Lire Deborah Hay

Paris 8 Danse in Translation [On line] www.danse.univ-paris8.frTranslated by Jacqueline Cousineau from the slightly revised version (with some updates from Deborah Hay) of "Lire Deborah Hay", postface to the French translation of Deborah Hay's book My Body, the Buddhist: Mon corps, ce bouddhiste, extended edition, co-translation: Laurent Pichaud and Lucie Perineau, Dijon/Lausanne, Les presses du réel/La Manufacture, coll. Nouvelles scènes, 2017. «Deborah Hay writes. Since in the field of French choreography one can “write” [écrire] dance composition, we specify here that Deborah Hay “writes” both choreography and texts. Deborah Hay is prolific. She has published four books (and there is an additional unpublished manuscript in her archives), has almost twenty articles to her name, and has elaborated numerous scores for her pieces in textual form […]». This text attempts to unfold the question of language as a tool within Deborah Hay’s choreographic practice

Hypertension in pregnancy: classification, diagnosis and treatment

Hypertension in Pregnancy (HTNP) is defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140mmHg or diastolic blood pres­sure ≥ 90mmHg in at least two different measurements during pregnancy. According to guidelines, HTNP is classified into four or more individual categories. These categories include chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, pre-existing hypertension plus superimposed gestational hypertension with proteinuria, antenatally unclassified hypertension and preec­lampsia. Although the exact causes and pathogenetic mechanisms of HTNP are not fully elucidated, the severity of the pos­sible complications, including eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, require the maximum alertness. Physicians should consider HTNP as a crucial maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality factor. Early detection and treatment are of major importance and should be provided in every case. In the present review the potential pathogenetic mechanisms, categories and therapeutic interventions for HTNP are discussed, according to up-to-date data

Sex Steroids: Beyond Conventional Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is a characteristic of a large number of species, ranging from lower invertebrates to mammals and, last but not least, humans. Recognition of the various factors regulating sexual dimorphism initial establishment (i.e. sex determination and differentiation) and subsequent life-long adaptation to distinct functional and behavioural patterns has remained a hot topic for several decades. As our understanding of the various molecular pathways involved in this process increases, the significant role of sex steroids becomes more evident. At the same time, the recognition of new sites of steroid production (e.g. parts of the brain) and aromatization, as well as new target cells (owing to the pro- posed presence of additional receptors to those classically considered as primary steroid receptors) has lead to the need to revisit their spectrum of actions within a novel, multifactorial context. Thus, anthropology and medicine are presented with the challenge to unravel a major mystery, i.e. that of sexual orientation and differentiation and its potential contri- bution in human evolution and civilization development, taking advantage of the high-tech research tools provided by modern biotechnology. This short review summarizes the basic principles of sex determination and sex steroid function as they have been classically described in the literature and then proceeds to present examples of how modern research methods have started to offer a new insight on the more subtle details of this process, stressing that it is extending to virtually every single part and system of the body

The PLANET Project: A Tool for Flexibility in the Energy Transition

Renewable energy resources offer immense prospects to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, whilst addressing the growing energy demand. In recent years, owing to falling costs and supportive policies, the integration of renewable energy has expanded significantly. Nevertheless, challenges to its further expansion are raised due to the inherent variability of renewable energy production (‘vRES’) coupled with grid stability considerations, which – if not properly addressed – shall lead to vRES generation curtailment. The latter would cause renewable capacity expansion to decelerate, reductions in the capacity factors of vRES technologies and subsequent economic losses, to name a few. Against this backdrop, PLANET has developed a holistic decision support system for utilities, network operators and policy makers to help them implement optimal grid planning and management solutions compatible with complete decarbonization of the energy system. To that end, the project leverages energy conversion and storage technologies, such as Power-to-Gas, Power-to-Heat, Combined Heat and Power, Thermal storages and Virtual Energy Storage. These technologies have been deemed very promising to address issues related to the integration of renewables in the electricity grid, by enabling coordination of the electricity, heat and gas sectors towards revealing the maximum potential of network flexibility, a vital prerequisite for ensuring security of supply. The PLANET project commenced in November 2017 with the participation of 11 partners from 7 different countries: Italy, Finland, Greece, UK, Germany, France and Belgium including technical universities, research centers and associations, consultancy firms, utilities and information technology companie

Discriminating Between the Roles of Androgens and Estrogens in Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease shows a distinct difference in incidence rates between men and women, a fact that has been known for many years. While initial theories supported that this could be attributed to the protective effect of estrogens in women, attempts to correlate endogenous estrogen levels with cardiovascular risk factors and the progression of atherosclerosis-related indexes indicate otherwise. Similarly, endogenous androgen levels seem to correlate with opposite effects in males and females, whereas exogenous treatment with either androgens or estrogens fails to correspond to scientific expectations entirely. A brief discussion of the merits and pitfalls of placing either estrogens or androgens alone at the root of the problem shows that current understanding is inadequate concerning this major anthropological issue, as it refers to the primary global mortality and morbidity cause

Effects of Lifestyle Measures, Antiobesity Agents, and Bariatric Surgery on Serological Markers of Inflammation in Obese Patients

Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in developed countries and are also becoming more frequent in the developing world. Overweight and obese patients have elevated levels of several inflammatory markers and this inflammatory state might contribute to their increased vascular risk. We summarize the effects of lifestyle changes, antiobesity agents, and bariatric surgery on serological inflammatory markers in overweight and obese patients. Most studies showed a decrease in inflammation with all 3 interventions. However, it remains to be established whether the decrease in inflammatory markers induced by lifestyle changes or (where indicated) with antiobesity agents or bariatric surgery will translate into reduced vascular morbidity and mortality in overweight and obese patients

Endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) in hypertension and chronic kidney disease: A rose with many thorns

The discovery of endothelin created a lot of enthusiasm and paved new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of arterial hypertension. Endothelin plays a significant role in blood pressure regulation through pronounced vasoconstriction and modulation of sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys. Endothelin receptor antagonists have been tested in many clinical trials in patients with arterial hypertension, heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, systemic sclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and diabetic nephropathy. However, the results were usually disappointing, except in pulmonary hypertension and scleroderma digital ulcers. The future of ERAs for the treatment of arterial hypertension and chronic kidney disease does not seem bright, and only the combination with other classes of antihypertensive drugs might offer a way out