Associative Memory Storage and Retrieval: Involvement of Theta Oscillations in Hippocampal Information Processing

Theta oscillations are thought to play a critical role in neuronal information processing, especially in the hippocampal region, where their presence is particularly salient. A detailed description of theta dynamics in this region has revealed not only a consortium of layer-specific theta dipoles, but also within-layer differences in the expression of theta. This complex and articulated arrangement of current flows is reflected in the way neuronal firing is modulated in time. Several models have proposed that these different theta modulators flexibly coordinate hippocampal regions, to support associative memory formation and retrieval. Here, we summarily review different approaches related to this issue and we describe a mechanism, based on experimental and simulation results, for memory retrieval in CA3 involving theta modulation

Familial mediterranean fever and COVID-19 : friends or foes?

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and COVID-19 show a remarkable overlap of clinical symptoms and similar laboratory findings. Both are characterized by fever, abdominal/chest pain, elevation of C-reactive protein, and leukocytosis. In addition, colchicine and IL-1 inhibitors treatments that are effective in controlling inflammation in FMF patients have recently been proposed for off-label use in COVID-19 patients. Thus, FMF may resemble a milder recapitulation of the cytokine storm that is a hallmark of COVID-19 patients progressing to severe disease. We analyzed the sequence of the MEFV-encoded Pyrin protein - whose mutations cause FMF- in mammals, bats and pangolin. Intriguingly, although Pyrin is extremely conserved in species that are considered either a reservoir or intermediate hosts for SARS-CoV-2, some of the most common FMF-causing variants in humans are present as wildtype residues in these species. We propose that in humans, Pyrin may have evolved to fight highly pathogenic infections

Des esclaves pour la liberté sexuelle de leurs maîtres

Le recours aux esclaves n’a pas eu seulement des motivations économiques, l’exploitation sexuelle aussi faisait partie des raisons esclavagistes. Dans le monde musulman et ses harem, certes, mais aussi chez les chrétiens. Depuis la mise en place par l’Eglise, au milieu du Moyen Age, du contrôle sexuel de ses fidèles, nombre de chrétiens trouvèrent dans la servante domestique, et en particulier dans l’esclave, l’échappatoire qu’ils désiraient. Le dossier florentin portant sur les derniers siècle du Moyen Age, et en particulier des correspondances privées, éclairent un sujet gardé secret. Les informations sérielles provenant de la Péninsule Ibérique, font apparaître l’ampleur d’un phénomène déjà connu pour les Amériques. Des législations différentes déterminaient le destin des enfants nés de ces unions ancillaires: le plus souvent abandonnés à Florence, vendus, affranchis ou gardés comme esclaves en Espagne.The use of slaves did not only stem from economic reasons, sexaul exploitation was another motive. In the muslim world with it’s harems, naturally, but also amongst christians. Since the sexual control of the faithful christians found in their servants and in particular in their slaves, the outlet they were looking for. Florentine documents, concerned with the last centuries of the Middle Ages, and in particular private correspondence, clarified a subject previously kept secret. Information coming from the Iberian Peninsula shows the size of this phenomenon already known to have existed in the Americas. Different legislation determined the destiny of children born from these illegitimate unions, who were frequently abandoned in Florence, sold; freed or kept as slaves in Spain

Se soumettre pour se libérer. Une esclave turque face à son maître espagnol à Cadix en 1704

Le procès intenté par une esclave contre son maître, à Cadix, en 1704, est surprenant. Elle demandait au tribunal ecclésiastique d’obliger son maître à lui octroyer la charte d’affranchissement, puisqu’elle avait passé un contrat verbal avec lui contemplant ses services sexuels en échange de la liberté. Sous quel registre inscrire cette démarche ? La prostitution publique des esclaves était interdite, et sa pratique (contrairement au cas des affranchies) inconnue. Mais dans le secret des maisons les relations sexuelles maître-esclave était monnaie courante. S’agissait-t-il seulement de rapports d’exploitation, de viols, de « droit de cuissage » sous couvert de la propriété du corps de l’esclave ou, comme dans le cas présenté ci-dessus, aussi de stratégies de libération ? L’esclave n’avait pas seulement un corps, mais aussi une tête.The action a female slave took against her master in Cadix in 1704, is somewhat surprising. She asked the ecclesiastical court of justice to get her master to treat her like a free woman, on the grounds that she had with him an oral agreement that secured her freedom in exchange of sexual services. In what file should that action be registered ? Public prostitution of slaves was forbidden and its practise unknown. But in the secret of homes sexual relationships between slaves and masters was common. Was it mere exploitation, rape, sexual harassment, because the slave’s body was not free, or strategies for freedom as in this case ? Indeed this story shows that the slave did not only have a body but also a brain and a mind

Analysis of the molecular mobility of collagen and elastin in safe, atheromatous and aneurysmal aortas

Aim of the study : In this study, we propose to use a thermal technique, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to follow the evolution of elastin and collagen in safe and pathological cardiovascular tissues. Patients and methods : The first part of this study deals with the analysis of the elastin network and associated proteins during ageing (from children to old persons) in aortic walls. The second part is devoted to the characterization of the collagenic phase in aneurysms. In both cases, physical data are correlated with biochemical analyses. Results and conclusion : For old persons aortas with atheromatous stades, elastin and associated proteins are found to interpenetrate to form a homogenous phase. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are characterized by structural alterations of the aortic wall resulting from the degradation of elastic fibers and an increase of collagen/elastin ratio. Notable modifications are evidenced between collagen from control tissue and collagen from AAA, particularly concerning the thermal denaturation. Biochemical and thermal results are compatible with the increase of new collagen deposition and/or impairment of the collagen phase stability in the extracellular matrix of AAAs

REGOLATORI E SISTEMI DI CONTROLLO PER UNA SMART CAR

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Classe, genre, âge

L’évolution de la recherche sur les rapports sociaux de dépendance ressemble à une route qui commence droite et linéaire et finit tortueuse et semée d’embûches. Mon parcours personnel est à l’image de tant d’autres, au point d’apparaître finalement ordinaire et représentatif d’une évolution collective au cours des dernières décennies. C’est pourquoi il me semble utile de l’expliciter et de rendre compte des analyses et des réflexions qui l’ont accompagné. Les Ciompi J’ai commencé par m’intér..