Au-delà des rachats : libération des esclaves en Méditerranée, xvie-xviiie siècle

L’aspect le plus connu du phénomène complexe de l’esclavage en Méditerranée, surtout lorsqu’on se positionne dans la perspective des Européens en tant que victimes, est celui du rachat effectué par des ordres religieux, des institutions ecclésiastiques ou laïques, des individus privés. Le rachat, toutefois, n’a pas été la seule voie, ni la plus importante, pour le retour à la liberté et celui, consécutif, à son pays. Parmi les autres possibilités, il y avait celle, qui n’a jamais été prise en considération dans son ensemble jusqu’à aujourd’hui, déterminée par des événements militaires, occupations de villes, batailles navales et terrestres, affrontements belliqueux, naufrages et autres accidents qui, alors qu’ils entraînaient la réduction en captivités des uns, défaits ou malchanceux, restituaient la liberté à ceux qui se trouvaient en esclavages. On présente ici plusieurs exemples de ces événements de type différent, favorisant des Européens ou des musulmans, s’étant produits dans l’espace méditerranéen du xvie au xviiie siècle.The best-known aspect of the complex phenomenon of Mediterranean slavery, especially when Europeans were the victims, was the ransoming of captives by religious orders, ecclesiastical and secular institutions, and private individuals. Ransoming, however, was neither the only nor the most important route for recovering one’s freedom and returning home. There were other possibilities that have not been considered. Military actions, occupations of cities, naval and land battles, warfare, shipwrecks and other such incidents might mean enslavement for some unfortunate people but also could represent an opportunity for freedom for slaves. Scholars have thus far not presented a global view of this phenomenon. This paper presents several examples of these sorts of events from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, which could favor both Europeans and Muslims in the Mediterranean

Toward shrimp without chemical additives: A combined freezing-MAP approach

Abstract The combined effects of freezing and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) containing two different gas mixtures (100% N2 or 50% N2–50% CO2) on the chemical properties and melanosis of deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) was investigated and compared to both a traditional sulfiting treatment and vacuum packaging (VP). Changes in pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) levels, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) levels and melanosis were measured over a one-year storage period. Treatment with sodium sulfite solution before storage raised the pH and TVB-N levels rapidly, whereas both the MAP and VP samples exhibited minor increases in pH and TVB-N levels during the first six months of storage. Additionally, shrimp packed in MAP conditions, especially those packaged in 100% N2, showed completely inhibited lipid oxidation (TBA levels remained very close to those of the sulfited samples) during the storage period. The melanosis scores revealed that the samples packed in 100% N2 maintained natural color for up to six months of storage. These data suggest that the use of modified atmosphere packaging in combination with freezing during shrimp processing could be a safe and effective alternative to artificial additives

Working-Age Cataract Patients: Visual Results, Reading Performance, and Quality of Life with Three Diffractive Multifocal Intraocular Lenses

Abstract PURPOSE: To compare the visual outcomes, reading performance, and quality of life (QoL) of working-age cataractous patients bilaterally implanted with 3 different diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs). DESIGN: Two-center, randomized, prospective, double-masked study. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-three consecutive patients (126 eyes) seen at Ophthalmology Section, Palermo and Florence University, Italy, randomized to receive the ReSTOR SN6AD3 (Alcon Laboratories, Inc, Irvine, CA) (20 patients, group A), ReSTOR SN6AD1 (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) (21 patients, group B), or TECNIS ZMA00 (Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA) (22 patients, group C) MIOL. INTERVENTION: Phacoemulsification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One-year follow-up differences among the 3 MIOL groups in visual acuity, reading performance by MNREAD (Minnesota Laboratory for Low-Vision Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN) reading acuity (RA), critical print size (CPS), and maximum reading speed (MRS) under mesopic and photopic conditions. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity (CS) by Pelli-Robson test and patient satisfaction by National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life Instrument-42 (NEI RQL-42) questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean photopic uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA), and corrected near visual acuity (CNVA) did not differ among groups, with a preferred reading distance greater in group B (P< 0.0005). Photopic distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity (DCIVA) was best in group B (P = 0.001) and better in group C than in group A. Mesopic UNVA and DCNVA were worse in groups A and B compared with group C (P< 0.0005 in both cases), with better DCNVA in group B than in group A (P = 0.031). Mesopic uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) and DCIVA were worst in group A, with better results in group C (P< 0.0005 and P = 0.001, respectively). Mesopic MNREAD RA was better in group C (P = 0.02), and mesopic MRS was higher in groups B and C than in group A (P = 0.002). The QoL scores by the NEI RQL-42 test exhibited no differences among groups in 9 over 13 scales. "Near vision" (P = 0.005), "symptoms" (P = 0.001), and "satisfaction with correction" scale scores (P = 0.030) were lowest in group A, and "appearance" scale score was lowest in group B (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Newer-generation aspheric diffractive MIOLs, especially low-add hybrid apodized or full diffractive, are highly suited for working-age cataractous patients in terms of visual outcomes, reading performance, and QoL. Intrinsic optical differences, such as optimization for computer or dim-light working, or night driving, could be useful tools to customize the IOL in each single case