The problem of physical coordinates in predictive Hamiltonian systems

In the Hamiltonian formulation of predictive relativistic systems, the canonical coordinates cannot be the physical positions. The relation between them is given by the individuality differential equations. However, due to the arbitrariness in the choice of Cauchy data, there is a wide family of solutions for these equations. In general, those solutions do not satisfy the condition of constancy of velocities moduli, and therefore we have to reparametrize the world lines into the proper time. We derive here a condition on the Cauchy data for the individuality equations which ensures the constancy of the velocities moduli and makes the reparametrization unnecessary.

Entre hybris et mélancolie : poétique, esthétique et usages de la liste dans le roman français contemporain (1963-2013)

Forme archaïque, présente dès l'aube de l'écriture; forme ergonomique, présente autour de nous de manière bien plus courante que toute narration; la liste est un objet fascinant, qui ne dévoile jamais autant sa complexité que lorsqu'elle apparaît dans un cadre littéraire. Un cadre permettant de questionner, en les confrontant, la liste et son énonciateur - son sujet. Qui parle quand une liste se dit? Que dit-elle de celui qui l'énonce? Qui parle, lorsque la syntaxe se bouleverse au point de détruire les hiérarchies permettant habituellement de fixer au discours une origine, une destination, une reprise en charge? Il s'agira de répondre à ces questions et donc de passer d'une poétique à une éthique de la liste, afin de montrer que la description d'un tel objet est indissociable de sa contextualisation discursive, sa subjectivisation. Celle-ci traverse, par une constante métalepse (glissement entre les instances de responsabilité du discours), tout le spectre des actants du texte-liste - de la figure d'auteur à celle du lecteur. La spécificité de la liste littéraire se déporte alors dans un espace éthique, puis bientôt thymique, constitué par un faisceau d'oppositions : par exemple, la liste peut être fermée ou ouverte, hyper- ou hypolisible ; signe d'ordre (c'est l'inventaire, où à l'item correspond la chose) comme de désordre (c'est l'accumulation proliférante). Mais le couple oppositionnel le plus fécond est constitué par l'hybris et la mélancolie: hybris, ou l'orgueil de croire à une réinvention du monde par le pouvoir d'une juxtaposition sans limites. Mélancolie, ou miroitement du mot manquant, évidence de l'absence. C'est sous l'égide de cette opposition que je traite un vaste corpus constitué de huit auteurs contemporains, marqués par un XXe siècle catastrophique, où à l'hybris pléthorique de l'expression de la monstruosité et de l'abondance (J-M.G. Le Clézio, Georges Perec, Eric Chevillard) répond la mélancolie d'une absence ontologique : identitaire (Patrick Modiano), épistémologique (Pierre Senges) langagière (Pascal Quignard, Olivia Rosenthal), voire politique (Antoine Volodine).

La mujer en los libros de texto de bachillerato en España

Los libros de texto constituyen un pilar básico en la formación de los estudiantes, de ahí la importancia de los modelos de hombre y mujer que transmiten. Nuestro corpus de estudio lo han conformado los manuales escolares de Historia y Filosofía de Bachillerato del curso 2010/2011 utilizados en España. Materias que tradicionalmente han destacado en remarcar las diferencias habidas en función del género. Las editoriales seleccionadas son las de mayor prestigio en España, Anaya y Santillana. Viene siendo habitual, encontrar imágenes de mujeres asociadas al entorno familiar, al desarrollo de tareas en el ámbito del hogar y de los hombres en un plano laboral y, generalmente, en el ejercicio de funciones públicas. La lacerante discriminación respecto al género que antaño existía ha dejado de existir en la actualidad. Sin embargo, aún subyacen tópicos en sus contenidos y en las imágenes que los ilustran.

Las formaciones cuaternarias del delta del Llobregat

E11 esta nota explico de forma muy resumida las principales hipótesis y conclusiones expuestas en la memoria que, sobre el mismo tema y con el mismo título, he realizado como tesis doctoral. Se estudian las características estratigráficas y sedimentológicas del Cuaternario del delta del Llobregat que se desarrolla básicamente sobre las margas azules del Plioceno. Se han diferenciado dos tipos de Cuaternario, uno inferior denominado complejo detrítico inferior que se atribuye al Flandrierise y se caracteriza por la existencia de ciclos transgresivos separados por niveles de estabilización y depósitos regresivos, y un complejo deltaico que incluye una fase transgresiva (10.900 +/- 150 años B.P.) y el delta en sentido estricto, en el que domina la progradación deltaica aunque también incluye períodos de estabilización. Todo este Cuaternario se asocia al ascenso del mar Flandriense que se realizó, no de forma continua sino con etapas de estabilización.

Renforcer la participation politique : une approche évaluative du projet du Bureau lausannois pour les immigrés "Votre Ville, Votre Vie, Votre Voix"

Ce mémoire de recherche a pour thématique la participation politique, dans son acception large. Celle-ci est abordée sous un angle novateur, celui des politiques publiques. Les objectifs sont, d'une part, de déterminer les mécanismes mis en place pour renforcer la participation politique et, d'autre part, d'en évaluer les impacts. L'étude consiste en une étude de cas du projet « Votre Ville, Votre Vie, Votre Voix » développé par le Bureau lausannois pour les immigrés. Plus précisément, deux sortes d'activités menées entre mars et juin 2014 dans le cadre de ce projet ont été sélectionnées pour l'évaluation : une séance d'information sur les droits politiques et des visites d'institutions politiques. Pour ce faire, une dizaine de participants à ces activités ont été interviewés. Les résultats de l'étude mettent en évidence des impacts marqués sur les facteurs de la participation politique liés aux affects ou aux opinions et des impacts moins nets sur la compétence politique et sur les différentes composantes du comportement politique. Ces différents effets ressortent enfin plus clairement chez les interviewés ayant participé aux visites qu'à la séance.

El cambio de cultura en las universidades del siglo XXI

Se presenta el planteamiento de una investigación avanzada cuyo objetivo es describir la cultura imperante en las universidades catalanas. Se justifican y analizan los diversos ámbitos afectados por los cambios organizativos que están experimentando las universidades y, por último, se presentan unos primeros resultados aportados en el marco del seminario de expertos llevado a cabo sobre los siguientes apartados: investigación, docencia, gestión, financiación, alumnado y TIC.

IFN-gamma-dependent transcription of MHC class II IA is impaired in macrophages from aged mice

To determine the effect of aging on IFN-gamma-induced MHC class II antigen expression, we produced bone marrow¿derived macrophages in vitro. In these conditions, we analyzed the effect of aging on the genomic expression of macrophages without the influence of other cell types that may be affected by aging. Although macrophages from young and aged mice showed an identical degree of differentiation, after incubation with IFN-gamma, the expression at the cell surface of the IA complex and the levels of IAbeta protein and mRNA were lower in aged macrophages. Moreover, the transcription of the IAbeta gene was impaired in aged macrophages. The amount of transcription factors that bound to the W and X, but not to the Y, boxes of the IAbeta promoter gene was lower in aged macrophages. Similar levels of CIITA mRNA were found after IFN-gamma treatment of both young and aged macrophages. This shows that neither the initial cascade that starts after the interaction of IFN-gamma with the receptor nor the second signals involved in the expression of CIITA are impaired in aged macrophages. These data indicate that aging is associated with low levels of MHC class II gene induction by IFN-gamma because of impaired transcription.

Nasopalatine duct cyst: report of 22 cases and review of the literature

Objectives: Nasopalatine duct cysts (NPDCs) are the most common developmental, epithelial and non-odontogenic cysts of the maxillae. The present study describes the clinicopathological characteristics of 22 NPDCs and discusses their etiology, incidence, treatment and prognosis, with a review of the literature on the subject. Study design: A retrospective observational study was made comprising a period of 36 years (1970-2006), and yielding a series of 22 patients with histopathological confirmation of NPDC. Surgical treatment was carried out under local anesthesia and comprised the dissection and removal of the cyst adopting a usually palatine approach, with the preparation of an enveloping flap from 1.4 to 2.4. Results: No statistically significant correlation was observed between the size of the lesion and patient age, although the size of the cyst differed according to patient gender, with a mean NPDC diameter of 16 mm in males and 12 mm in females. In no case did we observe root reabsorption or loss of vitality of the upper incisors following surgery. The X-ray image was rounded in 15 cases and heart-shaped in the remaining 7 cases. In the majority of cases panoramic X-rays and periapical and occlusal X-rays sufficed to identify the lesion, though computed tomography was used in cases of doubt. Conclusions: The etiology of NPDC is unclear. Simple surgical resection is recommended, followed by clinical and radiological control to ensure correct resolution of the case.

Gorilla genome structural variation reveals evolutionary parallelisms with chimpanzee

Structural variation has played an important role in the evolutionary restructuring of human and great ape genomes. Recent analyses have suggested that the genomes of chimpanzee and human have been particularly enriched for this form of genetic variation. Here, we set out to assess the extent of structural variation in the gorilla lineage by generating 10-fold genomic sequence coverage from a western lowland gorilla and integrating these data into a physical and cytogenetic framework of structural variation. We discovered and validated over 7665 structural changes within the gorilla lineage, including sequence resolution of inversions, deletions, duplications, and mobile element insertions. A comparison with human and other ape genomes shows that the gorilla genome has been subjected to the highest rate of segmental duplication. We show that both the gorilla and chimpanzee genomes have experienced independent yet convergent patterns of structural mutation that have not occurred in humans, including the formation of subtelomeric heterochromatic caps, the hyperexpansion of segmental duplications, and bursts of retroviral integrations. Our analysis suggests that the chimpanzee and gorilla genomes are structurally more derived than either orangutan or human genomes.

Sequencing human-gibbon breakpoints of synteny reveals mosaic new insertions at rearrangement sites

The gibbon genome exhibits extensive karyotypic diversity with an increased rate of chromosomal rearrangements during evolution. In an effort to understand the mechanistic origin and implications of these rearrangement events, we sequenced 24 synteny breakpoint regions in the white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys, NLE) in the form of high-quality BAC insert sequences (4.2 Mbp). While there is a significant deficit of breakpoints in genes, we identified seven human gene structures involved in signaling pathways (DEPDC4, GNG10), phospholipid metabolism (ENPP5, PLSCR2), beta-oxidation (ECH1), cellular structure and transport (HEATR4), and transcription (ZNF461), that have been disrupted in the NLE gibbon lineage. Notably, only three of these genes show the expected evolutionary signatures of pseudogenization. Sequence analysis of the breakpoints suggested both nonclassical nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and replication-based mechanisms of rearrangement. A substantial number (11/24) of human-NLE gibbon breakpoints showed new insertions of gibbon-specific repeats and mosaic structures formed from disparate sequences including segmental duplications, LINE, SINE, and LTR elements. Analysis of these sites provides a model for a replication-dependent repair mechanism for double-strand breaks (DSBs) at rearrangement sites and insights into the structure and formation of primate segmental duplications at sites of genomic rearrangements during evolution.

The origins and impact of primate segmental duplications

Duplicated sequences are substrates for the emergence of new genes and are an important source of genetic instability associated with rare and common diseases. Analyses of primate genomes have shown an increase in the proportion of interspersed segmental duplications (SDs) within the genomes of humans and great apes. This contrasts with other mammalian genomes that seem to have their recently duplicated sequences organized in a tandem configuration. In this review, we focus on the mechanistic origin and impact of this difference with respect to evolution, genetic diversity and primate phenotype. Although many genomes will be sequenced in the future, resolution of this aspect of genomic architecture still requires high quality sequences and detailed analyses.

Prevalence of complications after the oral rehabilitation with implant-supported hybrid prostheses

Objectives: Assess the main problems referred by the patients and observed by the professionals after the bucodental rehabilitation with an implant-supported hybrid prothesis. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in which there were 43 patients included who were visited in the Department of Oral Surgery and Orofacial Implantology of University of Barcelona Dental School for one year. An oral rehabilitation with an implant-supported hybrid prosthesis was made to those patients. The following variables were registered: age, gender, number of inserted implants, type of implant and principal problems produced by the hybrid prosthesis. Results: The rehabilitation with an implant supported hybrid prosthesis was only performed in 43 of 116 cases treated in one year (January, 2006 to January, 2007). They were 26 men and 17 women of ages between 37 and 74 years, being the rate age of 56,5 years. The main complication recorded was the mucositis, associated frequently with a difficulty to carry a correct oral hygiene and to an overextention of the tail of resin of the prosthesis. Other observed problems were the peri-implantitis, the break of the acrylic teeth and the loss of some of the prosthetic screws. Conclusions: The most frequent complication after the laying of an implant supported hybrid prosthesis was the mucositis, associated mainly with a prosthetic tail too long and to the consequent difficulty of carrying a correct oral hygiene. In spite of the high prevalence of observed complications, most of them were mild and resolved on subsequent visits.

IFN-gamma-dependent transcription of MHC class II IA is impaired in macrophages from aged mice

To determine the effect of aging on IFN-gamma-induced MHC class II antigen expression, we produced bone marrow¿derived macrophages in vitro. In these conditions, we analyzed the effect of aging on the genomic expression of macrophages without the influence of other cell types that may be affected by aging. Although macrophages from young and aged mice showed an identical degree of differentiation, after incubation with IFN-gamma, the expression at the cell surface of the IA complex and the levels of IAbeta protein and mRNA were lower in aged macrophages. Moreover, the transcription of the IAbeta gene was impaired in aged macrophages. The amount of transcription factors that bound to the W and X, but not to the Y, boxes of the IAbeta promoter gene was lower in aged macrophages. Similar levels of CIITA mRNA were found after IFN-gamma treatment of both young and aged macrophages. This shows that neither the initial cascade that starts after the interaction of IFN-gamma with the receptor nor the second signals involved in the expression of CIITA are impaired in aged macrophages. These data indicate that aging is associated with low levels of MHC class II gene induction by IFN-gamma because of impaired transcription.

Nasopalatine duct cyst: report of 22 cases and review of the literature

Objectives: Nasopalatine duct cysts (NPDCs) are the most common developmental, epithelial and non-odontogenic cysts of the maxillae. The present study describes the clinicopathological characteristics of 22 NPDCs and discusses their etiology, incidence, treatment and prognosis, with a review of the literature on the subject. Study design: A retrospective observational study was made comprising a period of 36 years (1970-2006), and yielding a series of 22 patients with histopathological confirmation of NPDC. Surgical treatment was carried out under local anesthesia and comprised the dissection and removal of the cyst adopting a usually palatine approach, with the preparation of an enveloping flap from 1.4 to 2.4. Results: No statistically significant correlation was observed between the size of the lesion and patient age, although the size of the cyst differed according to patient gender, with a mean NPDC diameter of 16 mm in males and 12 mm in females. In no case did we observe root reabsorption or loss of vitality of the upper incisors following surgery. The X-ray image was rounded in 15 cases and heart-shaped in the remaining 7 cases. In the majority of cases panoramic X-rays and periapical and occlusal X-rays sufficed to identify the lesion, though computed tomography was used in cases of doubt. Conclusions: The etiology of NPDC is unclear. Simple surgical resection is recommended, followed by clinical and radiological control to ensure correct resolution of the case.

Note préliminaire sur la structure, la phénologie et le régime alimentaire d'une super-colonie de formica lugubris zett

Formica lugubris apparaît comme une espèce hautement polycalique dans le Jura suisse et forme des super-colonies. La super-colonie étudiée comprend environ 1200 nids répartis sur 70 hectares. L'étude détaillée de 12 hectares permet de définir 4 types de nids:les nids principaux, secondaires, saisonniers etcommençants, ainsi que trois sortes de voies de communication:les routes de liaisons permanentes visibles sur le terrain, les pistes de liaisons non-permanentes non marquées sur le terrain etles chemins d'approvisionnement permanents marqués dans le terrain. L'auteur présente la phénologie deF. lugubris qui est fortement influencée par le climat de cette région avec une période moyenne d'activité de 150 jours. D'autre part, les premières données sur le régime alimentaire (analyse des proies récoltées par les fourmis) diffèrent considérablement des données connues pour les autres espèces du groupe rufa, notamment par le nombre élevé de pucerons, d'où l'idée d'une régulation des populations de pucerons par les fourmis. Enfin l'auteur aborde le problème de la faible densité de l'avifaune en relation avec les fourmis. Il semble que le climat et les ressources alimentaires conduisent les fourmis àune nouvelle stratégie écologique qui s'exprimerait par la création de super-colonies. Formica lugubris appears as a highly polycalic species in the Swiss Jura and creates super-colonies. The super-colony studied possesses about 1200 nests on about 70 hectares. The detailed study of 12 hectares allows the discrimination of 4 types of nests:the main nests, the secondary nests, the seasonal nests andthe starting nests, as well as 3 types of ant tracks:the constant connection routes visible on the soil, thenon-constant connection tracks not marked on the soil andthe constant foraging routes marked on the soil. The author presents the phenology ofF. lugubris who is strongly influenced by the climate of the region with a mean activity period of about 150 days. On the other hand, the first results about diet (analysis of the preys collected by the ants) differ considerably from the wellknown data for the others species of the rufa group, especially by the high number of aphids, which may be inferred the notion of a regulation of aphids population by the ants. Finally the author approaches the problem of the low density of avifauna in relation to the ants. It seems that climate and food resources lead the ants toa new ecological strategy which would express itself by the creation of super-colonies.