" Le corps du buveur. Occident/ Extrême-Orient "

12International audienc

Formation et intervention interculturelle : défi pour l’Ontario français

Cet article s'inscrit dans l'effort de formation à l'intervention sociale interculturelle, effort entrepris depuis quelques années par des théoriciens et praticiens sociaux afin de dispenser des services plus adéquats aux personnes provenant de cultures diverses. Après avoir relevé les différents modèles d'approches théoriques et pratiques de la problématique, Vauteur propose d'enrichir cette formation par l'apport du double concept de la centration et de la décentration culturelle. Reconnaissant les répercussions négatives du sociocentrisme cognitif déformant, il suggère aux intervenantes et intervenants franco-ontariens des pistes pour éviter le danger associé à une pratique sociocentriste uniformisante, et pour soulever la question des bases culturelles du style de vie des populations à aider

Conservation des pollens de deux plantes mellifères (Vitellaria paradoxa et Steganotaenia araliacea) de la région de l'Adamaoua Cameroun

Conservation of Pollens of Two Honey Species (Vitellaria paradoxa and Steganotaenia araliaceae) in the Region of Adamawa (Cameroon). The Adamaoua Region of Cameroon is a significant apiculture zone. The threats on the plant bioversity of this zone calls for the conservation of pollens, which in turn is necessary for the improvement and conservation of melliferous plants. Permanent maintenance of the flora is essential in research where pollens serve as base of plant material. In order to optimize conservation parameters of pollens of the two melliferous plants threatened (Vitellaria paradoxa and Steganotaenia araliaceae), in vitro tests (base medium, sucrose concentration, temperature, pH), dehydration time, and then storage of pollens in the fridge (+ 10 °C) as well as in the freezer (- 20 °C) were carried out. According to the results, pollen of the two plant species showed high germination rate in the Heslop-Harrison medium supplemented with 10 and 15% sucrose respectively for V. paradoxa and S. araliaceae. The optimum germination rates (39% and 20%) were obtained respectively at pH 5.6 and 5.9 while optimum temperature was at 30 °C. Pollen of S. araliaceae were more tolerant to dehydration 8 weeks after drying in a desiccator containing silice grains. Pollen of two species still germinated more than 1% after 8 weeks of storage in the freezer. One week dehydration considerably extended storage period of pollens of the two plant species compared to the control. In the defined conditions, pollen grains of the two species can be stored for future use in plant breeding programs

Le vin en bouteille : de l'emballage au packaging. Lecture sémiotique et marketing

International audienceThis paper aims at showing that the bottle of wine is not any more one simple pack where one affirms the cultural values of the product but becomes a real packaging, communication object which presents an identity and signs of recognition. We propose three research orientations: a semiotic reading of a "standard" bottle of wine in order to release the properties of this packaging; an analysis of the visual and verbal speech of the label like a promise of taste; a qualitative analysis carried out with wine experts. Four topics were approached: the knowledge of the consumers' profiles, characteristics of the bottles of wine, the influence of the label in the buying behaviour and the impact of the bottle on the promise of taste. The analysis of experts emphasizes that the design of the bottle of wine and the label plays a major strategic part

Phytochemical Constituents of Combretum Loefl. (Combretaceae)

Combretum is the largest and most widespread genus of Combretaceae. The genus comprises approximately 250 species distributed throughout the tropical regions mainly in Africa and Asia. With increasing chemical and pharmacological investigations, Combretum has shown its potential as a source of various secondary metabolites. Combretum extracts or isolates have shown in vitro bioactivitities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antihyperglycemic, cytotoxicity against various human tumor cell lines, anti-inflammatory, anti-snake, antimalarial and antioxidant effects. In vivo studies through various animal models have also shown promising results. However, chemical constituents and bioactivities of most species of this highly diversified genus have not been investigated. The molecular mechanism of bioactivities of Combretum isolates remains elusive. This review focuses on the chemistry of 261 compounds isolated and identified from 31 species of Combretum. The phytochemicals of interest are non-essential oil compounds belonging to the various structural groups such as terpenoids, flavonoids, phenanthrenes and stilbenoids

Semiotics and semantic: tools for an effective appropriation of information, communication and health technologies

International audienceAbstract: As Cultural Objects, ICTs belong to the human sphere. This surround is driven by polysemiotics performances (involving many signs systems) which praxeological semantics permits to interpret. The term of Praxeology (or theory of human action) is used so far as it concerns to link principally technical objects to social practices in which they appears. The meaning of these objects is then studied in relation with the actions to which they are associated. In the case of the ICTs, their proposed "coupling" approaches (in particular for the HMIs) lead to a better use and simplify the appropriation process. The study of users' discourses is very interesting from this point of view, and should lead to formulate recommendations for a more efficient appropriation of the ICTs. In parallel, according to a new idea of design related to electronic objects semiotics often takes place in a plan that relates different disciplines. It offers a common language to all partners and gives tools for a clear depiction of the objects and subjects involved in the interaction and tell how they interact. Example of vocal interfaces is described

L'ascenseur et l'escalier — la lutte contre le SIDA au Cameroun

The lift and the stairs - the fight against AIDS in Cameroon HIV/AIDS infection has spread like wildfire in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In order to fight that pandemic, Cameroon has organised itself by setting up, with the assistance of bilateral and multilateral partners, a national structure with the aim to reduce the spread of the disease. Two years after the launch of the National Plan for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, an advocacy campaign targetting social leaders made it possible to assess the difficulties encountered by such an entity in a social and cultural environment as complex as that of Cameroon. The paper presents the initiatives taken by the government and analyses the major specific obstacles which are met on the ground. They include beliefs, social structures, gender issues, the status of women and the social representations of sexuality. If consensus and compromise are the usual ways of solving the problems raised at the national level, the analysis stresses the need for a more courageous political will adapted to the urgency of the prevailing situation. Key words: HIV/AIDS, Cameroon, National AIDS Control Committee, National Plan for Fight against HIV/AIDS, resistance to change, public health policy. RÉSUMÉ L\'infection au VIH/SIDA s\'est répandue comme une traînée de poudre dans les pays d\'Afrique subsaharienne. Pour lutter contre cette pandémie, le Cameroun s\'est organisé en mettant en place, avec l\'aide de ses partenaires bilatéraux et multilatéraux, une structure nationale ayant pour objectif de réduire la progression de la maladie. Deux ans après le lancement du Plan National de Lutte contre le VIH/SIDA, une campagne de plaidoyer visant les leaders sociaux a permis de mesurer les difficultés auxquelles une telle entreprise est confrontée dans un environnement socioculturel aussi complexe que celui du Cameroun. L\'article présente les initiatives gouvernementales et analyse les principaux obstacles spécifiques qui surviennent sur le terrain. Ils vont des croyances aux structures sociales en passant par la problématique du genre, le statut de la femme, les représentations sociales de la sexualité. Si le consensus et le compromis sont les modes de résolution habituels des problèmes nationaux, l\'analyse aboutit à la nécessité d\'une volonté politique plus courageuse, adaptée à l\'urgence de la situation. Mots clés: VIH/SIDA, Cameroun, Comité National de Lutte contre le SIDA, Plan National de Lutte contre le SIDA, résistance au changement, politique de santé publique. Sahara J Vol.1(3) 2004: 139-15

Topically applied Tetrapleura tetraptera stem bark extract promotes healing of excision and incision wounds in rats

Objective. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo wound healing effect of water extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera in stem-bark. Method: The healing activity was studied in 40 male rats using excision and incision wounds on normal and dexamethasone-suppressed wound healing. For each model, rats were divided in 4 groups as follows: control, dexamethasone, T. tetraptera and dexamethasone combined with T. tetraptera. Results: Data recorded exhibited a significant effect by the extract in the epithelialization time within 14 and 18 days of the normal and dexamethasone-induced healing delay rats respectively (p<0.05). The extract also significantly increased the wound tensile strength in dexamethasone treated rats. Histological examination of incision wounds of extract-treated group showed many fibroblasts and the same rats presented significant cutaneous tensile strength, suggesting important collagen crosslinkage. Conclusion: This study illustrated an excellent potential of the bark of T. tetraptera therapy on dermal wound healing with a possible mechanism of action related to epithelialization, contraction and tensile strength improvement

On the semiotic appropriation of ICT tools for people in loss of autonomy

International audienceIt is now widely accepted that ICT objects for people with loss of autonomy do not meet the expected services. Their non-appropriation by the people is the main reason. This finding is important for policy makers and institutional medical organizations and caregivers as well as device manufacturers. Consequently, the concept of adequate appropriation is a process that must be developed in order to reduce dependency and introduce the notion of "natural health behavior." The object / equipment / device must be integrated into the gesture and everyday history of the person. It is the goal of a semiotic approach should also allow through better use and greater ownership, a better assessment of the impact of the object on the welfare and better living of the person

Antidiabetic and wound healing effects of smeathxanthone A

Wound healing is a natural and spontaneous phenomenon that takes place in three orderly and timely interactive phases: inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. Normal wound healing cascade begins immediately following injury. Tissue damage and the activation of clotting factors during the vascular phase stimulate the release of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandins and histamine, from cells such as mast cells. The transition from the inflammatory to the proliferative phase, the stage characterized by the filling of the wound with new connective tissues, is orchestrated by macrophages. A decrease in wound size is achieved by a combination of the physiological processes of granulation, contraction, and epithelialization. Reepithelialization phase rebuilds the structure while the remodeling phase involves the final form. Surgery in diabetic patients is associated with slow wound healing process and hence requiring longer hospital stay, higher health care resource utilization, and greater perioperative mortality than nondiabetic subjects. The exact pathogenesis of the poor wound healing process in diabetic patients is not clearly understood, but evidence from studies involving both human and animal models reveal increased rate of infections and several abnormalities in the various phases of wound healing process. With the worldwide diabetes incidence now considered to be increasing in an epidemic proportion, there is a growing need to search for novel drugs to combat diabetes and the associated disorders, such as wound complications. Over 278 natural xanthones belonging to the plant families of Gentianaceae, Guttiferae, Moraceae, Clusiaceae, and Polygalaceae are known to occur. Most xanthones are polyphenols and hence regarded as powerful antioxidants that can offer beneficial health effect either by direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species or by acting as chain-breaking peroxyl radical scavengers. In addition to possessing antioxidant effects, xanthones have also been reported to be hepatoprotective, mutagenic, immunomodulatory, anticomplement, cardioprotective, antitumoral, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, and analgesic agents. Smeathxanthone A is a unique xanthone that combines a polyphenolic skeleton with four free hydroxyl groups and a terpenoid geranyl structural moiety. Although the compound has previously been isolated in our laboratories from Garcinia smeathmanii, it has never been investigated for its potential antidiabetic properties. In the present communication, the blood glucose lowering and wound healing effects of smeathxanthone A in diabetic mice are reported