The use of high halide-ion concentrations and automated phasing procedures for the structural analysis of BclA, the major component of the exosporium of Bacillus anthracis spores.

International audienceThe structure determination of the recombinant form of BclA, the major protein component of Bacillus anthracis exosporium, involved soaking in a high concentration of potassium iodide as the means of obtaining a good-quality heavy-atom derivative. The data to 2 angstroms resolution collected on a laboratory source were of sufficient quality to allow successful phasing and chain tracing by automated methods

Unified radio and network control across heterogeneous hardware platforms

Experimentation is an important step in the investigation of techniques for handling spectrum scarcity or the development of new waveforms in future wireless networks. However, it is impractical and not cost effective to construct custom platforms for each future network scenario to be investigated. This problem is addressed by defining Unified Programming Interfaces that allow common access to several platforms for experimentation-based prototyping, research, and development purposes. The design of these interfaces is driven by a diverse set of scenarios that capture the functionality relevant to future network implementations while trying to keep them as generic as possible. Herein, the definition of this set of scenarios is presented as well as the architecture for supporting experimentation-based wireless research over multiple hardware platforms. The proposed architecture for experimentation incorporates both local and global unified interfaces to control any aspect of a wireless system while being completely agnostic to the actual technology incorporated. Control is feasible from the low-level features of individual radios to the entire network stack, including hierarchical control combinations. A testbed to enable the use of the above architecture is utilized that uses a backbone network in order to be able to extract measurements and observe the overall behaviour of the system under test without imposing further communication overhead to the actual experiment. Based on the aforementioned architecture, a system is proposed that is able to support the advancement of intelligent techniques for future networks through experimentation while decoupling promising algorithms and techniques from the capabilities of a specific hardware platform

Inequality aversion among Spanish gypsies: an experimental approach [Aversión a la desigualdad entre gitanos Españoles: un enfoque experimental]

This paper presents a first attempt to measure inequality aversion among gypsies. We conducted an experiment among adult gypsies living at slums outside Vallecas (Madrid). To analyze this variable we use the mechanism provided by Kroll & Davidovitz (2003) among 38 voluntary participants. Results indicate that: i) 52.6% of the individuals are inequality averse; ii) there is a positive relationship between inequality aversion and some features of the population such as individual religious practice, marital status, family size, position in the hierarchy of the family or club association and, iii) neither wealth, nor participation in voluntary activities affect inequality aversion

The Effect of Mechanical Cues on In Vitro Aging and Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Tissue engineering is a field that aims to replace or repair damaged tissue through the use of stem cells, biomaterials, and biomolecules. Human mesenchymal stem cells are multipotent adult stem cells that can be autologously transplanted. This work describes the effect of mechanical cues on human mesenchymal stem cells. An analysis on the age-related stiffening of these cells, and its effect on osteogenic and myogenic differentiation, is presented. This study gives insight to those using stem cells in vitro for extended periods of time. The effect of mechanical loading on stem cell differentiation is examined. Tensile and compressive loading are used to induce myogenic and osteogenic differentiation, respectively, in the absence of chemical cues. This study demonstrates that loading alone can accelerate differentiation. A 3-D cell culture method for cardiomyocyte differentiation is also explored. Numerous cardiomyocyte markers were observed, signifying that this method may be superior to chemical induction methods. A biodegradation study of four porous polymers is also presented, as scaffold choice is of great importance in the area of tissue engineering. This research provides guidance to those using human mesenchymal stem cells for tissue engineering

L’esthétique du flamenco : une contre-esthétique ?

Les querelles qui se sont manifestées autour du flamenco, pratiquement depuis son apparition au XIXe siècle, opposent deux clans apparemment irréductibles: les amateurs de traditions populaires, souvent qualifiés de « romantiques », et les partisans de la musique savante, dits « classiques » ou « puristes ». L’auteur de l’article analyse les arguments des uns et des autres pour souligner les caractères particuliers de l’esthétique flamenca et tenter de comprendre les raisons d’un rejet systématique et violent, comme celles d’un engouement non moins passionné, qui caractérisent deux secteurs de l’élite intellectuelle. Il étudie, enfin, les facteurs historiques et ethnomusicologiques qui ont permis l’éclosion d’une telle esthétique et s’interroge sur son évolution.Since its emergence in the nineteenth century, the flamenco has opposed two apparently irreconcilable clans: the partisans of popular tradition, often called « romantics », and the partisans of classical music, or « purists ». This article reviews the arguments advanced by both sides in order to highlight the specific aesthetics of the flamenco and to understand the reasons for both its systematic and violent rejection and the no less passionate infatuation, attitudes which characterise two sectors of the intellectual elite. The paper finally addresses the historical and ethnomusicological factors which have fostered the emergence of such aesthetics, and deals with their evolution

Jean-Louis Tornatore, ed., Le Patrimoine comme expérience. Implications anthropologiques

Les articles réunis dans cet ouvrage sous la direction de Jean-Louis Tornatore sont issus d’un séminaire organisé à l’Université de Dijon, en 2015, au sein du Centre Georges-Chevrier, et intitulé « Patrimoine et anthropologie, quoi de neuf ? », dont l’objectif était de mettre en perspective la « co-construction de l’anthropologie et du patrimoine » (p. 10). Si ce pari est réussi, avec des contributions revenant sur des expériences de recherche dans divers contextes (France, Rhodes, Tonga, Uru..

Le patrimoine pastoral au prisme de la décentralisation politique

Cet article à partir de l’ethnographie de la patrimonialisation de fêtes de transhumance peules dans Delta intérieur du Niger par l’État malien aborde le processus de requalification patrimoniale comme une déclinaison locale des rapports entre l’État malien (et son administration) et le monde pastoral au moment où la décentralisation est effective. Les usages et les objectifs du classement ƴaaral et du degal à la liste des chefs-d’œuvre du patrimoine oral et immatériel de l’UNESCO seront interrogés à partir d’une analyse des interactions entre des procédures concrètes d’application du processus de décentralisation politique et des pratiques ordinaires du pastoralisme dans le contexte spécifique du Mali contemporain. Les réformes en cours sur le statut des jowro (responsables d’un groupe de transhumance) et des territoires pastoraux dont ils ont la charge servent d’exemple pour dénouer l’imbrication des arguments politiques, écologiques et identitaires du programme de patrimonialisation de ces institutions de gestion des ressources pastorales du Delta intérieur du Niger. La patrimonialisation des fêtes engagée par la DNPC n’est pas directement remise en question par les groupes de transhumance du Delta, mais le ƴaaral et le degal et par extension, l’organisation pastorale deltaïque ainsi que les images et les discours qu’elles supportent, en tant qu’objets patrimonialisés sont réinterprétés, recyclés, réinventés dans le nouvel espace politique créé par la décentralisation et les réformes qui l’accompagnent.This article from the ethnography on the heritagization of Fulbe transhumance celebrations in Inner Niger Delta by Malian government discusses the process of asset reclassification as a local version of the relationship between the Malian government (and his administration) and the pastoral world when decentralization is effective. The purpose and objectives of ƴaaral Degal classification on the list of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage” of UNESCO will be questioned from an analysis of interactions between concrete procedures for implementing decentralization policy and standard practices of pastoralism in the specific context of contemporary Mali. The ongoing reforms on the status of jowro (responsible for a group of transhumance) and pastoral territories they are responsible provide an example to resolve the overlapping of political arguments, ecological and identity program of heritagization of these institutions of pastoral resources management in the Inner Niger Delta. Heritagization bound by the DNPC is not directly challenged by groups of transhumance in the Delta, but the ƴaaral and Degal and by extension, the deltaic pastoral organization and the discourses and images that bear, as patrimonialized objects are reinterpreted, recycled, reinvented in the new political space created by decentralization and reforms that accompany it