Les timbres amphoriques de Ras el Bassit

Sur le site de Ras el Bassit, durant les campagnes de fouilles menées de 1971 à 1984, 133 timbres amphoriques furent trouvés principalement dans le Tell du Meidan. Ces timbres sont des artefacts précieux. En effet, ce mémoire démontre comment les timbres amphoriques contribuent à l’élaboration de l’histoire d’un site, vue ici par l’analyse de ces 133 timbres amphoriques. Tout d’abord, les termes de base sont présentés pour expliquer ce que sont une amphore et un timbre. Par la suite, l’historiographie des recherches faites sur les timbres montre que, depuis le recueillement des informations sur les sites de production, certaines séries de timbres furent datés à l’année près, contribuant ainsi à améliorer les datations des autres sites. C’est de cette manière que les anses timbrées contribuent le plus souvent à améliorer un site. Il existe aussi d’autres apports. Par exemple, en localisant la production d’une série de timbres, les échanges commerciaux peuvent être aperçus. À travers l’analyse de ces 133 timbres, le site de Ras el Bassit pourra être mieux daté pendant l’époque hellénistique. En effet, les couches stratigraphiques en contexte pourront alors avoir un élément datable d’une grande précision, si tel est le cas. De plus, en connaissant la provenance de ces timbres amphoriques, elle démontrera que les échanges (avec des amphores timbrées) commencèrent dès le IVe siècle, ce qui correspond à une reprise des importations grecques. Ces importations dureront pendant toute l’époque hellénistique.In the site of Ras el Bassit, during 1971 to 1984’s excavations plan, 133 amphora stamps have been found principally in the Tell du Meidan. These stamps are precious artefacts. Effectively, this dissertation shows how the amphora stamps help the archeologists to know the history of an archeological site, in this case the site of Ras el Bassit. First of all, the basic terms will be presented to explain what are an amphora and a stamp. Then, the historiography research on the amphora stamps shows that since the discovery of amphorae workshops, some stamp’s categories were dated to the year, contributing to the dating of others sites. The dating is the principal contribution of a stamp, but there are others. For example, by locating the production of stamp categories, the trade is visible. With the analysis of these 133 amphora stamps, the dating of Ras el Bassit can be reevaluated and more accurate. Moreover, knowing the origin of these stamps, it will demonstrate that the exchanges (with the amphorae with stamps) began as early as the fourth century B.C., which corresponds to a resumption of Greek imports. These imports will last throughout the Hellenistic period

Efficacy of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in women with provoked vestibulodynia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract: Background: Provoked vestibulodynia is the most common form of vulvodynia. Despite its high prevalence and deleterious sexual, conjugal, and psychological repercussions, effective evidence-based interventions for provoked vestibulodynia remain limited. For a high proportion of women, significant pain persists despite the currently available treatments. Growing evidence suggests that the central nervous system (CNS) could play a key role in provoked vestibulodynia; thus, treatment targeting the CNS, rather than localized dysfunctions, may be beneficial for women suffering from provoked vestibulodynia. In this study, we aim to build on the promising results of a previous case report and evaluate whether transcranial direct-current stimulation, a non-invasive brain stimulation technique targeting the CNS, could be an effective treatment option for women with provoked vestibulodynia. Methods/design: This single-center, triple-blind, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of transcranial direct-current stimulation with sham transcranial direct-current stimulation in women with provoked vestibulodynia. Forty women diagnosed with provoked vestibulodynia by a gynecologist, following a standardized treatment protocol, are randomized to either active transcranial direct-current stimulation treatment for ten sessions of 20 minutes at an intensity of 2 mA or sham transcranial direct-current stimulation over a 2-week period. Outcome measures are collected at baseline, 2 weeks after treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome is pain during intercourse, assessed with a numerical rating scale. Secondary measurements focus on the sexual function, vestibular pain sensitivity, psychological distress, treatment satisfaction, and the patient’s global impression of change. Discussion: To our knowledge, this study is the first randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy of transcranial direct-current stimulation in women with provoked vestibulodynia. Findings from this trial are expected to provide significant information about a promising intervention targeting the centralization of pain in women with provoked vestibulodynia

Services climatiques pour l'adaptation au changement climatique

National audienceLe changement climatique constitue une problématique majeure perceptible dès aujourd'hui ; la société et l'ensemble de ses acteurs peuvent percevoir la nécessité de l'adaptation à cette nouvelle situation

Des pistes pour améliorer les compétences en lecture des élèves

La dernière enquête pancanadienne sur les compétences en lecture des élèves du secondaire dresse un portrait peu flatteur des élèves québécois par comparaison avec leurs pairs de l’Ontario, de l’Alberta ou de la Colombie-Britannique. Profitant de la diffusion de ces résultats accablants, la ministre de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport a annoncé un certain nombre de mesures visant à rectifier le tir en matière d’enseignement de la lecture, répondant ainsi en partie à des revendications portées depuis quelque temps par les instances syndicales. Les mesures annoncées concernent la révision des orientations du programme du préscolaire et du primaire pour les premiers apprentissages, l’ajout d’une épreuve d’évaluation à la fin du deuxième cycle du primaire ainsi qu’un engagement à débloquer des fonds non négligeables pour des recherches relatives à la question de l’acquisition de la compétence en lecture

Efficacy of transcranial direct-current stimulation in women with provoked vestibulodynia

Abstract: Background: Provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is a highly prevalent condition characterized by acute recurrent pain located at the vaginal entrance in response to pressure application or attempt of vaginal penetration. Despite a wide variety of treatments offered to women with PVD, a high proportion of women are refractory to conventional treatment. Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has been shown effective for improving various chronic pain conditions. Growing evidence suggests that the central nervous system (CNS) could play a key role in PVD. Targeting the CNS could be a promising treatment avenue for women suffering from PVD. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of active and sham tDCS in reducing pain intensity during intercourse in women with PVD. Study design: We conducted a triple-blind, parallel group, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Women, aged between 17-45 years and diagnosed with PVD by a gynecologist using a validated protocol were randomized to 10 sessions of either active tDCS (intensity = 2mA) or 10 sessions of sham tDCS, over a 2-week period. Both active and sham tDCS were applied for 20 minutes, with the anode positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1), and the cathode, over the contralateral supraorbital area. Outcome measures were collected at baseline, 2 weeks after treatment and at 3-month follow-up by an evaluator blinded to group assignation. The primary objective was pain intensity during intercourse, as assessed with a numerical rating scale. Secondary outcomes focused on sexual function and distress, vestibular sensitivity, psychological distress, treatment ,satisfaction and patient impression of change. Statistical analyses were conducted on the intention-to-treat basis, and treatment effects were evaluated using a mixed linear model for repeated measures. Results: A total of 40 women were randomly assigned to received either active (n=20) or sham (n=20) tDCS treatments between November 2014 and February 2016. Baseline characteristics were similar between active and sham tDCS groups. Active tDCS did not significantly reduced pain during sexual intercourse compared to sham tDCS 2 weeks after treatment (p=0.84) and at follow-up (p=0.09). Mean [95% CI] baseline and 2-week assessment pain intensity were respectively 6.8 [5.9 - 7.7] and 5.6 [4.7 - 6.5] for active tDCS (p=0.03) versus 7.5 [6.6 - 8.4] and 5.7 [4.8 - 6.6] for sham tDCS (p=0.001). Non-significant differences between the two groups were also found in regards to sexual function and distress after treatment (p>0.20) and at follow-up (p>0.10). Overall, at 2-week assessment 68% women assigned to active tDCS reported being very much, much or slightly improved compared to 65% of women assigned to sham tDCS (p=0.82), and still comparable at follow-up 42% versus 65%, respectively (p=0.15). Conclusion: Findings suggest that active tDCS is not more effective than sham tDCS for reducing pain in women with PVD. Likewise, no significant effects were found on sexual function, vestibular sensitivity or psychological distress

Multifaceted intervention to decrease the rate of severe postpartum haemorrhage: the PITHAGORE6 cluster-randomised controlled trial.: Intervention to decrease severe postpartum haemorrhage

International audienceOBJECTIVE: Decreasing the prevalence of severe postpartum haemorrhages (PPH) is a major obstetrical challenge. These are often considered to be associated with substandard initial care. Strategies to increase the appropriateness of early management of PPH must be assessed. We tested the hypothesis that a multifaceted intervention aimed at increasing the translation into practice of a protocol for early management of PPH, would reduce the incidence of severe PPH. DESIGN: Cluster-randomised trial. POPULATION: 106 maternity units in six French regions. METHODS: Maternity units were randomly assigned to receive the intervention, or to have the protocol passively disseminated. The intervention combined outreach visits to discuss the protocol in each local context, reminders, and peer reviews of severe incidents, and was implemented in each maternity hospital by a team pairing an obstetrician and a midwife. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the incidence of severe PPH, defined as a composite of one or more of: transfusion, embolisation, surgical procedure, transfer to intensive care, peripartum haemoglobin decrease of 4 g/dl or more, death. The main secondary outcomes were PPH management practices. RESULTS: The mean rate of severe PPH was 1.64% (SD 0.80) in the intervention units and 1.65% (SD 0.96) in control units; difference not significant. Some elements of PPH management were applied more frequently in intervention units-help from senior staff (P = 0.005), or tended to - second-line pharmacological treatment (P = 0.06), timely blood test (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: This educational intervention did not affect the rate of severe PPH as compared with control units, although it improved some practices

European Journal of Mechanics - A/Solids

A method coupling experiments and simulations, is developed to characterize the yield stress and strain hardening of several metals loaded at 106 s−1 and < 25 ns, typically involved during Laser Shock Peening. It was applied to four materials: pure aluminum, 2024-T3 and 7175-T7351 aluminum alloys and Ti6Al4V-ELI titanium alloy. Thin foils have been irradiated with high-power laser to induce high-pressure shock wave. Plastic deformation is activated through the thickness up to the rear free-surface of the foils. These experiments have been simulated using three material constitutive equations: Elastic–Perfectly Plastic model considering static yield stress, Johnson–Cook model without strain hardening and Johnson–Cook model with strain hardening. The material parameters of Johnson–Cook law were identified by comparison of the experimental and calculated velocity profiles of the rear-free surface. Results are shown and discussed

Generation of three induced pluripotent stem cell lines (UQACi003-A, UQACi004-A, and UQACi006-A) from three patients with KRT5 epidermolysis bullosa simplex mutations

Heterozygous mutations within Keratin 5 (KRT5) are common genetic causes of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a skin fragility disorder characterized by blisters, which appear after minor trauma. Using CytoTune®Sendai virus, we generated three human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from three EBS patients carrying respectively the single heterozygous mutations in KRT5, c.449 T > C, c.980 T > C, and c.608 T > C. All lines display normal karyotype, expressed high levels of pluripotent markers, and can differentiate into derivatives of the three germ layers. These iPSCs are helpful for a better understanding of the EBS pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic approaches

Generation of two induced pluripotent stem cell lines (UQACi002-A and UQACi005-A) from two patients with KRT14 epidermolysis bullosa simplex mutations

More than 107 pathogenic variations were identified in Keratin 14 gene (KRT14) in patients affected by epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a rare skin disease with still no curative treatment. Disease models as human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are promising tool for further advance the knowledge about this disorder and accelerate therapies development. Here, two hiPSC lines were reprogrammed from skin fibroblasts of two EBS patients carrying mutations within KRT14 by using CytoTune®Sendai virus. These iPSCs display pluripotent cell morphology, pluripotent markers expression, and the capability to differentiate into the three germ layers

Presumed Symbolic Use of Diurnal Raptors by Neanderthals

In Africa and western Eurasia, occurrences of burials and utilized ocher fragments during the late Middle and early Late Pleistocene are often considered evidence for the emergence of symbolically-mediated behavior. Perhaps less controversial for the study of human cognitive evolution are finds of marine shell beads and complex designs on organic and mineral artifacts in early modern human (EMH) assemblages conservatively dated to ≈100–60 kilo-years (ka) ago. Here we show that, in France, Neanderthals used skeletal parts of large diurnal raptors presumably for symbolic purposes at Combe-Grenal in a layer dated to marine isotope stage (MIS) 5b (≈90 ka) and at Les Fieux in stratigraphic units dated to the early/middle phase of MIS 3 (60–40 ka). The presence of similar objects in other Middle Paleolithic contexts in France and Italy suggest that raptors were used as means of symbolic expression by Neanderthals in these regions