Les groupes promotionnels de l’idée européenne en Belgique

Les études approfondies des mouvements pour l’unité européenne en Belgique sont restées fort rares. C’est afin de commencer à combler une lacune que nous tenterons de mettre en lumière certains aspects de l’évolution des mouvements européens en Belgique de 1954 à 1986. Pour ce faire, nous étudierons d’abord l’évolution du Conseil belge du ME, puis certains groupes de promotion pour l’Europe de tendance fédéraliste en Belgique de 1969 à 1980 en choisissant d’étudier le Mouvement Fédéraliste eu..

Second person pronouns in HR communication

In an online experiment among native speakers of Dutch we measured addressees’ responses to emails written in the informal pronoun T or the formal pronoun V in HR communication. 172 participants read either the V-versions or the T-versions of two invitation emails and two rejection emails by four different fictitious recruiters. After each email, participants had to score their appreciation of the company and the recruiter on five different scales each. We found a small effect of pronoun: Emails written in V were more highly appreciated than emails in T, irrespective of type of email (invitation or rejection) and irrespective of the participant’s age, gender and level of education. At the same time, we observed differences in the strength of this effect across different scales

Secondary and primary murine alveolar echinococcosis: combined albendazole/nitazoxanide chemotherapy exhibits profound anti-parasitic activity.

In this study, the efficacies of chemotherapy employing nitazoxanide (NTZ), albendazole (ABZ), and a NTZ/ABZ-combination against alveolar echinococcosis (AE) were investigated in an experimental murine model. Following secondary infection, meaning i.p. injection of 20 Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes, the drugs were administered by intragastric inoculation on a daily bases for a period of 5 weeks. Treatment was started either immediately on the day of infection, or at 2 months p.i., respectively. Application of the NTZ/ABZ-combination starting at 2 months p.i. was proven to be most effective in terms of reducing parasite weight (from 4.42+/-1.03 to 1+/-0.05 g; P=0.01). Inspection of treated parasites by transmission electron microscopy showed that ABZ- and NTZ-treated metacestode tissues, respectively, were heterogeneous in that both largely intact parasites as well as severely altered metacestodes could be observed. NTZ/ABZ-combination treatment induced the most severe ultrastructural alterations, including massive reduction in length and number of microtriches, severely damaged tegumental architecture, and progressive loss of viability of the germinal layer, associated with encapsulation by host connective tissue. A comparative pharmacokinetic study in mice revealed that the application of ABZ and NTZ in combination resulted in a two- to four-fold increase of albendazole sulfoxide serum levels for the period of 4-8 h following drug uptake compared to application of ABZ alone. In a third experiment, mice were orally infected with E. multilocularis eggs, and treated with NTZ starting at 2 months p.i. This resulted in a significantly lower lesion number in treated versus untreated mice (P=0.01). This investigation indicates the potential value for NTZ and/or a combined ABZ/NTZ chemotherapy against AE

Inhibition of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor via DS-1040 to accelerate clot lysis in patients with acute pulmonary embolism: a randomized phase 1b study

International audienceBackground: The optimal treatment of intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) in hemodynamically stable patients remains unknown. Fibrinolytics reduce the risk of hemodynamic deterioration but increase bleeding risk. DS-1040, an inhibitor of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, enhanced endogenous fibrinolytic activity without increasing bleeding risk in preclinical studies.Objectives: To evaluate the tolerability and explore the efficacy of DS-1040 in patients with acute PE.Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, ascending doses of intravenous DS-1040 (20-80 mg) or placebo were added to enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice daily) in patients with intermediate-risk PE. The primary endpoint was the number of patients with major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. The percentage change in thrombus volume and right-to-left ventricular dimensions, assessed using quantitative computed tomography pulmonary angiography, at baseline and after 12 to 72 hours were used to explore the efficacy of DS-1040.Results: Of 125 patients with all available data, 38 were randomized to placebo and 87 to DS-1040. The primary endpoint occurred in 1 patient in the placebo group (2.6%) and 4 patients who received DS-1040 (4.6%). One subject experienced major bleeding (DS-1040 80 mg group); no fatal or intracranial bleeding occurred. Thrombus volume was 25% to 45% lower after infusion, with no differences between the DS-1040 and placebo groups. There was no difference in the change from baseline right-to-left ventricular dimensions between the DS-1040 and placebo groups.Conclusion: In patients with acute PE, adding DS-1040 to standard anticoagulation was not associated with an increase in bleeding but did not improve thrombus resolution or right ventricular dilation

Dynamiques européennes. Nouvel espace, nouveaux acteurs

Les échecs de la construction européenne font plus de bruit que ses succès. Les blocages de l’Europe sont patents et, pourtant, l’Europe avance encore, car elle s’appuie depuis le milieu du XXe siècle sur une « dynamique » ou un ensemble de « dynamiques » intéressantes à analyser dans leur complexité. Les chercheurs qui ont contribué au présent ouvrage ont concentré leur réflexion sur cette notion de « dynamique européenne » en scrutant une période décisive, celle des années soixante-dix et du début des années quatre-vingt. Avec l’élargissement de la Communauté européenne, de nouveaux acteurs entrent en scène, un nouvel espace se dessine, de nouveaux enjeux s’imposent. Une identité nouvelle est même affirmée à la conférence de Copenhague en 1973, une identité politique communautaire, différente de la vieille et classique identité culturelle européenne. En outre, avec la « détente » entre l’Est et l’Ouest et le processus d’Helsinki, l’Autre Europe, celle de l’autre côté du rideau de fer, est dès cette époque concernée par la dynamique d’échanges intra-européens. L’étude de ces changements déterminants, qui ont contribué à modeler l’Europe d’aujourd’hui, a été développée lors d’un colloque organisé à Oxford, sous la direction d’Élisabeth du Réau (École doctorale « Espace européen contemporain », Paris III), d’Anne Deighton (St Anthony College, Oxford) et de Robert Frank (Institut Pierre Renouvin, Paris I), dans le cadre du vaste réseau international d’historiens travaillant sur « Les identités européennes au XXe siècle »

Sources of particulate-matter air pollution and its oxidative potential in Europe

International audienceParticulate matter is a component of ambient air pollution that has been linked to millions of annual premature deaths globally1,2,3. Assessments of the chronic and acute effects of particulate matter on human health tend to be based on mass concentration, with particle size and composition also thought to play a part4. Oxidative potential has been suggested to be one of the many possible drivers of the acute health effects of particulate matter, but the link remains uncertain5,6,7,8. Studies investigating the particulate-matter components that manifest an oxidative activity have yielded conflicting results7. In consequence, there is still much to be learned about the sources of particulate matter that may control the oxidative potential concentration7. Here we use field observations and air-quality modelling to quantify the major primary and secondary sources of particulate matter and of oxidative potential in Europe. We find that secondary inorganic components, crustal material and secondary biogenic organic aerosols control the mass concentration of particulate matter. By contrast, oxidative potential concentration is associated mostly with anthropogenic sources, in particular with fine-mode secondary organic aerosols largely from residential biomass burning and coarse-mode metals from vehicular non-exhaust emissions. Our results suggest that mitigation strategies aimed at reducing the mass concentrations of particulate matter alone may not reduce the oxidative potential concentration. If the oxidative potential can be linked to major health impacts, it may be more effective to control specific sources of particulate matter rather than overall particulate mass

Identifying research needs to inform white‐nose syndrome management decisions

Ecological understanding of host–pathogen dynamics is the basis for managing wildlife diseases. Since 2008, federal, state, and provincial agencies and tribal and private organizations have collaborated on bat and white‐nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance and monitoring, research, and management programs. Accordingly, scientists and managers have learned a lot about the hosts, pathogen, and dynamics of WNS. However, effective mitigation measures to combat WNS remain elusive. Host–pathogen systems are complex, and identifying ecological research priorities to improve management, choosing among various actions, and deciding when to implement those actions can be challenging. Through a cross‐disciplinary approach, a group of diverse subject matter experts created an influence diagram used to identify uncertainties and prioritize research needs for WNS management. Critical knowledge gaps were identified, particularly with respect to how WNS dynamics and impacts may differ among bat species. We highlight critical uncertainties and identify targets for WNS research. This tool can be used to maximize the likelihood of achieving bat conservation goals within the context and limitations of specific real‐world scenarios

Identifying research needs to inform white‐nose syndrome management decisions

Ecological understanding of host–pathogen dynamics is the basis for managing wildlife diseases. Since 2008, federal, state, and provincial agencies and tribal and private organizations have collaborated on bat and white‐nose syndrome (WNS) surveillance and monitoring, research, and management programs. Accordingly, scientists and managers have learned a lot about the hosts, pathogen, and dynamics of WNS. However, effective mitigation measures to combat WNS remain elusive. Host–pathogen systems are complex, and identifying ecological research priorities to improve management, choosing among various actions, and deciding when to implement those actions can be challenging. Through a cross‐disciplinary approach, a group of diverse subject matter experts created an influence diagram used to identify uncertainties and prioritize research needs for WNS management. Critical knowledge gaps were identified, particularly with respect to how WNS dynamics and impacts may differ among bat species. We highlight critical uncertainties and identify targets for WNS research. This tool can be used to maximize the likelihood of achieving bat conservation goals within the context and limitations of specific real‐world scenarios