action

Thermo-mechanical behavior of a granodiorite from the Liquiñe fractured geothermal system (39°S) in the Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes

Fractures and faults in granitic rocks play an important role in geothermal systems because they permit the circulation of hot fluids. However, the thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of granitic rocks has predominantly been studied at temperatures exceeding 300 °C but many geothermal systems experience temperatures much lower than this. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the depth, temperature, and amount and rate of mechanical loading associated conditions, that are realistic in low temperature geothermal system, influence the physical properties of geothermal reservoir hosting rock. We carried out both room temperature and low temperature thermo-mechanical tests on a granodiorite sample from the Liquiñe area, Chile, and performed post-experimental X-ray microtomography analysis to numerically estimate the permeability of the generated fractures. The results showed that both rock strength and rock stiffness decreased with increments of temperature treatment related to the development of thermal crack damage at temperatures > 150 °C and through the development of sub-critical cracking at constant temperatures between 50–75 °C. Slowest deformed samples also exhibited lower strengths, attributed to the development of sub-critical cracking. The cyclic triaxial loading test indicated that significant mechanical fracture damage was only initiated above 80% of the peak stress regardless of the number of repeated loading cycles at lower stresses. Low-temperature treatment appears to be a conditioning factor, but not the dominant factor in controlling the physical properties of reservoir hosting rocks. Our findings indicate that thermal crack damage is likely important for developing microfracture related permeability at depths between around 2–6 km where the temperature is sufficiently high to induce thermal cracking. At shallower depths, such was previously estimated the reservoir of Liquiñe, thermal crack damage is only generated adjacent to fractures that remain open and circulate the hot fluids but sub-critical cracking over time reduces the strength of rocks in lower temperature regimes. These processes combined to produce a geothermal reservoir in Liquiñe which likely first required the presence of a highly fractured fault zone

Does a voucher program improve reproductive health service delivery and access in Kenya?

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.Background - Current assessments on Output-Based Aid (OBA) programs have paid limited attention to the experiences and perceptions of the healthcare providers and facility managers. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of healthcare providers and facility managers in the Kenya reproductive health output-based approach voucher program. Methods - A total of 69 in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and facility managers in 30 voucher accredited facilities were conducted. The study hypothesized that a voucher program would be associated with improvements in reproductive health service provision. Data were transcribed and analysed by adopting a thematic framework analysis approach. A combination of inductive and deductive analysis was conducted based on previous research and project documents. Results - Facility managers and providers viewed the RH-OBA program as a feasible system for increasing service utilization and improving quality of care. Perceived benefits of the program included stimulation of competition between facilities and capital investment in most facilities. Awareness of family planning (FP) and gender-based violence (GBV) recovery services voucher, however, remained lower than the maternal health voucher service. Relations between the voucher management agency and accredited facilities as well as existing health systems challenges affect program functions. Conclusions - Public and private sector healthcare providers and facility managers perceive value in the voucher program as a healthcare financing model. They recognize that it has the potential to significantly increase demand for reproductive health services, improve quality of care and reduce inequities in the use of reproductive health services. To improve program functioning going forward, there is need to ensure the benefit package and criteria for beneficiary identification are well understood and that the public facilities are permitted greater autonomy to utilize revenue generated from the voucher program.This work was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Population Council as part of a multi country study evaluation of voucher-andaccreditation interventions. Grant number 51761