Le droit aux valeurs d'affection : étude sous l'angle de l'article 28 CC

INTRODUCTION : L'affection, et son contraire l'aversion, se manifestent à chaque instant de l'existence. Que ce soit au travers de notre relation avec les membres de notre entourage, les perceptions sonores, visuelles, olfactives qui nous saisissent à tout instant, il est constamment demandé à notre personnalité d'apprécier, de choisir, de rejeter en fonction de nos penchants, sans que ce choix soit nécessairement explicable ou justifiable par des arguments que chacun pourrait comprendre. L'affection, en tant qu'émanation de la personnalité, est-elle juridiquement protégée ? La question semble saugrenue mais il suffit de penser à la protection de la relation avec ses proches que la jurisprudence a bâtie sur la base de l'article 28 CC pour se rendre compte que l'affection est à l'évidence protégée en tant que composante de la personnalité. Mais où s'arrête-t-elle ? S'il est acquis qu'elle protège une relation entre deux êtres, peut-elle porter sur un objet ayant appartenu à un proche, par exemple une montre héritée d'un parent décédé ? Une réaction instinctive nous incite à répondre par l'affirmative; nous entendons cependant démontrer que cette protection trouve aussi des fondements juridiques, et qu'elle a des conséquences légales; ainsi en va-t-il si la montre est endommagée par un tiers : doit-on alors se limiter au remboursement de la valeur vénale, en compensant uniquement le dommage matériel, ou le titulaire du droit à l'affection peut-il réclamer, en sus de la valeur vénale, le dédommagement du tort moral ? Et si la montre est en main d'un tiers, comment aménager le rapport de deux personnes légitimées à invoquer un lien sur un objet, l'une en vertu de son droit de propriété, l'autre en vertu de son sentiment affectif ? La protection ne s'arrête certainement pas aux objets qui rappellent le souvenir d'un être proche. D'autres objets, tels un arbre planté à sa naissance, un objet qui matérialise un événement personnel important, sont aussi susceptibles d'être l'objet d'un lien affectif. Bien qu'ils n'aient pas, en raison de l'absence de lien préalable avec un être physique, de substrat duquel tirer la justification juridique de la protection, nous démontrerons que ce lien affectif est également protégé. Et, enfin, peut-on, à notre époque, parler d'affection sans évoquer les animaux ? Quelles sont les règles applicables au statut de l'animal depuis que le législateur a décidé qu'il n'est plus une chose ? Voilà une troisième catégorie de valeurs d'affection qui nous occupera et dont nous étudierons le régime particulier de protection depuis la récente modification du Code civil suisse. L'étude de la protection des valeurs d'affection a ceci de particulier qu'elle était au début du siècle souvent citée dans le catalogue des droits de la personnalité, notamment lorsque les auteurs commentaient ce nouvel article 28 CC que l'on disait si novateur. Cet ouvrage entend déterminer ce qu'il reste aujourd'hui de cette doctrine si prompte à voir dans l'article 28 CC ce qu'il n'est peut-être plus vraiment actuellement, c'est-à-dire un puissant vecteur du développement des conceptions juridiques et de l'évolution de la protection de la personnalité. L'on entend souvent que la tendance sociale est à l'individualisme, à la précarisation des rapports humains et à l'anonymisation de la société. Le renouveau du débat sur la protection des valeurs d'affection, notamment par la modification législative touchant le statut de l'animal, est la manifestation du besoin social de protéger les liens affectifs portant sur un objet, que ce soit une alliance, un arbre planté à sa naissance, ou un animal de compagnie. Après l'analyse des sources de la protection des valeurs d'affection, nous examinerons quelles peuvent être les conséquences légales de cette protection s'agissant de la réparation du tort moral, et au niveau de la résolution de conflits de droit qui peuvent surgir entre le titulaire du droit à la valeur d'affection et le tiers propriétaire. Il s'agira également de déterminer si la récente modification législative sur le statut de l'animal apporte des solutions nouvelles à ces questions.

Oxytocin selectively gates fear responses through distinct outputs from the central amygdala.

Central amygdala (CeA) projections to hypothalamic and brain stem nuclei regulate the behavioral and physiological expression of fear, but it is unknown whether these different aspects of the fear response can be separately regulated by the CeA. We combined fluorescent retrograde tracing of CeA projections to nuclei that modulate fear-related freezing or cardiovascular responses with in vitro electrophysiological recordings and with in vivo monitoring of related behavioral and physiological parameters. CeA projections emerged from separate neuronal populations with different electrophysiological characteristics and different response properties to oxytocin. In vivo, oxytocin decreased freezing responses in fear-conditioned rats without affecting the cardiovascular response. Thus, neuropeptidergic signaling can modulate the CeA outputs through separate neuronal circuits and thereby individually steer the various aspects of the fear response.

Le corps à l'ouvrage : les représentations du corps dans les récits de voyage d'Ella Maillart, d'Annemarie Schwarzenbach, de Nicolas Bouvier et de Lorenzo Pestelli

Dans les années trente, Ella Maillart et Annemarie Schwarzenbach quittent la Suisse pour l'Afghanistan. Deux décennies plus tard, L. Pestelli et N. Bouvier s'embarquent à leur tour sur les routes d'Orient. Filles et fils de grands industriels, d'universitaires ou de diplomates, ces quatre écrivains-voyageurs mettent un point d'honneur à s'éloigner d'une conception bourgeoise du voyage en présentant leur départ comme un moyen de se définir dans l'ailleurs, c'est-à-dire en dehors de leur héritage social, familial, national et occidental. L'Orient leur semble le lieu des possibles. Or, malgré leur désir de table rase, ils s'aperçoivent vite que, quoi qu'ils fassent, leur corps porte les stigmates de l'Occident. Ils vont donc tenter de le modifier. Si le but du voyage n'est pas de faire totalement disparaître le corps, ce n'est qu'en le risquant, en l'offrant au monde, pour le meilleur et souvent pour le pire, que les voyageurs croient pouvoir goûter aux délices du dehors. Mais ce bonheur charnel, physique, sensuel voire érotique, comment le dire ? Et quelle langue adopter pour rendre compte de sa présence physique au monde ? La réunion de ces quatre auteurs d'époques, de genres et de plumes différents, nous permet d'observer l'évolution des représentations du corps dans le récit de voyage au vingtième siècle tout en questionnant nos habitudes de lecture. Quelle représentation attendons-nous du corps dans un récit de voyage ? Celui-ci est-il vraiment le lieu privilégié pour remettre le corps à l'ouvrage ? The Boby at work. Body representations ìn the narratives of Eila Maillart, Annemarie Schwarzenbach, Nicolas Bouvier and Lorenzo Pestelli. In the 1930s, Ella Maillart and Annemarie Schwarzenbach left Switzerland for Afghanistan. Two decades later, Lorenzo Pestelli and Nicolas Bouvier set out on the routes to the East. Daughters and sons of prominent industrialists, academics or diplomats, these four writer-travellers made a point of straying away from the bourgeois conception of travel by presenting their departure as a way of defining the self away from social, family, national and Western inheritance. The East appears to them as the location of many possibilities. Yet, in spite of their desire for a clean slate, they soon realise that, no matter what they do, their body carries the stigma of the West. They will thus try to modify it. If the aim of their travelling is not to make the body disappear completely, it is only by putting it at risk and by offering it to the world, for better and often for worse, that the travellers believe they can taste the delights from the outside. But how to put in words this carnal, physical, sensual and even erotic pleasure? And what language can be chosen to account for one's presence in the world? Working jointly on four writers, from different eras, genres and styles, helps us to observe the evolution of the representations of the body in travel literature in the 20`h century and at the same time it questions our reading habits. What representations of the body do we expect in travel literature? Is travel literature really the privileged location to put the body back to work?

Sex differences in the neurobiology of fear conditioning and extinction: a preliminary fMRI study of shared sex differences with stress-arousal circuitry.

BACKGROUND: The amygdala, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and brain-stem subregions are implicated in fear conditioning and extinction, and are brain regions known to be sexually dimorphic. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate sex differences in brain activity in these regions during fear conditioning and extinction. METHODS: Subjects were 12 healthy men comparable to 12 healthy women who underwent a 2-day experiment in a 3 T MR scanner. Fear conditioning and extinction learning occurred on day 1 and extinction recall occurred on day 2. The conditioned stimuli were visual cues and the unconditioned stimulus was a mild electric shock. Skin conductance responses (SCR) were recorded throughout the experiment as an index of the conditioned response. fMRI data (blood-oxygen-level-dependent [BOLD] signal changes) were analyzed using SPM8. RESULTS: Findings showed no significant sex differences in SCR during any experimental phases. However, during fear conditioning, there were significantly greater BOLD-signal changes in the right amygdala, right rostral anterior cingulate (rACC) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in women compared with men. In contrast, men showed significantly greater signal changes in bilateral rACC during extinction recall. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate sex differences in brain activation within the fear circuitry of healthy subjects despite similar peripheral autonomic responses. Furthermore, we found that regions where sex differences were previously reported in response to stress, also exhibited sex differences during fear conditioning and extinction.

Reduced phototropism in pks mutants may be due to altered auxin-regulated gene expression or reduced lateral auxin transport.

Phototropism allows plants to orient their photosynthetic organs towards the light. In Arabidopsis, phototropins 1 and 2 sense directional blue light such that phot1 triggers phototropism in response to low fluence rates, while both phot1 and phot2 mediate this response under higher light conditions. Phototropism results from asymmetric growth in the hypocotyl elongation zone that depends on an auxin gradient across the embryonic stem. How phototropin activation leads to this growth response is still poorly understood. Members of the phytochrome kinase substrate (PKS) family may act early in this pathway, because PKS1, PKS2 and PKS4 are needed for a normal phototropic response and they associate with phot1 in vivo. Here we show that PKS proteins are needed both for phot1- and phot2-mediated phototropism. The phototropic response is conditioned by the developmental asymmetry of dicotyledonous seedlings, such that there is a faster growth reorientation when cotyledons face away from the light compared with seedlings whose cotyledons face the light. The molecular basis for this developmental effect on phototropism is unknown; here we show that PKS proteins play a role at the interface between development and phototropism. Moreover, we present evidence for a role of PKS genes in hypocotyl gravi-reorientation that is independent of photoreceptors. pks mutants have normal levels of auxin and normal polar auxin transport, however they show altered expression patterns of auxin marker genes. This situation suggests that PKS proteins are involved in auxin signaling and/or lateral auxin redistribution.

Metabolic labeling and protein linearization technology allow the study of proteins secreted by cultured cells in serum-containing media.

Supernatants from cell cultures (also called conditioned media, CMs) are commonly analyzed to study the pool of secreted proteins (secretome). To reduce the exogenous protein background, serum-free media are often used to obtain CMs. Serum deprivation, however, can severely affect cell viability and phenotype, including protein secretion. We present a strategy to analyze the proteins secreted by cells in fetal bovine serum-containing CMs, which combines the advantage of metabolic labeling and protein concentration linearization techniques. Incubation of CMs with a hexapeptide ligand library was used to reduce the dynamic range of the samples and led to the identification of 3 times more proteins than in untreated CM samples. Labeling with a deuterated amino acid was used to distinguish between cellular proteins and homologous bovine proteins contained in the medium. Application of the strategy to two breast cancer cell lines led to the identification of proteins secreted in different amounts and which could correlate with their varying degree of aggressiveness. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-based quantitation of three proteins of interest in the crude samples yielded data in good agreement with the results from concentration-equalized samples.

Changes of beta-amyloid precursor protein splice patterns in brain cell aggregate cultures.

The splice pattern of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) has been studied in a variety of neuronal and glial cells and in brain cell aggregate cultures by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The brain-typical pattern, in which beta-APP695 is the dominant form, has been found only in aggregate cultures but not in any of the other cell types including neuronal cell lines. Selective elimination of glial cells from aggregates resulted in increased quantities of beta-APP695, whereas removal of neurons led to a reduction of beta-APP695 and to an elevation of beta-APP751 and beta-APP770. This shift of splice pattern was not observed in cocultures of the neuronal cell line PC 12 with primary astrocytes combined in a variety of cellular ratios. Blood serum, which is an essential component of these cultures, tested on aggregates, did not reduce the amount of beta-APP695 or have any marked effects on splice patterns generally. From these results it is concluded that investigations on brain-typical splicing of beta-APP require primary neurons. Neuronal cell lines may be no suitable model systems. Splicing events favoring production of beta-APP695 may mark an important, very early step of amyloid formation in the brain.

Modification de la composition des cigarettes durant te XXe siècle: rôle de l'industrie du tabac et effet sur la dépendance tabagique [Chemicals added to cigarettes and their effects on tobacco dependence]

This paper summarizes data on the factors involved in addiction and dependence to cigarettes. Nicotine has been intensively studied by the tobacco industry, for instance for its addictive effect at the lowest possible rates. The addition of diammonium phosphate and urea produces an alcalinization of the pH of cigarette smoke, and promotes the absorption and the trans-membrane passage of nicotine. The taste, the smell of smoke, and the visual aspect of the pack of cigarettes are also sensory components that promote addiction. Finally, menthol, sugar, cocoa and liquorice added to cigarettes also play a role in dependence and addiction to cigarettes by, for instance, making an anesthetic effect on the airways.

Heerfordt syndrome with unilateral facial nerve palsy: a rare presentation of sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND: Heerfordt syndrome is rare and is characterized by fever, uveitis, parotid gland enlargement, and facial nerve palsy. We hereby present a case of Heerfordt syndrome with unilateral facial nerve palsy as a presentation of sarcoidosis. HISTORY AND SIGNS: A 29-year-old male patient from Sri Lanka presented with eye redness OU, blurred vision OD, fever, headache, night sweat, fatigue, and weight loss (5 kg over 1 month). Examination revealed mild anterior uveitis OU, mild vitritis OD, fundus whitish lesions OU, left otalgia, taste disorders, bilateral parotid gland enlargement, and left facial nerve palsy. Work-up for infection or tumour was negative. Chest computed tomography and transbronchial lymph node biopsy set the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. THERAPY AND OUTCOME: The patient recovered completely within 2 months under therapy with prednisone and azathioprine. One year after onset of treatment, no recurrence was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Heerfordt syndrome is a rare manifestation of neurosarcoidosis and has to be included in the differential diagnosis of facial nerve palsy.

Meadow Saffron Used as a Spice

Introduction: Intoxications with colchicine usually occur by ingestion of meadow saffron leaves (Colchicum autumnale) which are mistakenly collected for alimentary purposes instead of the leaves of crow garlic (Allium ursinum). Colchicine, the main alkaloid of Colchicum autumnale, is present in all parts of the plant. We report a rarer source of mistake, i.e. between the flowers of Colchicum autumnale and Crocus sativus. The similarity in this case is limited to the appearance of the flowers, but Colchicum autumnale, which is also flowering in autumn, lacks the crimson stigma from which the saffron spice is derived from Crocus sativus. Case report: A 47-year-old woman collected the stamens of a flower resembling Crocus sativus for use as saffron. Her knowledge about Crocus sativus was limited to having seen this plant previously at a museum of saffron (Mund, Switzerland). She prepared a meal with rice using three pinches of ''saffron'' for ten tablespoons of rice. She and her 8-year-old child, both ate the usual amount of rice (6 and 2 tablespoons, respectively). The 2 brothers (4- and 9-years-old) only ate 3 teaspoons of rice each. A slightly bitter taste and the absence of a yellow colouration were peculiar. Three to four hours after the meal, the mother developed nausea and contacted the Swiss Toxicological Information Centre, suspecting a plant misidentification. All family members were referred to the regional university hospital for administration of oral activated charcoal. No other symptoms were reported, notably no symptoms in the 8-year-old boy and his brothers. Colchicine serum concentration (blood sample obtained 15 hours after ingestion) measured by HPLC-mass spectrometry was 0.36 mg/L for the mother, and 0.13 mg/L for the 8-year-old child, respectively (therapeutic levels: 0.30-2.5 mg/L). Conclusion: This report demonstrates that a significant amount of colchicine may be absorbed even after ingestion of very small quantities of Colchicum autumnale, which in this case was confused with Crocus sativus. Serum colchicine concentrations in the sub-/therapeutic range can be quantified by HPLC-mass spectrometry, which allows a very sensitive and specific detection of this alkaloid in blood and urine.

The role of MMP-9 and its fibronectin-like domain in tumor growth & invasion : certainties, controversies & discrepancies

Tumors are often compared to wounds that do not heal, where the crosstalk between tumor cells and their surrounding stroma is crucial at all stages of development, from the initial primary growth to metastasis. Similar to wound healing, fibroblasts in the tumor stroma differentiate into myofibroblasts, also referred to as "cancer-associated fibroblasts" (CAFs), primarily, but not exclusively, in response to transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). Myofibroblasts in turn enhance tumor progression by remodeling the stroma. Among molecules implicated in stroma remodeling, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and MMP-g in particular, play a prominent role. However, the mechanisms that regulate MMP-g activation and function remain poorly understood. Recent evidence indicates that tumor cell surface association of MMP-g is an important event in its activation, and more generally in tumor growth and invasion. In the present work we address the potential association of MMP-g activity with cell-surface recruitment to human fibroblasts. We show for the first time that recruitment of MMP-g to the MRC-5 fibroblast cell surface occurs through the fibronectin-like (FN) domain, shared only by MMP-g and MMP-2 among all the MMPs. Functional assays suggest that both the pro- and active form of MMP-g trigger a-smooth muscle actin (aSMA) expression in resting fibroblasts that reflects myofibroblast differentiation, possibly through TGF-ß activation. Moreover, the FN domain of MMP-g inhibits both MMP-g-induced TGF-ß activation and aSMA expression by sequestering MMP-g. Xenograft experiments in NOD/SCID mice using HT1080 fibrosarcoma or MDA-MD231 breast adenocarcinoma cells stably expressing the FN domain of MMP-g revealed no changes in primary tumor growth. However, in the context of metastasis, expression of the FN domain by these same tumor cells dramatically increased their metastatic proclivity whereas expression of wt MMP-g either promoted no change or actually reduced the number of metastases. We observed a decrease of an active form of MMP-g in MDA-MB231 cells overexpressing the FN domain suggesting that the FN domain may inhibit MMP-g activity in Tumors are often compared to wounds that do not heal, where the crosstalk between tumor cells and their surrounding stroma is crucial at all stages of development, from the initial primary growth to metastasis. Similar to wound healing, fibroblasts in the tumor stroma differentiate into myofibroblasts, also referred to as "cancer-associated fibroblasts" (CAFs), primarily, but not exclusively, in response to transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß). Myofibroblasts in turn enhance tumor progression by remodeling the stroma. Among molecules implicated in stroma remodeling, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and MMP-g in particular, play a prominent role. However, the mechanisms that regulate MMP-g activation and function remain poorly understood. Recent evidence indicates that tumor cell surface association of MMP-g is an important event in its activation, and more generally in tumor growth and invasion. In the present work we address the potential association of MMP-g activity with cell-surface recruitment to human fibroblasts. We show for the first time that recruitment of MMP-g to the MRC-5 fibroblast cell surface occurs through the fibronectin-like (FN) domain, shared only by MMP-g and MMP-2 among all the MMPs. Functional assays suggest that both the pro- and active form of MMP-g trigger a-smooth muscle actin (aSMA) expression in resting fibroblasts that reflects myofibroblast differentiation, possibly through TGF-ß activation. Moreover, the FN domain of MMP-g inhibits both MMP-g-induced TGF-ß activation and aSMA expression by sequestering MMP-g. Xenograft experiments in NOD/SCID mice using HT1080 fibrosarcoma or MDA-MD231 breast adenocarcinoma cells stably expressing the FN domain of MMP-9 revealed no changes in primary tumor growth. However, in the context of metastasis, expression of the FN domain by these same tumor cells dramatically increased their metastatic proclivity whereas expression of wt MMP-g either promoted no change or actually reduced the number of metastases. We observed a decrease of an active form of MMP-9 in MDA-MB231 cells overexpressing the FN domain suggesting that the FN domain may inhibit MMP-9 activity in those cells and therefore prevent MMP-9-induced activation of TGF-b, which results in increased invasion. Curiously, xenografts of SW480 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells stably expressing the FN domain of MMP-9 displayed reduced growth at both the primary (subcutaneous) injection site and the lungs of NOD/SCID mice, in experimental metastasis assays, whilst the same cells overexpressing wt MMP-9 showed enhanced growth and dissemination. Gelatin zymography of conditioned medium revealed that these effects may be due to the FN domain, which displaces MMP-9 from SW480 cell surface. These observations suggest a dual role of MMP-9 and its FN domain in primary tumor growth and metastasis, underscoring the notion that the effect of MMP-9 on tumor cells may depend on the cell type and highlighting possible protective effects of MMPs in tumor progression.

Encapsulation of packaging cell line results in successful retroviral-mediated transfer of a suicide gene in vivo in an experimental model of glioblastoma.

AIMS: Retroviral-mediated gene therapy has been proposed as a primary or adjuvant treatment for advanced cancer, because retroviruses selectively infect dividing cells. Efficacy of retroviral-mediated gene transfer, however, is limited in vivo. Although packaging cell lines can produce viral vectors continuously, such allo- or xenogeneic cells are normally rejected when used in vivo. Encapsulation using microporous membranes can protect the packaging cells from rejection. In this study, we used an encapsulated murine packaging cell line to test the effects of in situ delivery of a retrovirus bearing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase suicide gene in a rat model of orthotopic glioblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To test gene transfer in vitro, encapsulated murine psi2-VIK packaging cells were co-cultured with baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, and the percentage of transfected BHK cells was determined. For in vivo experiments, orthotopic C6 glioblastomas were established in Wistar rats. Capsules containing psi2-VIK cells were stereotaxically implanted into these tumours and the animals were treated with ganciclovir (GCV). Tumours were harvested 14 days after initiation of GCV therapy for morphometric analysis. RESULTS: Encapsulation of psi2-VIK cells increased transfection rates of BHK target cells significantly in vitro compared to psi2-VIK conditioned medium (3 x 10(6) vs 2.3 x 10(4) cells; P<0.001). In vivo treatment with encapsulated packaging cells resulted in 3% to 5% of C6 tumour cells transduced and 45% of tumour volume replaced by necrosis after GCV (P<0.01 compared to controls). CONCLUSION: In this experimental model of glioblastoma, encapsulation of a xenogeneic packaging cell line increased half-life and transduction efficacy of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer and caused significant tumour necrosis.

Safety of combined heat and moisture exchanger filters in long-term mechanical ventilation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of a combined heat and moisture exchanger filter (HMEF) for the conditioning of inspired gas in long-term mechanical ventilation (MV). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Medical ICU in a large teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred fifteen consecutive patients who required > or = 48 h of MV. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized at intubation time (day 1) to receive inspired gas conditioned either by a water-bath humidifier heated at 32 degrees C (HWBH) or by an HMEF (Hygroster; DAR; Mirandola, Italy). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The two study groups were comparable in terms of primary pathologic condition at the time of hospital admission, disease severity as measured by the Simplified Acute Physiology Score, and ICU mortality. They did not differ with respect to ventilator days per patient (mean +/- SD: HMEF, 7.6 +/- 6.5; HWBH, 7.8 +/- 5.8), incidence of endotracheal tube obstruction (HMEF, 0/59; HWBH, 1/56), and incidence of hypothermic episodes (HMEF, five; HWBH, two). In 41 patients receiving MV for > or = 5 days, the morphologic integrity of respiratory epithelium was evaluated on day 1 and day 5, using a cytologic examination of tracheal aspirate smears. The state of ciliated epithelium was scored on a scale from 0 (poorest integrity) to 1,200 (maximum integrity), according to a well-described method. In both patient groups, the scores slightly but significantly decreased from day 1 to day 5 (mean +/- SD: HWBH, from 787 +/- 104 to 745 +/- 88; HMEF, from 813 +/- 79 to 739 +/- 62; p < 0.01 for both groups); there were no statistically significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate acceptable safety of HMEFs of the type used in the present study for long-term mechanical ventilation.

Contribution à la cartographie géomorphologique de la dynamique sédimentaire des petits bassins versants torrentiels

Les laves torrentielles sont l'un des vecteurs majeurs de sédiments en milieu montagneux. Leur comportement hydrogéomorphologique est contrôlé par des facteurs géologique, géomorphologique, topographique, hydrologique, climatique et anthropique. Si, en Europe, la recherche s'est plus focalisée sur les aspects hydrologiques que géomorphologiques de ces phénomènes, l'identification des volumes de sédiments potentiellement mobilisables au sein de petits systèmes torrentiels et des processus responsables de leur transfert est d'une importance très grande en termes d'aménagement du territoire et de gestion des dangers naturels. De plus, une corrélation entre des événements pluviométriques et l'occurrence de laves torrentielles n'est pas toujours établie et de nombreux événements torrentiels semblent se déclencher lorsqu'un seuil géomorphologique intrinsèque (degré de remplissage du chenal) au cours d'eau est atteint.Une méthodologie pragmatique a été développée pour cartographier les stocks sédimentaires constituant une source de matériaux pour les laves torrentielles, comme outil préliminaire à la quantification des volumes transportés par ces phénomènes. La méthode s'appuie sur des données dérivées directement d'analyses en environnement SIG réalisées sur des modèles numériques d'altitude de haute précision, de mesures de terrain et d'interprétation de photographies aériennes. La méthode a été conçue pour évaluer la dynamique des transferts sédimentaires, en prenant en compte le rôle des différents réservoirs sédimentaires, par l'application du concept de cascade sédimentaire sous un angle cartographique.Les processus de transferts sédimentaires ont été étudiés dans deux bassins versants des Alpes suisses (torrent du Bruchi, à Blatten beiNaters et torrent du Meretschibach, à Agarn). La cartographie géomorphologique a été couplée avec des mesures complémentaires permettant d'estimer les flux sédimentaires et les taux d'érosion (traçages de peinture, piquets de dénudation et utilisation du LiDAR terrestre). La méthode proposée se révèle innovatrice en comparaison avec la plupart des systèmes de légendes géomorphologiques existants, qui ne sont souvent pas adaptés pour cartographier de manière satisfaisante les systèmes géomorphologiques complexes et actifs que sont les bassins torrentiels. L'intérêt de cette méthode est qu'elle permet l'établissement d'une cascade sédimentaire, mais uniquement pour des systèmes où l'occurrence d'une lave torrentielle est contrôlé par le degré de remplissage en matériaux du chenal. Par ailleurs, le produit cartographique ne peut être directement utilisé pour la création de cartes de dangers - axées sur les zones de dépôt - mais revêt un intérêt pour la mise en place de mesures de correction et pour l'installation de systèmes de monitoring ou d'alerte.La deuxième partie de ce travail de recherche est consacrée à la cartographie géomorphologique. Une analyse a porté sur un échantillon de 146 cartes ou systèmes de légende datant des années 1950 à 2009 et réalisés dans plus de 40 pays. Cette analyse a permis de mettre en évidence la diversité des applications et des techniques d'élaboration des cartes géomorphologiques. - Debris flows are one of the most important vectors of sediment transfer in mountainous areas. Their hydro-geomorphological behaviour is conditioned by geological, geomorphological, topographical, hydrological, climatic and anthropic factors. European research in torrential systems has focused more on hydrological processes than on geomorphological processes acting as debris flow triggers. Nevertheless, the identification of sediment volumes that have the potential to be mobilised in small torrential systems, as well as the recognition of processes responsible for their mobilisation and transfer within the torrential system, are important in terms of land-use planning and natural hazard management. Moreover, a correlation between rainfall and debris flow occurrence is not always established and a number of debris flows seems to occur when a poorly understood geomorphological threshold is reached.A pragmatic methodology has been developed for mapping sediment storages that may constitute source zone of bed load transport and debris flows as a preliminary tool before quantifying their volumes. It is based on data directly derived from GIS analysis using high resolution DEM's, field measurements and aerial photograph interpretations. It has been conceived to estimate sediment transfer dynamics, taking into account the role of different sediment stores in the torrential system applying the concept of "sediment cascade" in a cartographic point of view.Sediment transfer processes were investigated in two small catchments in the Swiss Alps (Bruchi torrent, Blatten bei Naters and Meretschibach torrent, Agarn). Thorough field geomorphological mapping coupled with complementary measurements were conducted to estimate sediment fluxes and denudation rates, using various methods (reference coloured lines, wooden markers and terrestrial LiDAR). The proposed geomorphological mapping methodology is quite innovative in comparison with most legend systems that are not adequate for mapping active and complex geomorphological systems such as debris flow catchments. The interest of this mapping method is that it allows the concept of sediment cascade to be spatially implemented but only for supply-limited systems. The map cannot be used directly for the creation of hazard maps, focused on the deposition areas, but for the design of correction measures and the implementation of monitoring and warning systems.The second part of this work focuses on geomorphological mapping. An analysis of a sample of 146 (extracts of) maps or legend systems dating from the middle of the 20th century to 2009 - realised in more than 40 different countries - was carried out. Even if this study is not exhaustive, it shows a clear renewed interest for the discipline worldwide. It highlights the diversity of applications, techniques (scale, colours and symbology) used for their conception.

Forensic science and the paradigm of quality

Due to various contexts and processes, forensic science communities may have different approaches, largely influenced by their criminal justice systems. However, forensic science practices share some common characteristics. One is the assurance of a high (scientific) quality within processes and practices. For most crime laboratory directors and forensic science associations, this issue is conditioned by the triangle of quality, which represents the current paradigm of quality assurance in the field. It consists of the implementation of standardization, certification, accreditation, and an evaluation process. It constitutes a clear and sound way to exchange data between laboratories and enables databasing due to standardized methods ensuring reliable and valid results; but it is also a means of defining minimum requirements for practitioners' skills for specific forensic science activities. The control of each of these aspects offers non-forensic science partners the assurance that the entire process has been mastered and is trustworthy. Most of the standards focus on the analysis stage and do not consider pre- and post-laboratory stages, namely, the work achieved at the investigation scene and the evaluation and interpretation of the results, intended for intelligence beneficiaries or for court. Such localized consideration prevents forensic practitioners from identifying where the problems really lie with regard to criminal justice systems. According to a performance-management approach, scientific quality should not be restricted to standardized procedures and controls in forensic science practice. Ensuring high quality also strongly depends on the way a forensic science culture is assimilated (into specific education training and workplaces) and in the way practitioners understand forensic science as a whole.