bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Sustainable Agricultural Buildings. A Case Study of a Wine Cellar in Tuscany, Italy
Authors: Conti Leonardo , Barbari Matteo , Monti Massimo
Published: April 2016

This research concerns the design of an agricultural building with a high degree of sustainability, located in a farm in the south of the Tuscany region, Italy. The building, intended mainly as a wine cellar, offers innovative construction solutions of high deconstructability and has features of low environmental impact, economic competitiveness and constructive simplicity. In particular, the design of the basement cellar involves the use of gabions and stones for the realization of the foundations, the ground retaining walls and all other bearing walls. A different solution is adopted for the external wall which remains entirely above ground. It is also made by gabions, but it is externally covered with a coat of straw bales and is plastered with clay or lime. The roof-bearing structure is made of steel beams and galvanized steel sheets. A layer of fertile soil is arranged on the roof to form a green roof system. This research aims to spread the design criteria of deconstructable buildings, based on the use of natural materials with low environmental and economic impact. Where it is not possible to employ natural materials, reusable or recyclable materials are used.
Physico-Chemical and Catalytic Properties of Mesoporous CuO-ZrO2 Catalysts
Authors: Basahel Sulaiman , Mokhtar Mohamed , Alsharaeh Edreese , Ali Tarek , Mahmoud Hatem , Narasimharao Katabathini
Published: April 2016

Mesoporous CuO-ZrO2 catalysts were prepared and calcined at 500 °C. The performance of the synthesized catalysts for benzylation of benzene using benzyl chloride was studied. The bare support (macroporous ZrO2) offered 45% benzyl chloride conversion after reaction time of 10 h at 75 °C. Significant increase in benzyl chloride conversion (98%) was observed after CuO loading (10 wt. %) on porous ZrO2 support. The conversion was decreased to 80% with increase of CuO loading to 20 wt. %. Different characterization techniques (XRD, Raman, diffuse reflectance UV-vis, N2-physisorption, H2-TPR, XPS and acidity measurements) were used to evaluate physico-chemical properties of CuO-ZrO2 catalysts; the results showed that the surface and structural characteristics of the ZrO2 phase as well as the interaction between CuO-ZrO2 species depend strongly on the CuO content. The results also indicated that ZrO2 support was comprised of monoclinic and tetragonal phases with macropores. An increase of the volume of monoclinic ZrO2 phase was observed after impregnation of 10 wt. % of CuO; however, stabilization of tetragonal ZrO2 phase was noticed after loading of 20 wt. % CuO. The presence of low-angle XRD peaks indicates that mesoscopic order is preserved in the calcined CuO-ZrO2 catalysts. XRD reflections due to CuO phase were not observed in case of 10 wt. % CuO supported ZrO2 sample; in contrast, the presence of crystalline CuO phase was observed in 20 wt. % CuO supported ZrO2 sample. The mesoporous 10 wt. % CuO supported ZrO2 catalyst showed stable catalytic activity for several reaction cycles. The observed high catalytic activity of this catalyst could be attributed to the presence of a higher number of dispersed interactive CuO (Cu2+-O-Zr4+) species, easy reducibility, and greater degree of accessible surface Lewis acid sites.
Regulation of Adipogenesis by Quinine through the ERK/S6 Pathway
Authors: Ning Xiaomin , He Jingjing , Shi Xin’e , Yang Gongshe
Published: April 2016

Quinine is a bitter tasting compound that is involved in the regulation of body weight as demonstrated in in vivo animal models and in vitro models of the adipogenic system. Arguments exist over the positive or negative roles of quinine in both in vivo animal models and in vitro cell models, which motivates us to further investigate the functions of quinine in the in vitro adipogenic system. To clarify the regulatory functions of quinine in adipogenesis, mouse primary preadipocytes were induced for differentiation with quinine supplementation. The results showed that quinine enhanced adipogenesis in a dose dependent manner without affecting lipolysis. The pro-adipogenic effect of quinine was specific, as other bitter tasting agonists had no effect on adipogenesis. Moreover, the pro-adipogenic effect of quinine was mediated by activation of ERK/S6 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/Ribosomal protein S6) signaling. Knockdown of bitter taste receptor T2R106 (taste receptor, type 2, member 106) impaired the pro-adipogenic effect of quinine and suppressed the activation of ERK/S6 signaling. Taken together, quinine stimulates adipogenesis through ERK/S6 signaling, which at least partly functions via T2R106.
The Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Dynamics of Influenza B Virus in Two Italian Regions during 2010–2015: The Experience of Sicily and Liguria
Authors: Tramuto Fabio , Orsi Andrea , Maida Carmelo , Costantino Claudio , Trucchi Cecilia , Alicino Cristiano , Vitale Francesco , Ansaldi Filippo
Published: April 2016

Molecular epidemiology of influenza B virus remained poorly studied in Italy, despite representing a major contributor to seasonal epidemics. This study aimed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity of the hemagglutinin gene sequences of 197 influenza B strains circulating in both Southern (Sicily) and Northern (Liguria) Italy between 2010 and 2015. Upper respiratory tract specimens of patients displaying symptoms of influenza-like illness were screened by real-time RT-PCR assay for the presence of influenza B virus. PCR-positive influenza B samples were further analyzed by sequencing. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic trees were constructed and the amino-acid alignments were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis showed clusters in B/Victoria clade 1A/1B (n = 29, 14.7%), and B/Yamagata clades 2 (n = 112, 56.8%) and 3 (n = 56, 28.4%). Both influenza B lineages were found to co-circulate during the study period, although a lineage swap from B/Victoria to B/Yamagata occurred in Italy between January 2011 and January 2013. The most represented amino-acid substitutions were N116K in the 120-loop (83.9% of B/Yamagata clade 3 strains) and I146V in the 150-loop (89.6% of B/Victoria clade 1 strains). D197N in 190-helix was found in almost all viruses collected. Our findings provide further evidence to support the adoption of quadrivalent influenza vaccines in our country.
Micro-Shaping of Nanopatterned Surfaces by Electron Beam Irradiation
Authors: Barrios Carlos , Canalejas-Tejero Víctor
Published: April 2016

We show that planar nanopatterned thin films on standard polycarbonate (PC) compact discs (CD) can be micro-shaped in a non-contact manner via direct e-beam exposure. The shape of the film can be controlled by proper selection of the e-beam parameters. As an example of application, we demonstrate a two-dimensional (2D) array of micro-lenses/reservoirs conformally covered by an Al 2D nanohole array (NHA) film on a PC CD substrate. It is also shown that such a curvilinear Al NHA layer can be easily transferred onto a flexible polymeric support. The presented technique provides a new tool for creating lab-on-CD architectures and developing multifunctional (flexible) non-planar nanostructured films and surfaces.
In Vitro Activity of Selected West African Medicinal Plants against Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease
Authors: Tsouh Fokou Patrick , Kissi-Twum Abena , Yeboah-Manu Dorothy , Appiah-Opong Regina , Addo Phyllis , Tchokouaha Yamthe Lauve , Ngoutane Mfopa Alvine , Fekam Boyom Fabrice , Nyarko Alexander
Published: April 2016

Buruli ulcer (BU) is the third most prevalent mycobacteriosis, after tuberculosis and leprosy. The currently recommended combination of rifampicin-streptomycin suffers from side effects and poor compliance, which leads to reliance on local herbal remedies. The objective of this study was to investigate the antimycobacterial properties and toxicity of selected medicinal plants. Sixty-five extracts from 27 plant species were screened against Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mycobacterium smegmatis, using the Resazurin Microtiter Assay (REMA). The cytotoxicity of promising extracts was assayed on normal Chang liver cells by an MTT assay. Twenty five extracts showed activity with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 16 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL against M. smegmatis, while 17 showed activity against M. ulcerans with MIC values ranging from 125 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL. In most of the cases, plant extracts with antimycobacterial activity showed no cytotoxicity on normal human liver cells. Exception were Carica papaya, Cleistopholis patens, and Polyalthia suaveolens with 50% cell cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) ranging from 3.8 to 223 µg/mL. These preliminary results support the use of some West African plants in the treatment of Buruli ulcer. Meanwhile, further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active ingredients in the extracts.
Development of Singlet Oxygen Luminescence Kinetics during the Photodynamic Inactivation of Green Algae
Authors: Bornhütter Tobias , Pohl Judith , Fischer Christian , Saltsman Irena , Mahammed Atif , Gross Zeev , Röder Beate
Published: April 2016

Recent studies show the feasibility of photodynamic inactivation of green algae as a vital step towards an effective photodynamic suppression of biofilms by using functionalized surfaces. The investigation of the intrinsic mechanisms of photodynamic inactivation in green algae represents the next step in order to determine optimization parameters. The observation of singlet oxygen luminescence kinetics proved to be a very effective approach towards understanding mechanisms on a cellular level. In this study, the first two-dimensional measurement of singlet oxygen kinetics in phototrophic microorganisms on surfaces during photodynamic inactivation is presented. We established a system of reproducible algae samples on surfaces, incubated with two different cationic, antimicrobial potent photosensitizers. Fluorescence microscopy images indicate that one photosensitizer localizes inside the green algae while the other accumulates along the outer algae cell wall. A newly developed setup allows for the measurement of singlet oxygen luminescence on the green algae sample surfaces over several days. The kinetics of the singlet oxygen luminescence of both photosensitizers show different developments and a distinct change over time, corresponding with the differences in their localization as well as their photosensitization potential. While the complexity of the signal reveals a challenge for the future, this study incontrovertibly marks a crucial, inevitable step in the investigation of photodynamic inactivation of biofilms: it shows the feasibility of using the singlet oxygen luminescence kinetics to investigate photodynamic effects on surfaces and thus opens a field for numerous investigations.
Effects of Postprandial Blood Pressure on Gait Parameters in Older People
Authors: Nair Shailaja , Visvanathan Renuka , Piscitelli Diana
Published: April 2016

Postprandial hypotension (PPH), a fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) within 2 h of a meal, may detrimentally affect gait parameters and increase the falls risk in older people. We aimed to determine the effects of postprandial SBP on heart rate (HR), gait speed, and stride length, double-support time and swing time variability in older subjects with and without PPH. Twenty-nine subjects were studied on three days: glucose (“G”), water and walk (“WW”), glucose and walk (“GW”). Subjects consumed a glucose drink on “G” and “GW” and water on “WW”. The “G” day determined which subjects had PPH. On “WW” and “GW” gait was analyzed. Sixteen subjects demonstrated PPH. In this group, there were significant changes in gait speed (p = 0.040) on “WW” and double-support time variability (p = 0.027) on “GW”. The area under the curve for the change in gait parameters from baseline was not significant on any study day. Among subjects without PPH, SBP increased on “WW” (p < 0.005) and all gait parameters remained unchanged on all study days. These findings suggest that by changing gait parameters, PPH may contribute to an increased falls risk in the older person with PPH.
Evaluating the Diurnal Cycle of Upper Tropospheric Humidity in Two Different Climate Models Using Satellite Observations
Authors: Kottayil Ajil , John Viju , Buehler Stefan , Mohanakumar Kesavapillai
Published: April 2016

The diurnal cycle of upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) is known to be influenced by such processes as convection and the formation of clouds which are parameterized in current global climate models. In this study, we evaluate the performance of two climate models, the Community Atmospheric Model version 5 (CAM-5) and the Global Atmosphere 3.0 (GA-3) model in simulating the diurnal cycle of UTH (represented by a combination of sinusoids of 12 and 24 h periods) by comparing with microwave and infrared (IR) measurements (where available). These comparisons were made over two convective land regions in South America and Africa, and over oceanic regions in the Atlantic, Indian and West Pacific for the month of January 2007. We analyzed how the diurnal cycles from IR and microwave instruments differ, and the reason for the differences. Our study suggests that the differences in the diurnal cycles of IR and microwave UTH result from sampling differences due to the presence of clouds. As noted by earlier studies, the models exhibit considerable discrepancies in diurnal amplitude and phase relative to observations, and these discrepancies have different magnitudes over land and ocean.
The Kunitz-Type Protein ShPI-1 Inhibits Serine Proteases and Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels
Authors: García-Fernández Rossana , Peigneur Steve , Pons Tirso , Alvarez Carlos , González Lidice , Chávez María , Tytgat Jan
Published: April 2016

The bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI)-Kunitz-type protein ShPI-1 (UniProt: P31713) is the major protease inhibitor from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus. This molecule is used in biotechnology and has biomedical potential related to its anti-parasitic effect. A pseudo wild-type variant, rShPI-1A, with additional residues at the N- and C-terminal, has a similar three-dimensional structure and comparable trypsin inhibition strength. Further insights into the structure-function relationship of rShPI-1A are required in order to obtain a better understanding of the mechanism of action of this sea anemone peptide. Using enzyme kinetics, we now investigated its activity against other serine proteases. Considering previous reports of bifunctional Kunitz-type proteins from anemones, we also studied the effect of rShPI-1A on voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels. rShPI-1A binds Kv1.1, Kv1.2, and Kv1.6 channels with IC50 values in the nM range. Hence, ShPI-1 is the first member of the sea anemone type 2 potassium channel toxins family with tight-binding potency against several proteases and different Kv1 channels. In depth sequence analysis and structural comparison of ShPI-1 with similar protease inhibitors and Kv channel toxins showed apparent non-sequence conservation for known key residues. However, we detected two subtle patterns of coordinated amino acid substitutions flanking the conserved cysteine residues at the N- and C-terminal ends.
Monitoring and Management of Karstic Coastal Groundwater in a Changing Environment (Southern Italy): A Review of a Regional Experience
Authors: Polemio Maurizio
Published: April 2016

The population concentration in coastal areas and the increase of groundwater discharge in combination with the peculiarities of karstic coastal aquifers constitute a huge worldwide problem, which is particularly relevant for coastal aquifers of the Mediterranean basin. This paper offers a review of scientific activities realized to pursue the optimal utilization of Apulian coastal groundwater. Apulia, with a coastline extending for over 800 km, is the Italian region with the largest coastal karst aquifers. Apulian aquifers have suffered both in terms of water quality and quantity. Some regional regulations were implemented from the 1970s with the purpose of controlling the number of wells, well locations, and well discharge. The practical effects of these management criteria, the temporal and spatial trend of recharge, groundwater quality, and seawater intrusion effects are discussed based on long-term monitoring. The efficacy of existing management tools and the development of predictive scenarios to identify the best way to reconcile irrigation and demands for high-quality drinking water have been pursued in a selected area. The Salento peninsula was selected as the Apulian aquifer portion exposed to the highest risk of quality degradation due to seawater intrusion. The capability of large-scale numerical models in groundwater management was tested, particularly for achieving forecast scenarios to evaluate the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources. The results show qualitative and quantitative groundwater trends from 1930 to 2060 and emphasize the substantial decrease of the piezometric level and a serious worsening of groundwater salinization due to seawater intrusion.
DARK POST-FLARE LOOPS OBSERVED BY THE SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY
Authors: Song Qiao , Wang Jing-Song , Feng Xueshang , Zhang Xiaoxin
Published: April 2016

Solar post-flare loops (PFLs) are arcade-like loop systems that appear during the gradual phases of eruptive flares. The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) allow us to investigate the fine structures in PFLs. In this work, we focus on studying the dark post-flare loops (DPFLs) during X-class flares, which are more evident in SDO/AIA data than in previous EUV data. We identify and analyze the DPFLs observed by SDO and find that: (1) the DPFLs of an X5.4 flare have an average lifetime of 10.0  ±  5.5 minutes, an average width of 1022  ±  339 km, and an average maximum length of 33  ±  10 Mm, (2) blob-like falling features with a size close to the resolution of SDO/AIA are identified in the DPFLs and have an average velocity of 76  ±  19 km s−1, and (3) the average widths of the DPFLs slightly increase with the characteristic temperatures in the AIA 304, 171, 193, and 211 Å channels. Our investigation shows that DPFLs are found in all of the 20 cases within this study, which suggests that they are a common phenomenon in X-class flares and are probably produced by the same mechanism that creates coronal rain.
OF GENES AND MACHINES: APPLICATION OF A COMBINATION OF MACHINE LEARNING TOOLS TO ASTRONOMY DATA SETS
Authors: Heinis S. , Kumar S. , Gezari S. , Burgett W. S. , Chambers K. C. , Draper P. W. , Flewelling H. , Kaiser N. , Magnier E. A. , Metcalfe N. , Waters C.
Published: April 2016

We apply a combination of genetic algorithm (GA) and support vector machine (SVM) machine learning algorithms to solve two important problems faced by the astronomical community: star–galaxy separation and photometric redshift estimation of galaxies in survey catalogs. We use the GA to select the relevant features in the first step, followed by optimization of SVM parameters in the second step to obtain an optimal set of parameters to classify or regress, in the process of which we avoid overfitting. We apply our method to star–galaxy separation in Pan-STARRS1 data. We show that our method correctly classifies 98% of objects down to

i

P1

=
24.5

, with a completeness (or true positive rate) of 99% for galaxies and 88% for stars. By combining colors with morphology, our star–galaxy separation method yields better results than the new SExtractor classifier spread_model, in particular at the faint end (

i

P1

>
22

). We also use our method to derive photometric redshifts for galaxies in the COSMOS bright multiwavelength data set down to an error in

(
1
+
z
)

of

σ
=
0.013

, which compares well with estimates from spectral energy distribution fitting on the same data (

σ
=
0.007

) while making a significantly smaller number of assumptions.
Accompagnement de la fin de vie en EHPAD : anticipation, coordination et réflexion
Authors: Le Cars Nadine , Da Col Joëlle , Hirschauer Alain
Published: April 2016

Accompagner la fin de vie fait partie du quotidien des soignants en EHPAD. Devant cette réalité appelée à s’amplifier durablement, l’anticipation, la coordination et la réflexion en équipe sont des démarches essentielles. Deux gériatres coordonnateurs et un médecin en soins palliatifs en présentent tour à tour les principaux enjeux. Trois éclairages différents pour une expérience commune au cœur d’un territoire de santé du Morbihan.
Regards croisés sur les stages médicaux en Afrique
Authors: Lenfant Tiphaine , Lenfant Louis , Beaufils François
Published: April 2016

De retour d’un séjour de deux mois à l’hôpital d’Afagnan (Togo), Tiphaine et Louis Lenfant, – respectivement interne en médecine et interne en chirurgie – font part de leurs découvertes et de leurs étonnements dans un récit direct et vivant. En contrepoint, François Beaufils – pédiatre-réanimateur, coordonnateur de stages étudiants en Afrique et lui-même investi dans un hôpital camerounais – analyse les bénéfices de telles expériences pour les personnels de santé des deux continents.
Vers une analyse multimodale du sens. Perspectives constructionnelles sur la gestualité co-grammaticale
Authors: Schoonjans Steven , Sambre Paul , Brône Geert , Feyaerts Kurt
Published: April 2016

La présente contribution vise à mieux cerner le statut de la gestualité en grammaire. À cet effet sont fournies deux études de cas sur les gestes co-grammaticaux indexicaux et iconiques. L’idée centrale de cette grammaire multimodale est que mots et gestes, au sens large, appartenant à des canaux sémiotiques à première vue incompatibles, se doivent d’être intégrés dans une seule construction, fidèle à l’hypothèse cognitiviste que les constructions grammaticales assemblent des éléments linguistiques matériels en une seule représentation conceptuelle schématique. Cette intégration du geste, situé traditionnellement en marge de la construction grammaticale, répondrait ainsi à une demande posée à la linguistique cognitive, et plus particulièrement aux grammaires de construction, de la part des études sur la gestualité.
Mapping explorations of linguistic influences on nonlinguistic thought
Authors: Everett Caleb
Published: April 2016

De récentes découvertes à base expérimentale démontrent que les disparités interlangues influent sur la cognition extralinguistique de manières très variées. Ces découvertes suggèrent qu’à quelques exceptions près, les chercheurs concernés par la question de la relativité linguistique vont au-delà de la question insipide : Est-ce que notre vision du monde est modelée ou déterminée par notre langue maternelle ? Au lieu de cela, ils cherchent à mieux éclairer les voies par lesquelles s’entrecroisent les deux formes linguistique et extralinguistique de la cognition, et à comprendre si ces intersections sont larges ou étroites. Le paysage post-Whorfien est rassasié d’études tentant à rendre compte minutieusement de confusions extralinguistiques tout en délivrant des preuves de la diversité cognitive entre des populations de langues différentes. Nous décrirons des résultats majeurs de recherches démontrant les effets relativistes associés à trois domaines sémantiques : l’espace, la numération et la couleur. Nous constatons qu’en dépit de la luminescence actuelle de la recherche portant sur ces thèmes, le débat populaire sur la relativité linguistique est différé en raison d’une focalisation anachronique sur les idées pionnières de Whorf.
L’émergence du sens au cours de l’évolution
Authors: Dessalles Jean-Louis
Published: April 2016

Pour Darwin, les facultés mentales de l’être humain diffèrent de celles des autres animaux par leur degré, et non par leur nature. Pourtant, l’analyse des compétences cognitives humaines révèle certaines opérations qui ne prennent leur sens que par rapport au langage. Par exemple, les mécanismes qui nous permettent de combiner les significations ou de former des prédicats sont essentiels pour raconter ou pour argumenter. En revanche, ils n’ont pas de rôle comportemental évident. Il est alors tentant de penser que ces mécanismes cognitifs sont propres à notre espèce et qu’ils sont apparus dans un ordre défini au cours de la phylogenèse, pour remplir des fonctions langagières particulières.
L’ultime victoire de l’enfance chez Sartre
Authors: Klein Rony
Published: April 2016

Cet article se propose d’examiner le statut de l’enfance dans l’œuvre de Sartre. Si, à première vue, Sartre semble « ne pas aimer l’enfance » au point que, à l’exception de L’Enfance d’un chef , on trouve rarement un enfant dans sa prose, une lecture plus attentive de ses biographies, du Baudelaire à Saint Genet et jusqu’à L’Idiot de la famille , montre une courbe étonnante dans son rapport d’écrivain à l’enfance, à travers la notion de choix originel, élaborée dès L’Être et le Néant . Cet article lit plus particulièrement Les Mots afin de reconsidérer le statut de l’enfance dans l’écriture et la pensée de l’auteur de La Nausée . Cet examen nouveau du motif de l’enfance dans l’œuvre de Sartre permet de reconsidérer la place de la notion clé de la philosophie sartrienne, la liberté.
L’autobiographe et les siens : envers et contre tous
Authors: Strasser Anne
Published: April 2016

Comment l’écrivain autobiographe, forcément conscient qu’il peut, par ce qu’il raconte, gêner, révolter, blesser ses proches, arbitre-t-il sa liberté d’expression et la vie privée d’êtres auxquels il est lié ou a été lié par des sentiments souvent très intimes ? Certes, le choix auquel il doit se livrer comporte un incontestable enjeu moral qu’il envisage avec ses propres valeurs, mais il y a aussi un enjeu littéraire crucial, qui peut parfois se résumer à l’alternative écrire ou ne pas écrire, autant dire pour certains écrivains, une question de vie ou de mort.
1964 : le Mali réinsère ses ressortissants expulsés
Authors: Gary-Tounkara Daouda
Published: April 2016

Le précédent dossier de Plein droit abordait la question des expulsions et de leurs conséquences, notamment sous l’angle de l’« accueil » dans leur pays d’origine des personnes expulsées. Cet article remet cette question dans une perspective historique et rappelle que la réinsertion des expulsés est d’abord une question de volonté politique.
En Équateur, la citoyenneté universelle à l’épreuve des faits
Authors: Charles Claudia
Published: April 2016

L’adoption d’une nouvelle constitution, en 2008, deux ans après l’arrivée de Rafael Correa à la tête de l’Équateur, a pu faire rêver tous les migrants du monde et toutes les associations de défense de leurs droits en instaurant deux principes révolutionnaires : la citoyenneté universelle et la libre circulation. S’y ajoute l’interdiction de pénaliser les personnes étrangères au seul motif de l’irrégularité de leur séjour. Pourtant, l’examen des faits rappelle la dure réalité.
Fêtes romaines collectives dans le camp légionnaire d’Argentorate
Authors: Schnitzler Bernadette
Published: April 2016

De nombreuses fêtes rythment le calendrier annuel des Romains dans tout l’Empire. Leur dénominateur commun est d’être religieuses et collectives et les festivités qui se déroulent en contexte militaire, au sein des légions, n’échappent pas à cette règle. Il s’agit tout à la fois de fêtes officielles liées à la célébration du pouvoir impérial et de la triade capitoline, de fêtes romaines traditionnelles tournées vers la vénération des multiples divinités du panthéon gallo-romain et de fêtes plus spécifiquement militaires (fête des enseignes, parades…). Pour le camp légionnaire de Strasbourg-Argentorate, nos connaissances reposent essentiellement sur les découvertes archéologiques (sculptures, figurines en bronze, inscriptions) livrées par les fouilles archéologiques depuis plus de deux siècles.
Mulhouse fête son alliance avec les XIII cantons (30 juin - 2 juillet 1515)
Authors: Kammerer Odile
Published: April 2016

Après s’être alliée avec Berne, Lucerne et Bâle, la ville de Mulhouse a réussi de haute lutte diplomatique à devenir l’alliée (zugewandter Ort) des XIII cantons en 1515. Le traité a été signé le 19 janvier et la fête organisée le 1er juillet. Dans un contexte difficile, cette fête a été organisée comme un spectacle selon le protocole des prestations de serment mais avec un faste tout particulier propre à impressionner les délégués et les Mulhousiens : l’enjeu de cette alliance n’était rien moins que la garantie de l’indépendance de la ville. Les délégués suisses furent accueillis aux limites du ban pour entrer en cortège par la porte de Bâle et rejoindre la place magnifiquement décorée. Logés dans les bonnes auberges, les délégués prêtèrent serment le dimanche, sur une estrade montée entre les deux corps de bâtiments de l’hôtel de ville. L’exiguïté de l’endroit que l’on a pu reconstituer sur un plan, invalide le récit du chroniqueur Petri qui y fait défiler 500 chevaliers ! Un somptueux festin réjouit ensuite les participants, comblés de cadeaux en vin. Le caractère « populaire » de cette fête ne peut être prouvé mais tel était, sans aucun doute, le message de la fête voulue par les édiles mulhousiens.
La fête mise en scène dans Strasbourg au XVIIIe siècle
Authors: Umbrecht Véronique
Published: April 2016

La fête est vécue comme un moment de liesse, un temps hors norme. L’ordre social se renverse ; les bourgeois côtoient les gens du peuple dans une promiscuité temporaire. Les relations humaines ne sont pas les seules à être bouleversées. La ville est aussi amenée à se métamorphoser. Les artistes et les techniciens sont réunis au service de la promotion du pouvoir royal ou local. Ils transforment les rues, les places. Ils redessinent les perspectives : les bâtiments sont tantôt masqués par des architectures éphémères, tantôt habillés de décors postiches. La lecture de l’espace urbain et des édifices est réécrite dans une mise en scène onirique. Le soir venu, la lumière et le feu d’artifice sont orchestrés pour enflammer les cœurs et les édifices. Devant la multiplication des fêtes publiques, un nouveau type d’architecture plus durable fait son apparition afin de répondre aux exigences des nouvelles élites.
Fêtes et processions : une occupation rituelle de l’espace public
Authors: Jordan Benoît
Published: April 2016

La notion de fête est intimement liée au calendrier liturgique chrétien. Certaines dates renvoient à des solennités dont la célébration demande une ampleur inaccoutumée : la Fête-Dieu, mais aussi les Rogations, les fêtes de certains saints tutélaires. Si des constantes, fixées par les rituels, sont évidentes au niveau diocésain, chaque paroisse peut avoir ses coutumes spécifiques. Au-delà de l’aspect dévotionnel, la fête et la procession constituent également un moteur important de la conscience collective d’une communauté.Parmi les formes que revêtent les fêtes, la procession constitue un marqueur catholique qui mobilise la population d’une communauté paroissiale et fait appel à des objets du culte spécifiques : bannières, croix de procession, dais, décors éphémères.
Fête royale, fête religieuse, fête populaire
Authors: Muller Claude
Published: April 2016

Le mariage de Louis XV et de Marie Leszczynska à Strasbourg le 15 août 1725 n’est pas un événement inconnu dans l’historiographie alsacienne et française. L’utilisation des trois sources de documentation inédites, à savoir la correspondance du maréchal du Bourg, celles de l’intendant Harlay de Cély et du cardinal de Rohan permet de préciser les préparatifs et les contours de la fête organisée dans la métropole rhénane au cœur de l’été 1725. Fête éminemment royale, la cérémonie se transforme aussi en fête religieuse et en fête populaire.
La fête et la guerre à Strasbourg durant la Première Guerre mondiale
Authors: Fabre Anne-Laure
Published: April 2016

Strasbourg connaît durant la Belle époque une période faste en fêtes populaires et autres manifestations publiques. 1914 marque un coup d’arrêt brutal à ces festivités : la ville, comme toute l’Europe, doit faire face à la Première Guerre mondiale. Est-il encore possible de faire la fête, de se divertir, dans une ville à l’arrière du front ? Ces réjouissances sont-elles spontanées ou organisées par les autorités ? Malgré la pénurie, les contraintes imposées par l’armée et l’absence des êtres chers, la vie continue et les divertissements permettent d’oublier, pour un temps, les malheurs de l’époque. À ces distractions occasionnelles s’ajoutent les manifestations officielles qui deviennent vecteur de propagande, outil de démonstration d’attachement au régime, qu’il soit allemand ou français. Ainsi, lors de l’entrée des troupes françaises en novembre 1918, la ferveur populaire qui transparaît dans l’accueil réservé aux troupes, les fêtes et manifestations officielles qui les accompagnent, servent de référendum quant à la question du retour de l’Alsace à la France.
Le Pfifferdaj, la fête des faiseurs de fête
Authors: Thirion François
Published: April 2016

Le Pfifferdaj, la plus ancienne fête populaire d’Alsace, a une place à part dans le paysage festif alsacien. Son ancienneté est attestée par une charte de 1400, mais l’analyse historique permet de rallonger son âge d’un siècle. Ainsi, pendant près de cinq siècles, la corporation-confrérie des ménétriers d’Alsace se réunit chaque année pour tenir son assemblée. Ses membres sont des musiciens : les varende Spilleuth, le seigneur de Ribeaupierre est leur roi, Notre Dame de Dusenbach est leur patronne. Nul ne peut manquer le grand rendez-vous du 8 septembre à Ribeauvillé où trois évènements se conjuguent : le Pfeifertag, la Nativité et la foire annuelle. Mais la Révolution met fin au Pfeifertag par la suppression des corporations en 1791. En 1802, la foire est rétablie à sa date traditionnelle. Mais ce n’est plus qu’une simple kilbe qui de l’ancien Pfeifertag ne garde que le nom. En 1890, un « néo-Pfeifertag », mémoriel et festif, voit le jour grâce à la représentation en plein air d’une pièce, Die Pfeiferbrüder, écrite, mise en scène et jouée par les habitants. Cette fête est un immense succès et marque les esprits pour des générations. Le Moyen Âge imprègne désormais la vie locale. Mais la tradition de la présentation d’une pièce de théâtre est abandonnée en 1950 faute de scène adéquate. Commence alors le règne des musiques et des chars. Sont introduits les cortèges à thème historique. Mais l’esprit de 1890 s’estompe et on s’éloigne pendant de longues périodes du sens du « jour des ménétriers ». C’est le goût pour la fête, qui est le mieux préservé. Dans le long cheminement vers la qualité, c’est l’enthousiasme des nombreuses associations, qui reste le principal atout d’un Pfifferdaj qui, par son histoire singulière, fait partie du patrimoine de l’Alsace.
Bons pour la fête : les rituels de la conscription en Alsace
Authors: Tourscher Alexandre
Published: April 2016

En France, le recrutement des soldats se fait par tirage au sort à partir de 1818, et le résultat décide du devenir des jeunes hommes sur plusieurs années. L’Alsace fortement attachée à ses traditions a su maintenir cette coutume conscriptionnelle qui donne lieu à tout un folklore dépassant largement un système de recrutement militaire pour s’inscrire dans le civil. Les fêtes se déroulent selon des rites préétablis qui se développent dès la moitié du XIXe siècle. Ces festivités liées à la conscription finissent par s’intégrer au cycle annuel de la vie de la communauté.La conscription est empreint d’un rituel profane spécifiquement masculin, s’inscrivant dans un rite de passage marquant le moment où un jeune homme passe de l’enfance à l’âge adulte. En effet, un homme ne pouvait ni se marier ni commencer sa vie professionnelle avant d’avoir franchi cette étape décisive de sa vie d’homme.Avant la cérémonie publique, l’année de leur vingt ans, les jeunes gens forment la classe des conscrits et se transforment en un véritable comité des fêtes de la commune. Ils sont durant toute une année les organisateurs des fêtes dans leur village. À ces occasions, ils défilent, agitant leur drapeau inscrit du nom de leur classe, puis collectent de la nourriture, de l’argent, de la boisson qu’ils consommeront lors de banquets abondamment arrosés d’alcool.
Les Journées de la Choucroute à Colmar (1954-1997)
Authors: Lichtlé Francis
Published: April 2016

Afin de développer et de redonner un nouvel essor à la culture du chou à choucroute dans la région colmarienne, la Ville de Colmar créa en 1954, une manifestation qui, en peu d’années, acquit une notoriété régionale. Elle s’imposa dans la ronde des fêtes alsaciennes, accueillant des milliers de visiteurs durant une quarantaine d’années. L’évolution des loisirs contribua à son déclin dès le milieu des années 1970 puis à sa disparition en 1997.
Fête profane et religieuse, la crémation des sapins à Thann le 30 juin
Authors: Claerr Stamm Gabrielle
Published: April 2016

Thann fête depuis le Moyen Âge la crémation de trois sapins. Cette manifestation profane et religieuse tire son origine du récit légendaire de la fondation de la ville et de la translation de la relique de saint Thiébaut, évêque de Gubbio. À part deux interruptions à cause des guerres mondiales, elle a lieu chaque année, depuis 1891, le 30 juin au soir.
A dynamic, climate-driven model of Rift Valley fever
Authors: Leedale Joseph , Jones Anne E. , Caminade Cyril , Morse Andrew P.
Published: April 2016

Outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in eastern Africa have previously occurred following specific rainfall dynamics and flooding events that appear to support the emergence of large numbers of mosquito vectors. As such, transmission of the virus is considered to be sensitive to environmental conditions and therefore changes in climate can impact the spatiotemporal dynamics of epizootic vulnerability. Epidemiological information describing the methods and parameters of RVF transmission and its dependence on climatic factors are used to develop a new spatio-temporal mathematical model that simulates these dynamics and can predict the impact of changes in climate. The Liverpool RVF (LRVF) model is a new dynamic, process-based model driven by climate data that provides a predictive output of geographical changes in RVF outbreak susceptibility as a result of the climate and local livestock immunity. This description of the multi-disciplinary process of model development is accessible to mathematicians, epidemiological modellers and climate scientists, uniting dynamic mathematical modelling, empirical parameterisation and state-of-the-art climate information.
Combining process-based and correlative models improves predictions of climate change effects on Schistosoma mansoni transmission in eastern Africa
Authors: Stensgaard Anna-Sofie , Booth Mark , Nikulin Grigory , McCreesh Nicky
Published: April 2016

Currently, two broad types of approach for predicting the impact of climate change on vector-borne diseases can be distinguished: i) empirical-statistical (correlative) approaches that use statistical models of relationships between vector and/or pathogen presence and environmental factors; and ii) process-based (mechanistic) approaches that seek to simulate detailed biological or epidemiological processes that explicitly describe system behavior. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but it is generally acknowledged that both approaches have value in assessing the response of species in general to climate change. Here, we combine a previously developed dynamic, agentbased model of the temperature-sensitive stages of the Schistosoma mansoni and intermediate host snail lifecycles, with a statistical model of snail habitat suitability for eastern Africa. Baseline model output compared to empirical prevalence data suggest that the combined model performs better than a temperature-driven model alone, and highlights the importance of including snail habitat suitability when modeling schistosomiasis risk. There was general agreement among models in predicting changes in risk, with 24-36% of the eastern Africa region predicted to experience an increase in risk of up-to 20% as a result of increasing temperatures over the next 50 years. Vice versa the models predicted a general decrease in risk in 30-37% of the study area. The snail habitat suitability models also suggest that anthropogenically altered habitat play a vital role for the current distribution of the intermediate snail host, and hence we stress the importance of accounting for land use changes in models of future changes in schistosomiasis risk.
A systematic review: Are herbal and homeopathic remedies used during pregnancy safe?
Authors: Boltman-Binkowski Haaritha
Published: April 2016

Background: Herbal and homeopathic remedies have been used to assist with child bearing and pregnancy for centuries. Allopathic (‘Western’) medicine is traditionally avoided during pregnancy because of limited drug trials and the suspected teratogenic effects of these medications. This has led to an increase in the use of herbal and homeopathic remedies, asthey are viewed to have no teratogenic effect on the developing foetus. Health providers are faced with questions from their clients regarding the safety of these remedies, but much of the evidence about these herbal and homeopathic remedies is anecdotal and few remedies havebeen tested scientifically.Objectives: By conducting a systematic review, the primary objective was to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes of ingested herbal and homeopathic remedies during pregnancy.Method: A systematic review was conducted to synthesise all the evidence with the purpose of evaluating the safety of herbal and homeopathic remedies based on adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Only randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that met allinclusion criteria were included in the review.Results: The ingestion of ginger for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy was shown to have no harmful maternal or neonatal effects. Ingestion of castor oil for induction of labour showed a tendency towards an increase in the incidence of caesarean section and meconiumstained liquor, warranting further research into its safety issues.Conclusion: Larger randomised controlled trials need to be conducted, especially in South Africa, to establish the safety and efficacy of commonly-used remedies.Keywords: Herbal; homeopathy; birth; pregnancy; labour; intrapartum; nausea; induction of labour
High-Dimensional Statistical Learning: Roots, Justifications, and Potential Machineries
Authors: Zollanvari Amin
Published: April 2016

High-dimensional data generally refer to data in which the number of variables is larger than the sample size. Analyzing such datasets poses great challenges for classical statistical learning because the finite-sample performance of methods developed within classical statistical learning does not live up to classical asymptotic premises in which the sample size unboundedly grows for a fixed dimensionality of observations. Much work has been done in developing mathematical-statistical techniques for analyzing high-dimensional data. Despite remarkable progress in this field, many practitioners still utilize classical methods for analyzing such datasets. This state of affairs can be attributed, in part, to a lack of knowledge and, in part, to the ready-to-use computational and statistical software packages that are well developed for classical techniques. Moreover, many scientists working in a specific field of high-dimensional statistical learning are either not aware of other existing machineries in the field or are not willing to try them out. The primary goal in this work is to bring together various machineries of high-dimensional analysis, give an overview of the important results, and present the operating conditions upon which they are grounded. When appropriate, readers are referred to relevant review articles for more information on a specific subject.
Variable Efficacy of Extended-release Mosquito Larvicides Observed in Catch Basins in the Northeast Chicago Metropolitan Area
Authors: Harbison Justin E. , Corcoran Peter C. , Runde Amy , Henry Marlon , Xamplas Christopher , Nasci Roger S.
Published: April 2016

Since the mid-1990s, the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District (NSMAD) has applied extended-release formulations of mosquito larvicides to approximately 50,000 catch basins in the suburbs north of Chicago, IL, USA. This is performed as part of NSMAD's efforts to reduce local populations of the West Nile virus vector, Culex pipiens. Analyses from NSMAD's monitoring of larvicide-treated basins throughout the District over the 2014 and 2015 seasons suggest that larvicides intended to provide extended durations of control (30-180 days) failed to provide control for the maximum duration specified on the product label in approximately 25% of the District's basins. For larvicides designed to last up to 180 days (or about 26 weeks), failures were found at 1-15 weeks after treatment with most found at five weeks posttreatment. For larvicides formulated to last up to 30 days, failures were found at one to four weeks after applications with most found at three weeks posttreatment. The highest percentages of failing basins (ie, containing late-stage mosquito larvae or pupae during the specified product effectiveness period) were found in communities on the eastern side of the District, bordering Lake Michigan. As the larvicides appeared to function properly in the majority of monitored basins, it appears that the failures likely resulted from basin-specific physical factors (ie, basin volume, sediment content, and hydrology) that cause either product removal or a reduction in the concentration of the larvicide's active ingredient below the effective levels in these basins.
Are Smoking Cessation Treatments Associated with Suicidality Risk? An Overview
Authors: Penberthy J. Kim , Penberthy J. Morgan , Harris Marcus R. , Nanda Sonali , Ahn Jennifer , Martinez Caridad Ponce , Osika Apule O. , Slepian Zoe A. , Forsyth Justin C. , Starr J. Andrew , Farrell Jennifer E. , Hook Joshua N.
Published: April 2016

Risk of suicidality during smoking cessation treatment is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of nicotine addiction research and treatment. We explore the relationship between smoking cessation interventions and suicidality and explore common treatments, their associated risks, and effectiveness in promoting smoking reduction and abstinence. Although active smokers have been reported to have twofold to threefold increased risk of suicidality when compared to nonsmokers, 1 4 research regarding the safest way to stop smoking does not always provide clear guidelines for practitioners wishing to advise their patients regarding smoking cessation strategies. In this article, we review pharmacological and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) options that are available for people seeking to quit smoking, focusing on the relationship between the ability of these therapies to reduce smoking behavior and promote abstinence and suicidality risks as assessed by reported suicidality on validated measures, reports of suicidal ideation, behaviors, actual attempts, or completed suicides. Pharmacotherapies such as varenicline, bupropion, and nicotine replacement, and CBTs, including contextual CBT interventions, have been found to help reduce smoking rates and promote and maintain abstinence. Suicidality risks, while present when trying to quit smoking, do not appear to demonstrate a consistent or significant rise associated with use of any particular smoking cessation pharmacotherapy or CBT/contextual CBT intervention reviewed.