La parole efficiente dans la série Harry Potter

Une des spécificités de l’œuvre de Joanne K. Rowling est la réflexion qu’elle développe sur la parole. L’étude de la parole magique (écrite ou orale) montre que cette dernière se prête à deux niveaux d’interprétation, littéral et allégorique. Formules et sortilèges sont l’allégorie des pouvoirs de manipulation et de coercition de la parole. La parole écrite est aussi très représentée, à travers les livres magiques et les journaux. Si le rapport au livre de Joanne K. Rowling est ambivalent (il est utile, mais il est dangereux), son évocation de la presse tabloïd est l’occasion d’une vigoureuse satire.One of the specificities of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is the pervasive reflexion about speech. Studying magic speech (either in oral spells or in magic books) reveals that it can be read at two levels, a literal level and an allegoric level. Formulas and spells are allegories of the power of manipulation and coercion of speech. Written speech is also, through magic books and newspapers, a favorite topic in Harry Potter. If Rowling’s attitude toward books is ambivalent (they are useful but sometimes dangerous), her evocation of tabloïd press gives her the opportunity of a forcefull satire

Acoustic propagation in a vortical homentropic flow

This paper is devoted to the theoretical and the numerical studies of the radiation 4 of an acoustic source in a general homentropic flow. As a linearized model, we consider Goldstein's 5 Equations, which extend the usual potential model to vortical flows. The equivalence between 6 Linearized Euler's Equations with general source terms and Goldstein's Equations is established, 7 and the relations between unknowns, in each model, are analysed. A closed-form relation between 8 the hydrodynamic phenomena and the acoustics is derived. Finally, numerical results are presented 9 and the relevance of using Goldstein's Equations compared to the potential model is illustrated

Acoustic propagation in a vortical homentropic flow

This paper is devoted to the theoretical and the numerical studies of the radiation 4 of an acoustic source in a general homentropic flow. As a linearized model, we consider Goldstein's 5 Equations, which extend the usual potential model to vortical flows. The equivalence between 6 Linearized Euler's Equations with general source terms and Goldstein's Equations is established, 7 and the relations between unknowns, in each model, are analysed. A closed-form relation between 8 the hydrodynamic phenomena and the acoustics is derived. Finally, numerical results are presented 9 and the relevance of using Goldstein's Equations compared to the potential model is illustrated

Towards Modeling Texture in Symbolic Data

International audienceStudying texture is a part of many musicological analyses. The change of texture plays an important role in the cognition of musical structures. Texture is a feature commonly used to analyze musical audio data, but it is rarely taken into account in symbolic studies. We propose to formalize the texture in classical Western instrumental music as melody and accompaniment layers, and provide an algorithm able to detect homorhythmic layers in polyphonic data where voices are not separated. We present an evaluation of these methods for parallel motions against a ground truth analysis of ten instrumental pieces, including the first movements of the six quatuors op. 33 by Haydn

Application of ToF-SIMS for sulfur isotopic fractionation in sulfide phases of iron corrosion layers: determination of bacterial impact on the formation of these phases

International audienceTo a better understanding of the iron corrosion mechanisms, it is crucial to elucidate the role of bacteria. Thus, in order to have a diagnosis of the action of bacteria in the iron corrosion, the objective of this study is to determine by ToF-SIMS the isotopic sulfur fractionation δ 34 S in iron sulfides of (sub)micrometric size located in the corrosion product layers of the ferrous objects corroded in anoxic soils and marine environment. These iron sulfides may have two origins: an abiotic origin resulting in the dissolution/reprecipitation of sulfides from the surrounding medium (for example from pyrite in a soil) or a biotic origin by the action of the sulfate-reducing bacteria that reduce sulfate ions into sulfides leading to the formation of iron sulfides with ferrous ions issued from the aqueous dissolution of metal iron. A difference in the isotopic sulfur fractionation δ 34 S in the sulfur phases according to the abiotic or biotic origin of these phases is reported in the literature. Thus in this study, the isotopic sulfur fractionation δ 34 S in the iron sulfides formed in the corrosion product layers of iron was determined to identify the formation origin of these phases and the role of bacteria in the iron corrosion. After characterization of the distribution of the different iron sulfides within the layers (optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, μRaman spectroscopy), the local isotopic fractionation of sulfur is measured by the imaging and spectroscopy ToF-SIMS technique. Some important results have been obtained. First of all, the reproducibility and the accuracy of the method were established by the choice and the validation of a hydrothermal pyrite sample calibrated relatively to the international sulfur isotopic standard Canon Diablo Troilite. Secondly, it was observed that there was no or little variation in the isotopic sulfur fractionation δ 34 S with the degree of oxidation of sulfur. Finally, a noticeable difference in the isotopic sulfur fractionation δ 34 S between iron sulfides formed in laboratory under abiotic or biotic conditions was evidenced: δ 34 S is close to 0 in abiotic conditions whereas in biotic conditions it is shifted from 0 with values up to up to some tens per mil. These first results being promising, the study is actually in progress to determine the formation origin (abiotic/biotic) of the Fe-S present in the corrosion product layers of natural systems of iron corrosion, from soils, subaquatic and marine environments

Glioma cell dispersion is driven by [alfa]5 integrin-mediated cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions

K

ICAM-1 PROMOTES THE ABNORMAL ENDOTHELIAL CELLPHENOTYPE IN CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC PULMONARYHYPERTENSION

International audienceBACKGROUND - Pulmonary endothelial cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of ChronicThromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Increased synthesis and/or release ofIntercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by pulmonary endothelial cells of patients withCTEPH has been recently reported, suggesting a potential role for ICAM-1 in CTEPH.METHODS - We studied pulmonary endarterectomy specimens from 172 patients with CTEPHand pulmonary artery specimens from 97 controls undergoing lobectomy for low-stage cancerwithout metastasis.RESULTS - ICAM-1 was overexpressed in vitro in isolated and cultured endothelial cells fromendarterectomy specimens. Endothelial cell (EC) growth and apoptosis resistance weresignificantly higher in CTEPH specimens than in controls (P<0.001). Both abnormalities wereabolished by pharmacological inhibition of ICAM-1 synthesis or activity. Overexpression ofICAM-1 contributed to the acquisition and maintenance of abnormal EC growth and apoptosisresistance via phosphorylation of SRC, p38 and ERK1/2 and overproduction of Survivin.Regarding the ICAM-1 E469K polymorphism, the KE heterozygote genotype was significantlymore frequent in CTEPH than in controls, but was not associated with disease severity amongpatients with CTEPH.CONCLUSIONS - ICAM-1 contributes to maintaining the abnormal endothelial cell phenotypein CTEPH

Vital NETosis vs. suicidal NETosis during normal pregnancy and preeclampsia

Background: NETosis occurs in the context of infection or inflammation and results in the expulsion of decondensed DNA filaments called NETs (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps) into the extracellular environment. NETosis activates coagulation and contributes to the thrombotic risk of inflammatory diseases. To date, two mechanisms of NETosis have been identified: suicidal NETosis, in which neutrophils die after expelling the filaments; and vital NETosis, in which expulsion appears without altering the membrane. Human pregnancy is associated with a mild pro-inflammatory state, which is increased in the event of complications such as preeclampsia (PE). NETosis has been observed in these situations, but the mechanism of its production has not yet been studied. The aim of our study was to evaluate the balance of vital vs. suicidal NETosis in normal pregnancy and in PE.Patients/Methods: Neutrophils from healthy volunteers were stimulated with plasma from normal pregnancies (n = 13) and from women developing preeclampsia (n = 13). Immunofluorescent labelling was performed to determine the percentages and origin of NETs in both groups. Inhibition with suicidal or vital NETosis inhibitors was also performed to validate our results.Results: We found a significant increase in NETs in women with PE compared to women with normal pregnancies. We showed that vital and non-vital NETosis are present in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. We demonstrated that the higher proportion of NETs observed in PE was due to non-vital NETosis whose main component is represented by suicidal NETosis.Discussion: These results suggest the important part of non-vital NETosis in the pathophysiology of PE

A prospective study of the evolution of lamivudine resistance mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with lamivudine

International audienceBackground/Aims. Lamivudine resistance has been described in subjects with chronic hepatitis B infections, associated with mutations in the viral polymerase gene. The objective of this study was to estimate the emergence rate of lamivudine-resistant viral strains and their consequences over a two-year period. Methods. We evaluated 283 lamivudine-naive subjects with chronic hepatitis B. Clinical and virological features were assessed at inclusion and every six months thereafter. Viral DNA was characterised using PCR-based sequencing. Potential risk factors for the emergence of lamivudine resistance mutations were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results. The annualised incidence rate for viral polymerase mutations was 22%. The only independent risk factor identified was high viral load at inclusion. Detectable viral DNA and elevated transaminases were more frequent in subjects harbouring mutant viral strains, and these underwent a lower rate of HBe seroconversion. All subjects responded favourably to treatment, with no difference in symptoms between the two groups. Conclusions. This prospective cohort study identified lamivudine resistant mutations emerging in 22% of subjects yearly, which were apparently not associated with clinical aggravation over the study period