Un portrait julio claudien près de Carthage

International audienceWith the discovery of a Roman portrait in South-West of Tunis, the authors analize the presence in Africa Proconsularis of such a new representation of a member of the imperial family.La découverte fortuite d'un portrait romain au sud-ouest de Tunis permet de s'interroger sur la présence en Proconsulaire d'une représentation nouvelle d'un membre de la domus impériale

Sculptures de la Gaule Romaine. Bases NEsp et RBR : une gestion de la mémoire collective

International audienceSince the irreplaceable inventory of Émile Espérandieu, completed by Raymond Lantier, the sculptures collections of Roman Gaule have been rarely and insufficiently exposed. The publication of the Nouvel Espérandieu enables to reveal the discoveries since 1966 and - above all - to launch an exceptional documentary operation with old and new documents. Humble or spectacular objects are checked off, digitized and indexed. NEsp and RBR databases will really make available these data to a large spectrum of public, thank to an important effort of data enrichment and valorisation by developing very efficient technologies to perform the multimedia and multilingual indexing of the databases. For image data, shape based and texture based algorithms and face detection and recognition techniques will be used. The multilingual dimension of the data indexing enables an international valorisation of the data. The quality and richness of the data, the efficient structure and architecture of the global system could make NEsp-RBR a norm or standard for other databasesA la suite de l'inventaire irremplaçable de Émile Espérandieu, complété par Raymond Lantier, la publication du "Nouvel Espérandieu" donne accès aux collections de sculptures de la Gaule romaine. Il a permis la mise en place d'un vaste programme complémentaire d'inventaire, de numérisation et de documentation des objets sculptés, rassemblés dans les bases NEsp et RBR. S'appuyant sur l'enrichissement des données, une indexation multilingue et le respect des normes de description des objets archéologiques, ces bases offrent un outil de valorisation international

Dynamic modelling of the potential habitat loss of endangered species: the case of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae)

In this work, we apply a dynamic modelling approach to analyse the habitat loss of the Canarian houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuerteventurae). This tool allows us to assess the effects of the socio-economic and environmental interactions on the factors threatening the habitat and to carry out a prospective analysis. The results show a potential habitat loss of around 13 % during the period 1996–2011, the land uptake and increase in new roads and tracks being the factors contributing most. After model testing, a set of scenarios was explored. Under the business as usual (BAU) scenario, around 20 % of the habitat would be lost by the end of the period considered (2012–2025). The impact of the economic growth scenario on the habitat would mean an additional loss of around 21 % with respect to BAU, whereas under the recession scenario, the loss might be around 6.5 % lower than BAU. The policy of restoration of gavias—traditional farming systems—would suppose an additional loss of almost 6 %, relative to BAU. If this policy took place under economic growth conditions, it might mean an additional loss of almost 28 % relative to BAU. These results point to the existence of a potential trade-off between the recuperation of ecosystem services offered by restored gavias and the conservation of the houbara habitat, which must be addressed within the management processes, as well as to the need for compensatory measures to guarantee the conservation goals

Análisis de la mortalidad en pacientes con fracturas subcapitales de cadera

El objetivo del presente trabajo es realizar un estudio analítico restrospectivo de la mortalidad de una serie de 528 fracturas subcapitales de cadera en 523 pacientes tratados en nuestro centro mediante prótesis cérvico-cefálica cementada durante el periodo de 1978-1986. De estos 523 pacientes, 190 (36%) habían fallecido en el momento de realizar el estudio. Hemos analizado la mortalidad hospitalaria, 47 casos (9%) y 6 meses después de la intervención, 104 (20%). Se han demostrado como factores de alto riesgo: edad superior a 85 años, presentar tres o más enfermedades asociadas, complicaciones generales en el postoperatorio (escaras, tromboembolismo pulmonar, infarto agudo de miocardio, neumonía, etc.) complicaciones locales como la luxación de la prótesis y finalmente, una demora en la intervención superior a 6 días.We report a retrospective study analyzing the mortality of 528 femoral neck fractures in 523 patients treated with Thompson or Cathcart prosthesis during the period 1978-1986. The hospital mortality was 9% (47 cases) and 20% (104 cases) the mortality and six-months after surgery. High risk factors, were found to be: age more than 85 years-old, three o more preoperative illness, postoperative general complications (Pulmonar tromboembolism, Acute myocardial infarction, sores, pneumonia), dislocation of the prosthesis and a more than 6 days delay surgery

Estudio longitudinal del crecimiento postraumatico y la calidad de vida en mujeres supervivientes de cancer de mama

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between posttraumatic growth (CPT) and Quality of Life (QoL) in a sample of women survivors of Breast Cancer, over three years after completion of treatment. Method: A sample of outpatients (N=156) completed the Argentinean adaptation of Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and Scale for the evaluation of chronic disease (FACIT-B). A longitudinal descriptive correlational study with a non-experimental design was used. The psychometric properties of the questionnaires used in the sample were evaluated. Pearson correlation was used to relate the two constructs and the Friedman test for assessing the existence of significant differences in the values of CPT and CV over time. Results: The median age was 60,7 (DT=9,0). The 54,5%, 50% and 53.9% of participants had moderate to high CPT in the first, second and third visits respectively. There were no significant differences among the three views (PTGI Total p=0,153). The highest levels of CPT are associated with better CV. This relationship is also maintained in the first visit (r =0,227; p=0,022), second (r=0,317; p=0,001) and third (r=0,304; p=0,002). CV was deficient and decreased over time. Conclusions: The CPT remained stable. It was found positive relations between the CPT and the CV, which were maintained over time.Objetivo: Describir la relación entre el Cre­cimiento Postraumático (CPT) y la Calidad de Vida (CV) en una muestra de mujeres supervi­vientes de Cáncer de Mama, a lo largo de tres años tras la finalización de los tratamientos. Método: A una muestra de pacientes ambu­latorios (N=156) administramos la adaptación Argentina del Inventario de Crecimiento Pos­traumático (PTGI) y de la Escala para la eva­luación de enfermedades crónicas (FACIT-B). Se realizó un estudio descriptivo correla­cional longitudinal con un diseño no experi­mental. Se valoraron las propiedades psico­métricas de los cuestionarios utilizados en la muestra. Se aplicó Correlación de Pearson para relacionar ambos constructos y el Test de Friedman para valorar la existencia de diferen­cias significativas en los valores de CPT y la CV a lo largo del tiempo. Resultados: La media de edad es de 60,7; (DT=9,0). Se encontró que el 54,5%, 50%, y 53,9% de las participantes presentaron CPT de moderado a alto a lo largo de las tres evaluaciones realizadas. No hubo diferencias significativas entre las tres visitas (p=0,153).  Los mayores niveles de CPT estuvieron rela­cionados con una mejor CV. Dicha relación se mantuvo además en la primera visita (r=0,227; p=0,022), en la segunda (r=0,317; p=0,001) y en la tercera (r=0,304; p=0,002). La CV fue deficitaria y empeoró a lo largo del tiempo. Conclusiones: El CPT permaneció estable. La CV fue disminuyendo. Se encontraron rela­ciones positivas entre el CPT y la CV, las cuales se mantuvieron a lo largo del tiempo

The effects of nitrogen availability on the response of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated carbon dioxide

Human activities are increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, warming the planet. Terrestrial ecosystems currently sequester about a quarter of human CO2 emissions, slowing climate change. The principal mechanism believed to be responsible for this is an increasing rate of plant growth (that is, “CO2 fertilization”). However, the fate of this ecosystem service is uncertain, as it has been proposed that soil nitrogen (N) availability will limit plants’ capacity to continue absorbing increasing quantities of CO2. Whether N will limit the CO2 fertilization effect in the future will determine the rate at which human CO2 emissions will accumulate in the atmosphere, thereby influencing the climate. In this thesis, I have collected and synthesized the large body of information about the N limitation of CO2 fertilization, using data from experiments in which atmospheric CO2 concentration is manipulated. I have found that the hypothesis that the increase in the strength of the CO2 fertilization effect will be eliminated by restricted N availability is simplistic. Based on the experimental data available, I have found evidence supporting a mechanism by which plants under elevated CO2 can acquire additional N in exchange for carbohydrates via symbiotic fungi. Using this framework, I have quantified the magnitude of the terrestrial CO2 fertilization effect on plant biomass worldwide, and identified the areas of the global land mass that could potentially experience a greater enhancement in biomass under elevated CO2. I propose a framework and areas of further research that may help models better simulate the interactions between the carbon and nitrogen cycles under elevated CO2 using a plant- economics approach, in which nitrogen is a resource that can be acquired by plants in exchange for energy.Open Acces

Response to Comment on “Mycorrhizal association as a primary control of the CO 2 fertilization effect”

Norby et al. center their critique on the design of the data set and the response variable used. We address these criticisms and reinforce the conclusion that plants that associate with ectomycorrhizal fungi exhibit larger biomass and growth responses to elevated CO2 compared with plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizae

The self-regulatory German health care system between growing competition and state hierarchy

This article focuses on the changing role of the state in financing, providing and regulating health care services under the German health care system from 1970-2000. While a reduced role of the state can be observed in terms of financing, our analysis of service provision indicates inconsistent developments. Monetary resource flow analyses indicate a decrease in private service provision as a percentage of total health expenditure, but when analysing the development of health employment we see a growth in “private” health care personnel. The most important changes, however, have taken place in terms of regulation. Since the early 1990s, the traditionally self-regulatory German health care system has simultaneously faced growing competition and state hierarchy

Objective metrics for functional evaluation of upper limb during the ADL of drinking: application in SCI

Three-dimensional kinematic analysis provides quantitative assessment of upper limb motion and is used as an outcome measure to evaluate movement disorders. The aim of the present study is to present a set of kinematic metrics for quantifying characteristics of movement performance and the functional status of the subject during the execution of the activity of daily living (ADL) of drinking from a glass. Then, the objective is to apply these metrics in healthy people and a population with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), and to analyze the metrics ability to discriminate between healthy and pathologic people. 19 people participated in the study: 7 subjects with metameric level C6 tetraplegia, 4 subjects with metameric level C7 tetraplegia and 8 healthy subjects. The movement was recorded with a photogrammetry system. The ADL of drinking was divided into a series of clearly identifiable phases to facilitate analysis. Metrics describing the time of the reaching phase, the range of motion of the joints analyzed, and characteristics of movement performance such as the efficiency, accuracy and smoothness of the distal segment and inter-joint coordination were obtained. The performance of the drinking task was more variable in people with SCI compared to the control group in relation to the metrics measured. Reaching time was longer in SCI groups. The proposed metrics showed capability to discriminate between healthy and pathologic people. Relative deficits in efficiency were larger in SCI people than in controls. These metrics can provide useful information in a clinical setting about the quality of the movement performed by healthy and SCI people during functional activities