Transnational migrants in Europe: stigmatization, juridicization and trade union activism

"Methodological nationalism restricts the focus on transnational migrants in Europe, in particular in the Upper-Rhine border area (France-Germany-Switzerland). Three main limitations can be underlined: to start with, the ignorance of nationalism in contemporary social science research, including in migration and border studies; moreover, the naturalization of the nation- state that contributes to shape numerous social science biases; finally, territorial limitations that constrain research topics (Wimmer and Glick Schiller 2002). To overcome those issues, this research combines three methodological perspectives: first, a socio-historical analysis of transnational migrants in the Rhineland area, in order to comprehend past and contemporary dynamics; second, a socio-political approach that stresses the migrants’ “ways of being” (Glick Schiller 2005), including their activism and rhetoric, e.g. direct observations and interviews in multiple sites; third, a pluri-scalar approach that implies several levels of analysis, e.g. local, regional, cross-border, transnational and supra-national. The analysis of transnational migrants’ public action in the Rhineland Valley suggests a triple hypothesis: those transnational migrants’ activists elaborate a public discourse against a specific political and social stigmatization (Becker [1963] 1997); they also institutionalize and reinforce social movements with highly trained lawyers that defend their interests at the highest European jurisdictional level; they create empirically an original form of transnational quasi-trade unions." [author's abstract

The Violence and Monstrosity of Time: The Symbolism of Oceans and the Representations of Leviathan and the Kraken in English Poetry and Literature

Jusqu’au XVIIIe siècle, la vision des océans et du Léviathan comme forces du mal et du chaos primordial, que seul Dieu pouvait tenir en respect, était essentiellement d’inspiration biblique. Dans son essai de 1757, A Philosophical Enquiry, Edmund Burke en fit pour la première fois des modèles du sublime. Ce nouveau statut, les remous de l’histoire européenne de la fin du XVIIIe siècle, et le fait que les Romantiques aient redécouvert la Grèce antique (la mer étant un symbole majeur dans Œdipe à Colone de Sophocle) expliquent la récurrence accrue du tragique et de la mort associés aux voyages maritimes. Mais cette nouvelle approche se démarquait radicalement de la théologie de la Grâce et de la promesse de la destruction ultime de la Bête. Les poèmes de Coleridge, Shelley, ou Tennyson et l’autobiographie d’Osbert Sitwell évoqués ici expriment la désorientation des auteurs dans un monde incompréhensible abandonné de Dieu, et leur expérience de la création comme tout autant consolatrice qu’angoissante et « prométhéenne ». Nous analyserons donc la manière dont les océans déchaînés et leurs créatures répondaient au besoin des artistes de métaphoriser la monstruosité du temps dans un monde sans Dieu, de donner forme au trauma individuel et collectif, et de définir leur statut de créateurs.Until the eighteenth century, the vision of oceans and Leviathan as forces of evil and primordial chaos, only controlled by God, had mainly been influenced by the Biblical tradition. In his 1757 A Philosophical Enquiry, Edmund Burke reassessed them as paradigms of the sublime. This new status, together with the violent episodes of late eighteenth-century European history, and the Romantics’ turning to Ancient Greece—the sea being a major symbol in Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus—, accounted for the increasing frequency of the fatal and tragic voyage and shipwreck topoï in literature. But this also meant a complete break with the theology of Grace promising the ultimate destruction of the Beast. The poems by Coleridge, Shelley, or Tennyson, and Osbert Sitwell’s autobiography express the artists’ disorientation in an incomprehensible world forsaken by God, and their experience of creation as compensatory but angst-ridden and “Promethean”. This paper will address the way furious oceans and their creatures answered writers’ need to metaphorize the monstrosity of time in a godless world, to image individual and collective trauma, and define themselves as creators

Synchronous Behavior of Two Coupled Electronic Neurons

We report on experimental studies of synchronization phenomena in a pair of analog electronic neurons (ENs). The ENs were designed to reproduce the observed membrane voltage oscillations of isolated biological neurons from the stomatogastric ganglion of the California spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus. The ENs are simple analog circuits which integrate four dimensional differential equations representing fast and slow subcellular mechanisms that produce the characteristic regular/chaotic spiking-bursting behavior of these cells. In this paper we study their dynamical behavior as we couple them in the same configurations as we have done for their counterpart biological neurons. The interconnections we use for these neural oscillators are both direct electrical connections and excitatory and inhibitory chemical connections: each realized by analog circuitry and suggested by biological examples. We provide here quantitative evidence that the ENs and the biological neurons behave similarly when coupled in the same manner. They each display well defined bifurcations in their mutual synchronization and regularization. We report briefly on an experiment on coupled biological neurons and four dimensional ENs which provides further ground for testing the validity of our numerical and electronic models of individual neural behavior. Our experiments as a whole present interesting new examples of regularization and synchronization in coupled nonlinear oscillators.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figure

Re-evaluating the resource potential of lomas fog oasis environments for Preceramic hunter-gatherers under past ENSO modes on the south coast of Peru

Lomas – ephemeral seasonal oases sustained by ocean fogs – were critical to ancient human ecology on the desert Pacific coast of Peru: one of humanity’s few independent hearths of agriculture and “pristine” civilisation. The role of climate change since the Late Pleistocene in determining productivity and extent of past lomas ecosystems has been much debated. Here we reassess the resource potential of the poorly studied lomas of the south coast of Peru during the long Middle Pre-ceramic period (c. 8,000 – 4,500 BP): a period critical in the transition to agriculture, the onset of modern El Niño Southern Oscillation (‘ENSO’) conditions, and eustatic sea-level rise and stabilisation and beach progradation. Our method combines vegetation survey and herbarium collection with archaeological survey and excavation to make inferences about both Preceramic hunter-gatherer ecology and the changed palaeoenvironments in which it took place. Our analysis of newly discovered archaeological sites – and their resource context – show how lomas formations defined human ecology until the end of the Middle Preceramic Period, thereby corroborating recent reconstructions of ENSO history based on other data. Together, these suggest that a five millennia period of significantly colder seas on the south coast induced conditions of abundance and seasonal predictability in lomas and maritime ecosystems, that enabled Middle Preceramic hunter-gatherers to reduce mobility by settling in strategic locations at the confluence of multiple eco-zones at the river estuaries. Here the foundations of agriculture lay in a Broad Spectrum Revolution that unfolded, not through population pressure in deteriorating environments, but rather as an outcome of resource abundance.We thank the Ministerio de Cultural del Perú for granting permission for archaeological fieldwork (Resolución Directoral Nº 933-2012-DGPC-VMPCIC/MC, 19 December 2012 and Nº 386-2014-DGPA-VMPCIC/MC, 22 August 2014) and the export of samples for dating; Don Alberto Benavides Ganoza and the people of Samaca for facilitating fieldwork; the Leverhulme Trust (grant number RPG-117) and the late Don Alberto Benavides de la Quintana (grant number RG69428) and the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research for funding Cambridge University’s One River Archaeological Project, and the NERC Radiocarbon facility (grant number NF/2013/2/2) for funding radiocarbon dating. We also thank the Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre (SERFOR) and the Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP), Peru for permits for the Proyecto Kew Perú to carry out botanical and ecological survey, and Delsy Trujillo, Eric Ramírez, Consuelo Borda and other participants of the Proyecto Kew Perú: Conservación, Restauración de Hábitats y Medios de Vida Útiles, Ica, Peru.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.10.02

Phylogenetic analysis of the Tc1/mariner superfamily reveals the unexplored diversity of pogo-like elements

This is the final version. Available from BMC via the DOI in this record. Background: Tc1/mariner transposons are widespread DNA transposable elements (TEs) that have made important contributions to the evolution of host genomic complexity in metazoans. However, the evolution and diversity of the Tc1/mariner superfamily remains poorly understood. Following recent developments in genome sequencing and the availability of a wealth of new genomes, Tc1/mariner TEs have been identified in many new taxa across the eukaryotic tree of life. To date, the majority of studies focussing on Tc1/mariner elements have considered only a single host lineage or just a small number of host lineages. Thus, much remains to be learnt about the evolution of Tc1/mariner TEs by performing analyses that consider elements that originate from across host diversity. Results: We mined the non-redundant database of NCBI using BLASTp searches, with transposase sequences from a diverse set of reference Tc1/mariner elements as queries. A total of 5158 Tc1/mariner elements were retrieved and used to reconstruct evolutionary relationships within the superfamily. The resulting phylogeny is well resolved and includes several new groups of Tc1/mariner elements. In particular, we identify a new family of plant-genome restricted Tc1/mariner elements, which we call PlantMar. We also show that the pogo family is much larger and more diverse than previously appreciated, and we review evidence for a potential revision of its status to become a separate superfamily. Conclusions: Our study provides an overview of Tc1-mariner phylogeny and summarises the impressive diversity of Tc1-mariner TEs among sequenced eukaryotes. Tc1/mariner TEs are successful in a wide range of eukaryotes, especially unikonts (the taxonomic supergroup containing Amoebozoa, Opisthokonta, Breviatea, and Apusomonadida). In particular, ecdysozoa, and especially arthropods, emerge as important hosts for Tc1/mariner elements (except the PlantMar family). Meanwhile, the pogo family, which is by far the largest Tc1/mariner family, also includes many elements from fungal and chordate genomes. Moreover, there is evidence of the repeated exaptation of pogo elements in vertebrates, including humans, in addition to the well-known example of CENP-B. Collectively, our findings provide a considerable advancement in understanding of Tc1/mariner elements, and more generally they suggest that much work remains to improve understanding of the diversity and evolution of DNA TEs.Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)European Research Council (ERC

Evaluating the development impacts of archaeology and heritage in Peru and Ecuador

This thesis examines the ways in which archaeology and heritage can contribute to development, and how these impacts can be rigorously evaluated despite resource constraints, and while acknowledging local power dynamics. Evaluation can be a powerful tool to promote accountability to local communities, and to learn from past mistakes. My research compares evaluation methods in the regional context of the South American Andes, where archaeological sites abound and are an untapped resource for local development. Projects seeking to promote cultural heritage to improve the quality of life of neighbouring communities – ‘archaeology for development’ projects – often lack access to evaluation tools and do not systematically collect data that could be used for monitoring. This makes it harder for them to be accountable to local stakeholders, and achieve the reflexivity that would enable them to improve their activities. This thesis aims to address that gap by assessing what evaluation methods might be appropriate for projects aiming to utilise communities’ pasts to build better futures. This PhD thesis makes significant contributions to the field of development, as it advocates for the recognition of cultural heritage’s untapped potential in terms of improving wellbeing. This is demonstrated by the evaluation of three projects, which share a concentration on archaeological heritage and a similar background, yet focus on different aspects of development. This thesis also engages with current debates within development evaluation, and gives practical considerations on how the heritage sector can better engage with evaluation, highlighting the trade-offs between feasibility and rigour in the context of small-scale projects where evaluation is not routinely conducted. I focus on three villages where ‘archaeology for development’ projects take place in Peru and Ecuador. These case studies are an archaeology research project with an educational outreach component (Cabana, Pallasca, Peru), a project using ancient irrigation technology to mitigate climate change (Miraflores, Yauyos, Peru) and a community-based sustainable tourism project based on the local archaeological heritage (Agua Blanca, Manabí, Ecuador). My methodology centres both on the assessment of the projects’ existing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) strategies and the comparison of methods implemented during fieldwork. These include rapid ethnography (6 weeks for each site), small-scale surveys (between 50-130 participants per village) and participatory workshops. It shows that projects using archaeology for development in the specific context of the Andes share enough characteristics in terms of their aims and logistical challenges that they can use a similar strategy for evaluation. The first empirical chapter examines the current monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) strategies employed by the three projects. Depending on the types of stakeholders involved (local governments, NGOs, indigenous communities, academics), these projects have differential access to MEL strategies, and mitigate this by employing other mechanisms for reflexivity, such as community assemblies. The second empirical chapter showcases the result of my evaluation, highlighting the projects’ complex and interrelated impacts, and their interplay with local politics. Despite their differences in focus and implementation, all three projects have impacts in the economic, social and environmental domains, and become an arena in which stakeholders express local power dynamics. Treating these projects, or dimensions of their work, as the analytical category of ‘archaeology for development’ enables greater consistency in approaching how to evaluate them. The third empirical chapter focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the tested methods, by analysing the extent to which they are robust, trustworthy, ethical and culturally appropriate, useable and feasible. No single method can tick all these boxes, but with methodological plurality, it is possible to rigorously evaluate a project despite time, personnel, and budget constraints

Capturing the impacts of archaeology for development: Opportunities and challenges in evaluating the sustainable preservation initiative in Peru

Archaeology and heritage projects can have profound social, economic, environmental and cultural impacts on the development of communities. Yet, their impacts are rarely articulated or measured in development terms, to the detriment of their accountability, sustainability and replicability. This article explores the potential for a more systematic evaluation of these impacts through the case study of the Sustainable Preservation Initiative (SPI) and their evaluation strategies in Peru. Informed by an evaluability assessment framework, this study highlights the practical challenges in evaluating small-scale projects in the Global South and the scope for overcoming them, appraising how SPI’s contribution to local development can be measured in practice. Development evaluation methods are measured against the practical concerns expressed by project staff and participants. The article reflects on the importance of evaluating the wide-ranging development impacts of archaeology and heritage projects and concludes with practical suggestions for documenting these multifaceted impacts and for further comparative research

Le vieux guide

Dans la salle où il accueille la vingtaine de visiteurs inscrits pour faire avec lui un périple dans quelques salles choisies du musée des Augustins à Toulouse, Philippe Dupeyron perfore, un à un et sans mot dire, les billets d’entrée : le trou dans le billet a la forme de la main qu’il ne faut poser nulle part. À la fin du parcours, le conteur devra arracher la sienne de la gueule d’une gargouille posée verticalement dans la galerie du cloître. Entretemps il aura transformé en auditoire un p..

Evolution of Mutator transposable elements across eukaryotic diversity

This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordBackground: Mutator-like elements (MULEs) are a significant superfamily of DNA transposons on account of their: (i) great transpositional activity and propensity for insertion in or near gene sequences, (ii) their consequent high mutagenic capacity, and, (iii) their tendency to acquire host gene fragments. Consequently, MULEs are important genetic tools and represent a key study system for research into host-transposon interactions. Yet, while several studies have focused on the impacts of MULEs on crop and fungus genomes, their evolution remains comparatively poorly explored. Results: We perform comprehensive bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses to address currently available MULE diversity and reconstruct evolution for the group. For this, we mine MULEs from online databases, and combine these search results with available transposase sequences retrieved from online databases andpreviously published studies. Our analyses uncover two entirely new MULE invertebrate-specific clades that contain elements almost entirely restricted to arthropod hosts, considerably expanding the set of MULEs known from this host group, and suggesting that many additional MULEs may await discovery from further arthropod genomes. In several cases, close relationships occur between MULEs recovered from distantly related host organisms, suggesting that horizontal transfer events may have played an important role in the evolution of the group. However, it is apparent that MULEs from plants remain relatively separate from MULEs identified from other host groups. MULE structure varies considerably across phylogeny, and TIR length is shown to vary greatly both within and between MULE groups. Our phylogeny suggests that MULE diversity is clustered in well-supported groups, typically according to host taxonomy. With reference to this, we make suggestions on how MULE diversity can be partitioned to provide a robust taxonomic framework. Conclusions: Our study represents a considerable move forwardadvance in the understanding of MULE diversity, host range and evolution, and providesing a taxonomic framework for the classification of additional further MULE elements that await discovery. Our findingsIt also raises a number of questions in relating to MULE biology, suggesting that this group will provide a rich avenue for future study.Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)USDA-NIF

Cascadia Revisited from European Case Studies: the Socio-Political Space of Cross-Border Networks

In this paper, I seek to analyse how cross-border spaces are constructed through the activities and strategies of established and emerging cross-border networks. In order to observe cross-border actors and public policies, I use three case studies, two in the European Union, i.e. the Rhineland Valley, also known as Upper Rhine (France-Germany-Switzerland) and the Mediterranean Euroregion (France-Spain), and one in North America, i.e. Cascadia (Canada-United States). I propose to draw our theoretical approach from a model suggested by P. Bourdieu, so that it is possible to compare a series of factors that structure these borderlands. The ultimate goal of this paper is to sketch the socio-political space of these networks in each cross-border region and eventually to suggest new research lenses for Cascadia