Theories in Community Psychology: Do They Matter and Why?

Jason, Stevens, Ram, Miller, Beasley, and Gleason’s (2016) Theories in the field of community psychology challenges community psychology to reflect on its scientific maturation. It is noteworthy that the title of their analysis refers to the field rather than the discipline of community psychology. Typically, a field designates a line of inquiry or area of study within a recognized scientific and professional base of substantive expertise, i.e., a discipline. I would posit that a sine qua non of a science-based community psychology discipline would be foundational knowledge built upon accepted theoretical explanations of how the physical, psychosocial, political, economic, cultural, and related salient setting characteristics shape human behavior and well-being. Jason et al. (2016) correctly question whether, after nearly a half century, the scientific community in general recognizes community psychology and the social scientific community specifically as a theory-based discipline. Therein lies their question! To that the current discussion add my question i.e., do they matter and why

Theories in Community Psychology: Do They Matter and Why?

Jason, Stevens, Ram, Miller, Beasley, and Gleason’s (2016) Theories in the field of community psychology challenges community psychology to reflect on its scientific maturation. It is noteworthy that the title of their analysis refers to the field rather than the discipline of community psychology. Typically, a field designates a line of inquiry or area of study within a recognized scientific and professional base of substantive expertise, i.e., a discipline. I would posit that a sine qua non of a science-based community psychology discipline would be foundational knowledge built upon accepted theoretical explanations of how the physical, psychosocial, political, economic, cultural, and related salient setting characteristics shape human behavior and well-being. Jason et al. (2016) correctly question whether, after nearly a half century, the scientific community in general recognizes community psychology and the social scientific community specifically as a theory-based discipline. Therein lies their question! To that the current discussion add my question i.e., do they matter and why

Species Diversity and Population Structure in Worm-snails of the Dendropoma genus in Palau

This report is a preliminary analysis of the mitochondrial genetic diversity of worm-snails (Gastropods, Vermetidae) in Palau. Worm-snails are suspension-feeding gastropods that have tubular uncoiled shells attached to the substrate. Some aggregate to form reefs of their own, forming mats along the water’s edge. There are here used as a model to understand connectivity of populations across Palau. Samples were collected at 12 different areas with a total of 199 samples overall. Samples were dissected to extract DNA and a fragment of the COI mtDNA gene was then amplified by PCR and sequenced. Pairwise genetic distances were calculated with the software Mega v5.2.2 and used to build a histogram and a distance tree. Results showed that there were a total of 5 groups of species across Palau. Four out of the five species had limited ranges but the last one was widely distributed. The results highlight a strong spatial genetic structure among populations that suggest long-term isolation coupled or not with selective processes

Endiguements et risques d’inondation en milieu tropical. L’exemple de l’île de la Réunion

L’île de la Réunion (Océan Indien) possède tous les records mondiaux de pluviométrie entre 12heures et 15 jours. Ces pluies de grande intensité d’origine cyclonique ou liées aux advections de masses nuageuses très humides génèrent de graves inondations. Les crues brutales dans des ravines peu profondes sur des planèzes récentes et les divagations torrentielles sont fréquentes pendant la saison cyclonique. Les plaines d’ennoyage littorales et les côtes basses ont été à de nombreuses reprises submergées par les eaux marines. Le débordement des mares dans les îlets des cirques volcaniques constitue un réel danger. Cependant face à ces différents aléas seuls les espaces urbains littoraux, notamment le chef-lieu Saint-Denis, ont «bénéficié» d’importants investissements pour des endiguements systématiques. Cette volonté politique régulièrement renouvelée dans les contrats de plan État Région depuis 1980 (cyclone Hyacinthe) a favorisé l’urbanisation et a créé une vulnérabilité extrême derrière les digues. Dans ce département d’outre mer balayé par les cyclones tropicaux, l’utopie sécuritaire a engendré un risque d’inondation nouveau et important pour les décennies à venir.Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) holds all the world records for pluviometry (between 12 hours and 15 days). These highly intense rains are either of cyclonic origin or linked to advections of very humid cloud formations and generate serious floods. Brutal rising of water levels in shallow ravines on recent planezes (lava plateaux) and torrential divagations are frequent. The coastal flood plains and the low coasts have been submerged by sea water on several occasions. The overflowing of ponds in the volcanic mountain hamlets represents a real danger. However, faced with these different hazards only the coastal towns and more precisely the capital Saint Denis have benefitted from heavy investments in dykes. This political decision, regularly renewed in regional planning contracts since 1980 (Cyclone Hyacinth) has created urbanization and led to extreme vulnerability behind the dykes. In this overseas departement swept by tropical cyclones, for safety’s sake, a new and intense risk of flooding has been created for decades to come

Développement, caractérisation et potentiels thérapeutiques d’Elactiv’, une protéine élastique biomimétique, inspirée de la tropoélastine humaine

Elastin-like peptides are excellent examples of biomimetic polymers recently proposed in regenerative medicine, particularly for soft tissue engineering (skin, blood vessels, lung ...) for which modeling is a complex task requiring functional elasticity to insctruct cells properelly. Fine-tuning of ELP’s primary structure can modulate or improve physicochemical, structural and functional properties of the native protein. In addition, the adjustment of ELP physicochemical characteristics through external stimuli (temperature, pH) defined them as intelligent polymers. These bioactive polymers thus provide a wide range of very promising applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery, although this has been under-explored until then. In this thesis, we have developed, characterized and evaluated therapeutic potentials of Elactiv', a synthetic elastic protein inspired by the unique structure of the human tropoelastin, the soluble precursor of elastin. Elactiv’ retains physicochemical characteristics (thermoresponsive behavior, self-assembly properties) and biological functions of the native protein (proliferation, differentiation and survival of human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, susceptibility to enzymatic degradation). Besides, Elactiv’ is able to incorporate into neosynthesized elastic fibers by healthy dermal fibroblasts, and to induce fibrillar tropoelastin synthesis by pathological fibroblasts, Williams-Beuren syndrome, which do not synthesize or very few elastic fibres. A hydrogel formed exclusively of Elactiv’ allowed to access to mechanical properties of the scaffold and to verify its biocompatibility in vitro and its safety and resorption in vivo. Finally, the association of Elactiv' protein to poly(L-lysine) dendrigrafts, highly functionalizable synthetic polymers, enabled to evolve the hydrogel's architecture to a hybrid biomaterial in order to increase its mechanical and biological properties for skin tissue engineering. Taken together, biomimetic and therapeutic potentials of Elactiv' protein make it a promising candidate for soft tissue regenerationLes peptides élastiques (ELP, Elastin-like peptide) sont d'excellents exemples de polymères biomimétiques récemment proposés en médecine régénérative, en particulier dans le domaine de l'ingénierie tissulaire des tissus mous (peau, vaisseaux sanguins, poumons…) pour lesquels la modélisation est complexe car l'instruction correcte des cellules nécessite une élasticité fonctionnelle. L'ajustement précis de la structure primaire des ELP peut moduler voire améliorer les propriétés physico-chimiques, structurales et fonctionnelles de la protéine native. De plus, la capacité des ELP à ajuster leurs caractéristiques physico-chimiques en réponse à des stimuli externes (température, pH), les définit comme des polymères intelligents. Ces polymères bioactifs offrent ainsi une large gamme d'applications très prometteuses encore très peu explorées dans les technologies d'ingénierie tissulaire et les systèmes d'administration de médicaments. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous avons développé, caractérisé et évalué les potentiels thérapeutiques d'une protéine élastique synthétique, Elactiv', inspirée de la structure unique de la tropoélastine humaine, précurseur soluble de l'élastine. Elactiv' conserve les caractéristiques physico-chimiques (comportement thermosensible, propriétés d'autoassemblage) et les fonctions biologiques de la protéine native (prolifération, différenciation et survie des fibroblastes dermiques et kératinocytes humains, sensibilité à la dégradation enzymatique). De plus, Elactiv' possède la particularité in vitro de s'incorporer dans les fibres élastiques néo-synthétisées par des fibroblastes dermiques sains, et d'induire la synthèse de tropoélastine fibrillaire par des fibroblastes pathologiques, syndrome de Williams-Beuren, qui ne synthétisent pas ou très peu de fibres élastiques. Un hydrogel formé exclusivement d'Elactiv' a permis d'accéder aux propriétés mécaniques de l'ensemble et de vérifier sa biocompatibilité in vitro et son innocuité et sa résorption in vivo. Enfin, l'association de la protéine Elactiv' aux dendrigrafts de poly(L-lysine), polymères synthétiques hautement fonctionnalisables, a permis de faire évoluer l'architecture de l'hydrogel vers un biomatériau hybride dans le but d'augmenter ses propriétés mécaniques et biologiques. Ainsi, les potentiels biomimétiques et thérapeutiques de la protéine Elactiv' en font un candidat prometteur pour la régénération des tissus mou

Réactions d'amination et d'oxylation palladocatalysées : devenir de l'intermédiaire nucléopalladé

Although the Pd(II)-catalyzed addition of nucleophiles to olefins has been much described in literature, the in-depth mechanism of such type of process is far from being a simple matter. Indeed, nucleopalladation and allylic C-H activation are two competing reactivities sharing the same type of substrates and reaction conditions. Accordingly, we have undertaken a study aimed at understanding the detailed mechanism of oxidative Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclizations of unsaturated nitrogen based- and oxygen based- nucleophiles. The results of this study strongly suggest the existence of a rapid equilibrium between the substrate and the corresponding cyclic NucleoPalladated Intermediate (NuPI), which can further evolve via easy β-H elimination when a distocyclic H position is involved. In this case, the NuPI is qualified as an evolving species. Contrarily, when only a proxicyclic H position is available, β-H elimination is totally or partially forbidden. In this case, the NuPI is qualified as a dormant species. Then, the formation of the NuPI being reversible, C-H activation will take place affording the corresponding vinylic heterocycle. In a second part, we managed to achieve the otherwise forbidden proxicyclic β-H elimination by using specific aerobic conditions. Mechanistic studies revealed the importance of the presence of chloride conter-ion as well as the use of monophosphine. At the same time, we also demonstrated that the aminopalladation step took place according to a trans stereochemistry. This reaction led to the formation of new functionalized methylidene-pyrrolidinones.Les réactions d’addition de nucléophiles sur des oléfines catalysées au palladium (II) suscitent depuis plusieurs années un intérêt considérable. Les mécanismes entrant en jeu lors de ce type de réactions ne sont toutefois pas si évidents, nucléopalladation et activation de liaisons C-H allylique étant deux types de réactivités ayant lieu avec les mêmes substrats et conditions réactionnelles. Nous avons alors réalisé une étude permettant de définir les mécanismes entrant en jeu lors de cyclisations oxydantes de nucléophiles azotés et oxygénés insaturés catalysées au Pd(II). Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent l’existence d’un équilibre rapide entre le substrat et l’Intermédiaire NucléoPalladé (INuP) correspondant. Ce dernier peut alors subir une β-H élimination lorsqu’un hydrogène en position distocyclique est disponible. Dans ce cas, l’INuP est considéré comme une espèce éveillée. En revanche, lorsque seul un hydrogène en position proxicyclique est disponible, la déshydropalladation est partiellement ou totalement interdite, l’INuP est alors considéré comme une espèce dormante. La formation de ce dernier étant réversible, l’activation de la liaison C-H aura alors lieu, permettant l’obtention d’hétérocycles vinyliques. Nous sommes ensuite parvenus à réaliser cette β-H élimination proxicyclique jusqu’alors jugée impossible, et ce en utilisant des conditions aérobies bien spécifiques. Des études mécanistiques ont révélé l’importance de la présence d’un contre-ion chlorure, ainsi que de l’utilisation d’une monophosphine. Nous avons également pu démontrer que l’étape d’aminopalladation procède via une stéréochimie trans. Cette réaction a permis l’obtention de nouvelles méthylidene-pyrrolidinones fonctionnalisées

Integrative study of a new cold-seep mussel (Mollusca: Bivalvia) associated with chemosynthetic symbionts in the Marmara Sea

Recently, small Idas-like mussels have been discovered living on carbonate crusts associated with cold-seeps in the Marmara Sea. These mussels, here referred to as Idas-like nov. sp., differ morphologically and genetically from another species identified as Idas aff. modiolaeformis, living in the same type of ecosystem in the Nile Deep-Sea Fan (eastern Mediterranean Sea). A phylogenetic analysis confirms the distinction between the two species, which belong to highly divergent lineages. Carbon stable isotope values, as well as the detection of thiotroph-related bacteria in the gill tissue, support the presence of a symbiotic, thiotroph-derived nutrition. In contrast, Idas aff. modiolaeformis displays six different types of symbionts. Finally our size-frequency data suggest that the recruitment is continuous in the examined area. The present study extends the documented distribution of symbiont-bearing mussels to the Marmara Sea, and contributes to the characterisation of biological communities in this recently explored area

Cobalt-Catalyzed alpha-Arylation of Substituted alpha-Bromo alpha-Fluoro beta-Lactams with Diaryl Zinc Reagents : Generalization to Functionalized Bromo Derivatives

A cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling of alpha-bromo alpha-fluoro beta-lactams with diarylzinc or diallylzinc reagents is herein disclosed. The protocol proved to be general, chemoselective and operationally simple allowing the C4 functionalization of beta-lactams. The substrate scope was expanded to alpha-bromo lactams and amides, alpha-bromo lactones and esters as well asN- and O-containing heterocycles.Peer reviewe