Transnational private authority, regulatory space and workers' collective competences: Bringing local contexts and worker agency back in

The impact of transnational private regulation on labour standards remains in dispute. While studies have provided some limited evidence of positive effects on 'outcome standards' such as wages or occupational health and safety, the literature gives little reason to believe that there has been any significant effect on 'process rights' relating primarily to collective workers' voice and social dialogue. This paper probes this assumption by bringing local contexts and worker agency more fully into the picture. It outlines an analytical framework that emphasizes workers' potential to act collectively for change in the regulatory space surrounding the employment relationship. It argues that while transnational private regulation on labour standards may marginally improve workers access to regulatory spaces and their capacity to require the inclusion of enterprises in them, it does little to increase union leverage. The findings are based on empirical research work conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Local adaptation and matching habitat choice in female barn owls with respect to melanic coloration.

Local adaptation is a major mechanism underlying the maintenance of phenotypic variation in spatially heterogeneous environments. In the barn owl (Tyto alba), dark and pale reddish-pheomelanic individuals are adapted to conditions prevailing in northern and southern Europe, respectively. Using a long-term dataset from Central Europe, we report results consistent with the hypothesis that the different pheomelanic phenotypes are adapted to specific local conditions in females, but not in males. Compared to whitish females, reddish females bred in sites surrounded by more arable fields and less forests. Colour-dependent habitat choice was apparently beneficial. First, whitish females produced more fledglings when breeding in wooded areas, whereas reddish females when breeding in sites with more arable fields. Second, cross-fostering experiments showed that female nestlings grew wings more rapidly when both their foster and biological mothers were of similar colour. The latter result suggests that mothers should particularly produce daughters in environments that best match their own coloration. Accordingly, whiter females produced fewer daughters in territories with more arable fields. In conclusion, females displaying alternative melanic phenotypes bred in habitats providing them with the highest fitness benefits. Although small in magnitude, matching habitat selection and local adaptation may help maintain variation in pheomelanin coloration in the barn owl.

Respiratory muscle training enhances maximal minute ventilation and forced vital capacity in adolescent athletes.

Introduction. Respiratory difficulties in athletes are common, especially in adolescents, even in the absence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Immaturity of the respiratory muscles coupling at high respiratory rates could be a potential mechanism. Whether respiratory muscle training (RMT) can positively influence it is yet unknown. Goal. We investigate the effects of RMT on ventilation and performance parameters in adolescent athletes and hypothesize that RMT will enhance respiratory capacity. Methods. 12 healthy subjects (8 male, 4 female, 17±0.5 years) from a sports/study high school class, competitively involved in various sports (minimum of 10 hours per week) underwent respiratory function testing, maximal minute ventilation (MMV) measurements and a maximal treadmill incremental test with VO2max and ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2) determination. They then underwent one month of RMT (4 times/week) using a eucapnic hyperventilation device, with an incremental training program. The same tests were repeated after RMT. Results. Subjects completed 14.8 sessions of RMT, with an increase in total ventilation per session of 211±29% during training. Borg scale evaluation of the RMT session was unchanged or reduced in all subjects, despite an increase in total respiratory work. No changes (p>0.05) were observed pre/post RMT in VO2max (53.4±7.5 vs 51.6±7.7 ml/kg/min), VT2 (14.4±1.4 vs 14.0±1.1 km/h) or Speed max at end of test (16.1±1.7 vs 15.8±1.7 km/h). MVV increased by 9.2% (176.7±36.9 vs 192.9±32.6 l/min, p<0.001) and FVC by 3.3% (6.70±0.75 vs 4.85±0.76 litres, p<0.05). Subjective evaluation of respiratory sensations during exercise and daily living were also improved. Conclusions. RMT improves MMV and FVC in adolescent athletes, along with important subjective respiratory benefits, although no changes are seen in treadmill maximal performance tests and VO2max measurements. RMT can be easily performed in adolescent without side effects, with a potential for improvement in training capacity and overall well-being.

Preliminary Experience in Treatment of Papillary and Macular Retinoblastoma: Evaluation of Local Control and Local Complications After Treatment with Linear Accelerator-Based Stereotactic Radiotherapy with Micromultileaf Collimator as Second-Line or Salvage Treatment after chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the local control and complication rates for children with papillary and/or macular retinoblastoma progressing after chemotherapy and undergoing stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with a micromultileaf collimator. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 2004 and 2008, 11 children (15 eyes) with macular and/or papillary retinoblastoma were treated with SRT. The mean age was 19 months (range, 2-111). Of the 15 eyes, 7, 6, and 2 were classified as International Classification of Intraocular Retinoblastoma Group B, C, and E, respectively. The delivered dose of SRT was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions using a dedicated micromultileaf collimator linear accelerator. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 20 months (range, 13-39). Local control was achieved in 13 eyes (87%). The actuarial 1- and 2-year local control rates were both 82%. SRT was well tolerated. Late adverse events were reported in 4 patients. Of the 4 patients, 2 had developed focal microangiopathy 20 months after SRT; 1 had developed a transient recurrence of retinal detachment; and 1 had developed bilateral cataracts. No optic neuropathy was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Linear accelerator-based SRT for papillary and/or macular retinoblastoma in children resulted in excellent tumor control rates with acceptable toxicity. Additional research regarding SRT and its intrinsic organ-at-risk sparing capability is justified in the framework of prospective trials.

BDNF overexpression in mouse hippocampal astrocytes promotes local neurogenesis and elicits anxiolytic-like activities.

The therapeutic activity of selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) relies on long-term adaptation at pre- and post-synaptic levels. The sustained administration of SSRIs increases the serotonergic neurotransmission in response to a functional desensitization of the inhibitory 5-HT1A autoreceptor in the dorsal raphe. At nerve terminal such as the hippocampus, the enhancement of 5-HT availability increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis and signaling, a major event in the stimulation of adult neurogenesis. In physiological conditions, BDNF would be expressed at functionally relevant levels in neurons. However, the recent observation that SSRIs upregulate BDNF mRNA in primary cultures of astrocytes strongly suggest that the therapeutic activity of antidepressant drugs might result from an increase in BDNF synthesis in this cell type. In this study, by overexpressing BDNF in astrocytes, we balanced the ratio between astrocytic and neuronal BDNF raising the possibility that such manipulation could positively reverberate on anxiolytic-/antidepressant-like activities in transfected mice. Our results indicate that BDNF overexpression in hippocampal astrocytes produced anxiolytic-/antidepressant-like activity in the novelty suppressed feeding in relation with the stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis whereas it did not potentiate the effects of the SSRI fluoxetine on these parameters. Moreover, overexpressing BDNF revealed the anxiolytic-like activity of fluoxetine in the elevated plus maze while attenuating 5-HT neurotransmission in response to a blunted downregulation of the 5-HT1A autoreceptor. These results emphasize an original role of hippocampal astrocytes in the synthesis of BDNF, which can act through neurogenesis-dependent and -independent mechanisms to regulate different facets of anxiolytic-like responses.

Extracapsular tumor spread and the risk of local, axillary and supraclavicular recurrence in node-positive, premenopausal patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Extracapsular tumor spread (ECS) has been identified as a possible risk factor for breast cancer recurrence, but controversy exists regarding its role in decision making for regional radiotherapy. This study evaluates ECS as a predictor of local, axillary, and supraclavicular recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: International Breast Cancer Study Group Trial VI accrued 1475 eligible pre- and perimenopausal women with node-positive breast cancer who were randomly assigned to receive three to nine courses of classical combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. ECS status was determined retrospectively in 933 patients based on review of pathology reports. Cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using methods for competing risks analysis. Adjustment factors included treatment group and baseline patient and tumor characteristics. The median follow-up was 14 years. RESULTS: In univariable analysis, ECS was significantly associated with supraclavicular recurrence (HR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval 1.23-3.13; P = 0.005). HRs for local and axillary recurrence were 1.38 (P = 0.06) and 1.81 (P = 0.11), respectively. Following adjustment for number of lymph node metastases and other baseline prognostic factors, ECS was not significantly associated with any of the three recurrence types studied. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the decision for additional regional radiotherapy should not be based solely on the presence of ECS.

Altered Local Beta and Gamma Synchronization in Prefrontal Cortex of Mice with Redox Dysregulation or Maternal Immune Activation

Background: A developmental dysregulation of glutathione (GSH) synthesis leading to oxidative stress, when combined with environmental risk factors (viral infections) generating reactive oxygen species, can play a critical role in inducing schizophrenia phenotypes. GSH deficit induces morphological, physiological and behavioral anomalies analogous to those reported in schizophrenic patients, including disrupted parvalbumine (PV) inhibitory interneuron's integrity and neuronal synchrony (β/γ-oscillations). Methods: We assessed PV immunoreactivity (PV-IR) and local synchronization in prefrontal cortex of two mouse models: (1) mice with a genetic deficit in GSH (GCLM-/-) and (2) mice with prenatal immune activation at embryonic day17 (PolyI:C). Results: Adults from both mice models display reduced PV-IR in prefrontal cortex. In anterior cingulate (ACC) of GCLM-/-, appearance and maturation of PVI are delayed and worsened with peribubertal stress but not in adult one. This effect is reversed by treatment with the GSH precursor N-acetyl-cysteine. The power of beta and gamma oscillations are decreased in ACC of GCLM-/- while they increased in prelimbic cortex of PolyI:C mice. Conclusions: Despite reduced PV-IR in both models, alteration of the synchronization was different, indicating that the structural/functional disruption of the cortical circuitry was partly different in both models. Novel therapeutic strategies are proposed, based on interference with oxidative stress and inflammatory processes.

Social structure emerges via the interaction between local ecology and individual behaviour.

1. The formation of groups is a fundamental aspect of social organization, but there are still many questions regarding how social structure emerges from individuals making non-random associations. 2. Although food distribution and individual phenotypic traits are known to separately influence social organization, this is the first study, to our knowledge, experimentally linking them to demonstrate the importance of their interaction in the emergence of social structure. 3. Using an experimental design in which food distribution was either clumped or dispersed, in combination with individuals that varied in exploratory behaviour, our results show that social structure can be induced in the otherwise non-social European shore crab (Carcinus maenas). 4. Regardless of food distribution, individuals with relatively high exploratory behaviour played an important role in connecting otherwise poorly connected individuals. In comparison, low exploratory individuals aggregated into cohesive, stable subgroups (moving together even when not foraging), but only in tanks where resources were clumped. No such non-foraging subgroups formed in environments where food was evenly dispersed. 5. Body size did not accurately explain an individual's role within the network for either type of food distribution. 6. Because of their synchronized movements and potential to gain social information, groups of low exploratory crabs were more effective than singletons at finding food. 7. Because social structure affects selection, and social structure is shown to be sensitive to the interaction between ecological and behavioural differences among individuals, local selective pressures are likely to reflect this interaction.

Local adaptation and life history traits evolution in heterogeneous environment : an empirical example in the freshwater snail, Galba truncatula

Abstract: To understand the processes of evolution, biologists are interested in the ability of a population to respond to natural or artificial selection. The amount of genetic variation is often viewed as the main factor allowing a species to answer to selection. Many theories have thus focused on the maintenance of genetic variability. Ecologists and population geneticists have long-suspected that the structure of the environment is connected to the maintenance of diversity. Theorists have shown that diversity can be permanently and stably maintained in temporal and spatial varying environment in certain conditions. Moreover, varying environments have been also theoretically demonstrated to cause the evolution of divergent life history strategies in the different niches constituting the environment. Although there is a huge number of theoretical studies selection and on life history evolution in heterogeneous environments, there is a clear lack of empirical studies. The purpose of this thesis was to. empirically study the evolutionary consequences of a heterogeneous environment in a freshwater snail Galba truncatula. Indeed, G. truncatula lives in two habitat types according the water availability. First, it can be found in streams or ponds which never completely dry out: a permanent habitat. Second, G. truncatula can be found in pools that freeze during winter and dry during summer: a temporary habitat. Using a common garden approach, we empirically demonstrated local adaptation of G. truncatula to temporary and permanent habitats. We used at first a comparison of molecular (FST) vs. quantitative (QST) genetic differentiation between temporary and permanent habitats. To confirm the pattern QST> FST between habitats suggesting local adaptation, we then tested the desiccation resistance of individuals from temporary and permanent habitats. This study confirmed that drought resistance seemed to be the main factor selected between habitats, and life history traits linked to the desiccation resistance were thus found divergent between habitats. However, despite this evidence of selection acting on mean values of traits between habitats, drift was suggested to be the main factor responsible of variation in variances-covariances between populations. At last, we found life history traits variation of individuals in a heterogeneous environment varying in parasite prevalence. This thesis empirically demonstrated the importance of heterogeneous environments in local adaptation and life history evolution and suggested that more experimental studies are needed to investigate this topic. Résumé: Les biologistes se sont depuis toujours intéressés en l'aptitude d'une population à répondre à la sélection naturelle. Cette réponse dépend de la quantité de variabilité génétique présente dans cette population. Plus particulièrement, les théoriciens se sont penchés sur la question du maintient de la variabilité génétique au sein d'environnements hétérogènes. Ils ont alors démontré que, sous certaines conditions, la diversité génétique peut se maintenir de manière stable et permanente dans des environnements variant au niveau spatial et temporel. De plus, ces environments variables ont été démontrés comme responsable de divergence de traits d'histoire de vie au sein des différentes niches constituant l'environnement. Cependant, malgré ce nombre important d'études théoriques portant sur la sélection et l'évolution des traits d'histoire de vie en environnement hétérogène, les études empiriques sont plus rares. Le but de cette thèse était donc d'étudier les conséquences évolutives d'un environnement hétérogène chez un esgarcot d'eau douce Galba truncatula. En effet, G. truncatula est trouvé dans deux types d'habitats qui diffèrent par leur niveau d'eau. Le premier, l'habitat temporaire, est constitué de flaques d'eau qui peuvent s'assécher pendant l'été et geler pendant l'hiver. Le second, l'habitat permanent, correspond à des marres ou à des ruisseaux qui ont un niveau d'eau constant durant toute l'année. Utilisant une approche expérimentale de type "jardin commun", nous avons démontré l'adaptation locale des individus à leur type d'habitat, permanent ou temporaire. Nous avons utilisé l'approche Fsr/QsT qui compare la différentiation génétique moléculaire avec la différentiation génétique quantitative entre les 2 habitats. Le phénomène d'adapation locale démontré par QsT > FsT, a été testé experimentalement en mesurant la résistance à la dessiccation d'individus d'habitat temporaire et permanent. Cette étude confirma que la résistance à la sécheresse a été sélectionné entre habitats et que les traits responsables de cette resistance sont différents entre habitats. Cependant si la sélection agit sur la valeur moyenne des traits entre habitats, la dérive génétique semble être le responsable majeur de la différence de variances-covariances entre populations. Pour finir, une variation de traits d'histoire de vie a été trouvée au sein d'un environnement hétérogène constitué de populations variants au niveau de leur taux de parasitisme. Pour conclure, cette thèse a donc démontré l'importance d'un environnement hétérogène sur l'adaptation locale et l'évolution des traits d'histoire de vie et suggère que plus d'études empiriques sur le sujet sont nécessaires.

Local capitalism and neoliberalization in a Shenzhen former lineage-village

This article examines the process of neoliberalization in the Shenzhen special economic zone in Guangdong province, China. Building on the case study of a former peasant and almost single-lineage village that has become a part of Shenzhen city, I show how neoliberal principles aimed at advancing the transition to capitalism are combined with and countered by other ethical traditions. Owing to the long-standing conception of the lineage as an enterprise, the maintenance of the lineage structure in the transformation of the rural collectives has offered fertile ground for the emergence of a local capitalist coalition. Yet the current discourses on the necessity of obliterating the remains of the collective economy and introducing individual ownership run counter to the collectivist values of the lineage-village community and the embeddedness of its economy in kinship and territorial ties. I further illustrate this discordance by the way in which the villagers managed to save their founding ancestor's gravesite following government requests to clear the land by removing tombs. These policies form a complex blend of state interventions in the economy, neoliberal governance and Confucian principles.

Spatial radial maze procedures and setups to dissociate local and distal relational spatial frameworks in humans.

BACKGROUND: Radial maze tasks have been used to assess optimal foraging and spatial abilities in rodents. The spatial performance was based on a capacity to rely on a configuration of local and distant cues. We adapted maze procedures assessing the relative weight of local cues and distant landmarks for arm choice in humans. NEW METHOD: The procedure allowed testing memory of places in four experimental setups: a fingertip texture-groove maze, a tactile screen maze, a virtual radial maze and a walking size maze. During training, the four reinforced positions remained fixed relative to local and distal cues. During subsequent conflict trials, these frameworks were made conflictive in the prediction of reward locations. RESULTS: Three experiments showed that the relative weight of local and distal relational cues is affected by different factors such as cues' nature, visual access to the environment, real vs. virtual environment, and gender. A fourth experiment illustrated how a walking maze can be used with people suffering intellectual disability. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: In our procedure, long-term (reference) and short-term (working) memory can be assessed. It is the first radial task adapted to human that enables dissociating local and distal cues, to provides an indication as to their relative salience. Our mazes are moveable and easily used in limited spaces. Tasks are performed with realistic and spontaneous though controlled exploratory movements. CONCLUSION: Our tasks enabled highlighting the use of different strategies. In a clinical perspective, considering the use of compensatory strategies should orient towards adapted behavioural rehabilitation.

Differences in the transduction of canonical wnt signals demarcate effector and memory CD8 T cells with distinct recall proliferation capacity.

Protection against reinfection is mediated by Ag-specific memory CD8 T cells, which display stem cell-like function. Because canonical Wnt (Wingless/Int1) signals critically regulate renewal versus differentiation of adult stem cells, we evaluated Wnt signal transduction in CD8 T cells during an immune response to acute infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Whereas naive CD8 T cells efficiently transduced Wnt signals, at the peak of the primary response to infection only a fraction of effector T cells retained signal transduction and the majority displayed strongly reduced Wnt activity. Reduced Wnt signaling was in part due to the downregulation of Tcf-1, one of the nuclear effectors of the pathway, and coincided with progress toward terminal differentiation. However, the correlation between low and high Wnt levels with short-lived and memory precursor effector cells, respectively, was incomplete. Adoptive transfer studies showed that low and high Wnt signaling did not influence cell survival but that Wnt high effectors yielded memory cells with enhanced proliferative potential and stronger protective capacity. Likewise, following adoptive transfer and rechallenge, memory cells with high Wnt levels displayed increased recall expansion, compared with memory cells with low Wnt signaling, which were preferentially effector-like memory cells, including tissue-resident memory cells. Thus, canonical Wnt signaling identifies CD8 T cells with enhanced proliferative potential in part independent of commonly used cell surface markers to discriminate effector and memory T cell subpopulations. Interventions that maintain Wnt signaling may thus improve the formation of functional CD8 T cell memory during vaccination.

Local Competition, Inbreeding, and the Evolution of Sex-Biased Dispersal.

Using game theory, we developed a kin-selection model to investigate the consequences of local competition and inbreeding depression on the evolution of natal dispersal. Mating systems have the potential to favor strong sex biases in dispersal because sex differences in potential reproductive success affect the balance between local resource competition and local mate competition. No bias is expected when local competition equally affects males and females, as happens in monogamous systems and also in polygynous or promiscuous ones as long as female fitness is limited by extrinsic factors (breeding resources). In contrast, a male-biased dispersal is predicted when local mate competition exceeds local resource competition, as happens under polygyny/promiscuity when female fitness is limited by intrinsic factors (maximal rate of processing resources rather than resources themselves). This bias is reinforced by among-sex interactions: female philopatry enhances breeding opportunities for related males, while male dispersal decreases the chances that related females will inbreed. These results meet empirical patterns in mammals: polygynous/promiscuous species usually display a male-biased dispersal, while both sexes disperse in monogamous species. A parallel is drawn with sex-ratio theory, which also predicts biases toward the sex that suffers less from local competition. Optimal sex ratios and optimal sex-specific dispersal show mutual dependence, which argues for the development of coevolution models.

Patients's satisfaction concerning postoperative analgesia after caesarean section: a comparison of 4 alternative analgesic regimen

Introduction: Different routes of postoperative analgesia may be used after cesarean section: systemic, spinal or epidural [1]. Although the efficacy of these alternative analgesic regimen has already been studied [2, 3], very few studies have compared patients' satisfaction between them. Methodology: After ethical committee acceptation, 100 ASA 1 patients scheduled for an elective cesarean section were randomized in 4 groups. After a standardized spinal anesthesia (hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg and fentanyl 20 μg), each group had a different postoperative analgesic regimen: - Group 1: oral paracetamol 4x1 g/24 h, oral ibuprofene 3x600 mg/24 h and subcutaneous morphine on need (0.1 mg/kg 6x/24 h) - Group 2: intrathecal morphine (100 μg) and then same as Group 1 - Group 3: oral paracetamol 4x1 g/24 h, oral ibuprofene 3x600 mg/24 h and PCEA with fentanyl 5 μg/ml epidural solution - Group 4: oral paracetamol 4x1g/24 h, oral ibuprofene 3x600 mg/ 24 h and PCEA with bupivacaine 0.1% and fentanyl 2 μg/ml epidural solution After 48 hours, a specific satisfaction questionnaire was given to all patients which permitted to obtain 2 different scores concerning postoperative analgesia: a global satisfaction score (0-10) and a detailed satisfaction score (5 questions scored 0-10 with a summative score of 0-50). Both scores, expressed as mean ± SD, were compared between the 4 groups with a Kruskall-Wallis test and between each group with a Mann-Whitney test. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Satisfaction scores Gr. 1 (n = 25) Gr. 2 (n = 25) Gr. 3 (n = 25) Gr. 4 (n = 25) P-value global (0-10) 8.2 ± 1.2 9.0 ± 1.0 7.8 ± 2.1 6.5 ± 2.5 0.0006 detailed (0-50) 40 ± 6 43 ± 5 38 ± 6 34 ± 8 0.0002 Conclusion: Satisfaction scores were significantly better in patients who received a systemic postoperative analgesia only (Groups 1 and 2) compared to patients who received systemic and epidural postoperative analgesia (Groups 3 and 4). The best scores were achieved with the combination of intrathecal morphine and multimodal systemic analgesia (Group 2) which allowed early ambulation without significant pain. Patients treated with postoperative epidural analgesia with combined local anesthetics and opioids (Group 4) obtained the worse scores (more restrictive nursing with less mobility, frequent asymmetrical block with insufficient analgesia on one side and motor block on the other)

On landslide risk, resilience and vulnerability of mountain communities in Central-Eastern Nepal

Executive SummaryIn Nepal, landslides are one of the major natural hazards after epidemics, killing over 100 persons per year. However, this figure is an underreported reflection of the actual impact that landslides have on livelihoods and food security in rural Nepal. With predictions of more intense rainfall patterns, landslide occurrence in the Himalayas is likely to increase and continue to be one of the major impediments to development. Due to the remoteness of many localities and lack of resources, responsibilities for disaster preparedness and response in mountain areas usually lie with the communities themselves. Everyday life is full of risk in mountains of Nepal. This is why mountain populations, as well as other populations living in harsh conditions have developed a number of coping strategies for dealing with adverse situations. Perhaps due to the dispersed and remote nature of landslides in Nepal, there have been few studies on vulnerability, coping- and mitigation strategies of landslide affected populations. There are also few recommendations available to guide authorities and populations how to reduce losses due to landslides in Nepal, and even less so, how to operationalize resilience and vulnerability.Many policy makers, international donors, NGOs and national authorities are currently asking what investments are needed to increase the so-called 'resilience' of mountain populations to deal with climate risks. However, mountain populations are already quite resilient to seasonal fluctuations, temperature variations, rainfall patterns and market prices. In spite of their resilience, they continue to live in places at risk due to high vulnerability caused by structural inequalities: access to land, resources, markets, education. This interdisciplinary thesis examines the concept of resilience by questioning its usefulness and validity as the current goal of international development and disaster risk reduction policies, its conceptual limitations and its possible scope of action. The goal of this study is two-fold: to better define and distinguish factors and relationships between resilience, vulnerability, capacities and risk; and to test and improve a participatory methodology for evaluating landslide risk that can serve as a guidance tool for improving community-based disaster risk reduction. The objective is to develop a simple methodology that can be used by NGOs, local authorities and communities to reduce losses from landslides.Through its six case studies in Central-Eastern Nepal, this study explores the relation between resilience, vulnerability and landslide risk based on interdisciplinary methods, including geological assessments of landslides, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participatory risk mapping. For comparison, the study sites were chosen in Tehrathum, Sunsari and Dolakha Districts of Central/Eastern Nepal, to reflect a variety of landslide types, from chronic to acute, and a variety of communities, from very marginalized to very high status. The study uses the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach as its conceptual basis, which is based on the notion that access and rights to resources (natural, human/institutional, economic, environmental, physical) are the basis for coping with adversity, such as landslides. The study is also intended as a contribution to the growing literature and practices on Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction specifically adapted to landslide- prone areas.In addition to the six case studies, results include an indicator based methodology for assessing and measuring vulnerability and resilience, a composite risk assessment methodology, a typology of coping strategies and risk perceptions and a thorough analysis of the relation between risk, vulnerability and resilience. The methodology forassessing vulnerability, resilience and risk is relatively cost-effective and replicable in a low-data environment. Perhaps the major finding is that resilience is a process that defines a community's (or system's) capacity to rebound following adversity but it does not necessarily reduce vulnerability or risk, which requires addressing more structural issues related to poverty. Therefore, conclusions include a critical view of resilience as a main goal of international development and disaster risk reduction policies. It is a useful concept in the context of recovery after a disaster but it needs to be addressed in parallel with vulnerability and risk.This research was funded by an interdisciplinary grant (#26083591) from the Swiss National Science Foundation for the period 2009-2011 and a seed grant from the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment at the University of Lausanne in 2008.Résumé en françaisAu Népal, les glissements de terrain sont un des aléas les plus dévastateurs après les épidémies, causant 100 morts par an. Pourtant, ce chiffre est une sous-estimation de l'impact réel de l'effet des glissements sur les moyens de subsistance et la sécurité alimentaire au Népal. Avec des prévisions de pluies plus intenses, l'occurrence des glissements dans les Himalayas augmente et présente un obstacle au développement. Du fait de l'éloignement et du manque de ressources dans les montagnes au Népal, la responsabilité de la préparation et la réponse aux catastrophes se trouve chez les communautés elles-mêmes. Le risque fait partie de la vie quotidienne dans les montagnes du Népal. C'est pourquoi les populations montagnardes, comme d'autres populations vivant dans des milieux contraignants, ont développé des stratégies pour faire face aux situations défavorables. Peu d'études existent sur la vulnérabilité, ceci étant probablement dû à l'éloignement et pourtant, les stratégies d'adaptation et de mitigation des populations touchées par des glissements au Népal existent.Beaucoup de décideurs politiques, bailleurs de fonds, ONG et autorités nationales se demandent quels investissements sont nécessaires afin d'augmenter la 'resilience' des populations de montagne pour faire face aux changements climatiques. Pourtant, ces populations sont déjà résilientes aux fluctuations des saisons, des variations de température, des pluies et des prix des marchés. En dépit de leur résilience, ils continuent de vivre dans des endroits à fort risque à cause des vulnérabilités créées par les inégalités structurelles : l'accès à la terre, aux ressources, aux marchés et à l'éducation. Cette thèse interdisciplinaire examine le concept de la résilience en mettant en cause son utilité et sa validité en tant que but actuel des politiques internationales de développement et de réduction des risques, ainsi que ses limitations conceptuelles et ses possibles champs d'action. Le but de cette étude est double : mieux définir et distinguer les facteurs et relations entre la résilience, la vulnérabilité, les capacités et le risque ; Et tester et améliorer une méthode participative pour évaluer le risque des glissements qui peut servir en tant qu'outil indicatif pour améliorer la réduction des risques des communautés. Le but est de développer une méthodologie simple qui peut être utilisée par des ONG, autorités locales et communautés pour réduire les pertes dues aux glissements.A travers les études de cas au centre-est du Népal, cette étude explore le rapport entre la résilience, la vulnérabilité et les glissements basée sur des méthodes interdisciplinaires ; Y sont inclus des évaluations géologiques des glissements, des entretiens semi-dirigés, des discussions de groupes et des cartes de risques participatives. Pour la comparaison, les zones d'études ont été sélectionnées dans les districts de Tehrathum, Sunsari et Dolakha dans le centre-est du Népal, afin de refléter différents types de glissements, de chroniques à urgents, ainsi que différentes communautés, variant de très marginalisées à très haut statut. Pour son cadre conceptuel, cette étude s'appuie sur l'approche de moyens de subsistance durable, qui est basée sur les notions d'accès et de droit aux ressources (naturelles, humaines/institutionnelles, économiques, environnementales, physiques) et qui sont le minimum pour faire face à des situations difficiles, comme des glissements. Cette étude se veut aussi une contribution à la littérature et aux pratiques en croissantes sur la réduction des risques communautaires, spécifiquement adaptées aux zones affectées par des glissements.En plus des six études de cas, les résultats incluent une méthodologie basée sur des indicateurs pour évaluer et mesurer la vulnérabilité et la résilience, une méthodologie sur le risque composé, une typologie de stratégies d'adaptation et perceptions des risques ainsi qu'une analyse fondamentale de la relation entre risque, vulnérabilité et résilience. Les méthodologies pour l'évaluation de la vulnérabilité, de la résilience et du risque sont relativement peu coûteuses et reproductibles dans des endroits avec peu de données disponibles. Le résultat probablement le plus pertinent est que la résilience est un processus qui définit la capacité d'une communauté (ou d'un système) à rebondir suite à une situation défavorable, mais qui ne réduit pas forcement la vulnérabilité ou le risque, et qui requiert une approche plus fondamentale s'adressant aux questions de pauvreté. Les conclusions incluent une vue critique de la résilience comme but principal des politiques internationales de développement et de réduction des risques. C'est un concept utile dans le contexte de la récupération après une catastrophe mais il doit être pris en compte au même titre que la vulnérabilité et le risque.Cette recherche a été financée par un fonds interdisciplinaire (#26083591) du Fonds National Suisse pour la période 2009-2011 et un fonds de préparation de recherches par la Faculté des Géosciences et Environnement à l'Université de Lausanne en 2008.