Rectificatif aux notices du catalogue de l'exposition "Les fastes de gothique. Le siècle de Charles V"

L'objet de cette petite note est destinée à rectifier les notices de présentation de plusieurs carreaux de pavement à décor vert et brun du XIVe siècle dans l'exposition "Les Fastes du gothique. Le siècle de Charles V" présentée aux Galeries nationales du Grand Palais à Paris en 1981-1982. Révisées par M. C. Norton, ces notices suggèrent une fabrication ou une importation d'Espagne, contrairement à mon texte initial qui indiquait une origine uzégeoise des argiles réfractaires ou une origine rhôdanienne pour les argiles calcaires utilisées ensuite

Charcoal analysis of lime kiln remains in Southern France : an original process of mediaeval and modern traditional lime burning

In Southern France, little has been known concerning the techniques used for lime burning. Recent archaeological research (excavations and surveys) provides evidence of a new lime burning process using a little sole to shaft and high stokehole. These lime kiln elements have been recognized in sites such as Saint-Blaise-de-Bauzon (XIIIth century, Bollène, Vaucluse), earthenware factory Favier (XVIIth century, Montpellier, Hérault) and the Homme Mort Valley (XVIIth century, Peynier, Bouches-du-Rhône). These new archaeological data allow the re-evaluation of the development of this activity and associated firewood management. Several kilns have been excavated in the Lower Provence (France), especially in the high Arc Valley area, aiming at a better understanding of the links between kiln construction and architecture and fire control. A sampling protocol of charcoal has been defined, experimented and improved during excavation work. The careful excavation and sampling of the charcoal layers is followed by microtopography of the kiln in order to identify the morphology / pattern of the fireplace. Fine sieving (0,2 mm mesh) allows the recovery of even the smallest charred biological remains (twigs, spines, leafs) and the reconstruction of the technical process of supplying the fire with wood. Charcoal analysis has taken in account diverse factors. After the anatomical identification of the species, all the specimens have been calibrated; statistical results thus obtained testify to the use of kindling wood (from scrub vegetation). The bark is often preserved allowing us to identify the cutting season. Further charred botanical remains (leaves and spines) were studied in Montpellier (Institut de Botanique) and point to the use of a taper at the bottom of fireplace to light the fire, at the very begining of the burning. This process is well suited for a lime burning kiln provided with a high stokehole. This new conception of lime production leads to the re-interpretation of the results from old excavations all over the Northern-Western Mediterranean basin, especially in Tunisia and central Italy.Les techniques de fabrication de la chaux sont assez méconnues dans le Midi de la France. Des recherches récentes (fouilles archéologiques et prospections) ont mis en évidence l'existence d'un procédé de cuisson au moyen d'une petite voûte à cheminée et gueule haute. Cette disposition des éléments du four à chaux est désormais connue sur plusieurs sites de productions de chaux à Saint-Blaise-de-Bauzon (XIIIe siècle, Bollène, Vaucluse, France), à la faïencerie Favier (XVIIe siècle, Montpellier, Hérault, France) ou dans le vallon de l'Homme Mort (XVIIe siècle, Peynier, Bouches-du-Rhône, France). Elle vient renouveler la vision acquise par l'archéologie sur cet artisanat et implique une gestion du feu spécifique. Plusieurs fours ont été fouillés en basse Provence (France), notamment dans le secteur de la haute Vallée de l'Arc, afin de comprendre les liens qui existent entre la disposition des éléments techniques du four et la gestion de la cuisson. Un protocole de prélèvements anthracologiques a été élaboré et affiné au fil des opérations archéologiques. Après un décapage minutieux de la couche de charbons, un relevé microtopographique est réalisé pour saisir la morphologie des restes du foyer, puis les charbons sont prélevés à la manière des places de charbonnières. Un tamisage très fin est ensuite effectué, permettant de récolter les végétaux carbonisés les plus petits (brindilles, épines, feuilles) et de reconstruire la chaîne opératoire technique de l'alimentation en combustible du feu par les chaufourniers. L'analyse anthracologique a tenu compte de plusieurs paramètres. Outre la caractérisation des espèces, les charbons de bois ont été calibrés afin d'établir une étude statistique pour montrer l'utilisation de fagots de broussailles. La saison d'abattage a été déterminée grâce à la conservation fréquente de l'écorce. L'analyse anthracologique a été complétée par une identification botanique réalisée à l'Université de Montpellier II sur les feuilles et épines carbonisées, mettant en évidence l'utilisation d'une mèche à la base du foyer servant à allumer le feu au début de la cuisson, procédé tout à fait adapté à la cuisson de la chaux avec gueule haute. Cette nouvelle approche de l'artisanat de la chaux permet de réinterpréter les résultats de fouilles de ce type d'installations découvertes plus anciennement dans le Sud de la France, mais aussi dans d'autres régions du pourtour de la Méditerranée, comme en Tunisie ou en Italie centrale

Application of association rules to determine building typological classes for seismic damage predictions at regional scale. The case study of Basel

Assessing seismic vulnerability at large scales requires accurate attribution of individual buildings to more general typological classes that are representative of the seismic behavior of the buildings sharing same attributes. One-by-one evaluation of all buildings is a time-and-money demanding process. Detailed individual evaluations are only suitable for strategic buildings, such as hospitals and other buildings with a central role in the emergency post-earthquake phase. For other buildings simplified approaches are needed. The definition of a taxonomy that contains the most widespread typological classes as well as performing the attribution of the appropriate class to each building are central issues for reliable seismic assessment at large scales. A fast, yet accurate, survey process is needed to attribute a correct class to each building composing the urban system. Even surveying buildings with the goal to determine classes is not as time demanding as detailed evaluations of each building, this process still requires large amounts of time and qualified personnel. However, nowadays several databases are available and provide useful information. In this paper, attributes that are available in such public databases are used to perform class attribution at large scales based on previous data-mining on a small subset of an entire city. The association-rule learning (ARL) is used to find links between building attributes and typological classes. Accuracy of wide spreading these links learned on <250 buildings of a specific district is evaluated in terms of class attribution and seismic vulnerability prediction. By considering only three attributes available on public databases (i.e., period of construction, number of floors, and shape of the roof) the time needed to provide seismic vulnerability scenarios at city scale is significantly reduced, while accuracy is reduced by <5%

Investigating social conflicts linked to water resources trhough agent-based modelling

International audienceOver the next decades, natural resources and water resources in particular are likely to be one of the major origins of social conflicts. To date however, no model enables the study of coupled dynamics of hydrology, water use and social conflicts. Building such a model requires identifying the key concepts, entities and processes that are present in much field cases and have to be included into the model. The research presented in this paper takes place in a more general project named MAELIA for Multi-agent for Environmental Norms Impact Assessment. The purpose of MAELIA is to provide a decision-support model helping decision makers and stakeholders to manage water resources. This model aims to be generic enough for it to be applied in various field cases at different scales. We describe the actors involved in water management or water use using an agent-based approach. Water monitoring institutions and water users are described as agents in interaction within a stylised representation of a watershed basin. We propose a conceptual model that describes not only the hydrology in the basin and the water consumption behaviour of users, but also the representation of both the users at the institutional level and the power relationships that determine the arbitration of norms about water use. We propose two possible uses of this model. The first is the analysis of the impacts of several norms for detecting potential conflicts. The second possible use explores the local formulation of norms given the balance of powers in already settled social conflicts. This generic platform modelling conflicts on natural resources may thereby provide new insights into the analysis of well-known natural resource related conflicts, such as the Gauvery dispute in India

Concepts of GPCR-controlled navigation in the immune system

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling is essential for the spatiotemporal control of leukocyte dynamics during immune responses. For efficient navigation through mammalian tissues, most leukocyte types express more than one GPCR on their surface and sense a wide range of chemokines and chemoattractants, leading to basic forms of leukocyte movement (chemokinesis, haptokinesis, chemotaxis, haptotaxis, and chemorepulsion). How leukocytes integrate multiple GPCR signals and make directional decisions in lymphoid and inflamed tissues is still subject of intense research. Many of our concepts on GPCR-controlled leukocyte navigation in the presence of multiple GPCR signals derive from in vitro chemotaxis studies and lower vertebrates. In this review, we refer to these concepts and critically contemplate their relevance for the directional movement of several leukocyte subsets (neutrophils, T cells, and dendritic cells) in the complexity of mouse tissues. We discuss how leukocyte navigation can be regulated at the level of only a single GPCR (surface expression, competitive antagonism, oligomerization, homologous desensitization, and receptor internalization) or multiple GPCRs (synergy, hierarchical and non-hierarchical competition, sequential signaling, heterologous desensitization, and agonist scavenging). In particular, we will highlight recent advances in understanding GPCR-controlled leukocyte navigation by intravital microscopy of immune cells in mice

Developing Right-Hand Finger Flexibility in Young Violinists: Teaching Colle, Martele, Spiccato, and Sautille through the Suzuki Literature

Much is written in violin method books about developing pitch, rhythm, and posture for young violinists. It is difficult to find examples of when to teach right-hand flexibility with bow techniques such as collé, martelé, spiccato, and sautillé. Although many violin teachers throughout the country use Suzuki literature to instruct their students, there are few written instructions concerning these advanced bow techniques in the literature. Instead, Shinichi Suzuki focused his studies on philosophy and the importance of a positive teaching environment, creating a beautiful tone by playing from the heart, ear training, and helping the youngest violin students reach their full potential. He left many of the specifics of bow technique to the individual teacher. Allowing individual teachers to determine when to teach bow technique has created a wide range of differences when practices such as collé, martelé, spiccato, and sautillé are taught, which can be frustrating and confusing for teachers. This research project will survey and interview violin and string teachers to determine how and when they teach these skills and then create a timeline using the music in the Suzuki literature to give teachers guidance for instructing students in developing these skills. The information will then be presented in a lecture-recital where the exercises and information will be demonstrated and explained, while showing how a professional violinist uses these skills. This will help all teachers who use the Suzuki literature determine the best course of action for their students as they help them reach their full potential

Nociceptive Sensory Neurons Drive Interleukin-23 Mediated Psoriasiform Skin Inflammation

The skin has a dual function as a barrier and a sensory interface between the body and the environment. To protect against invading pathogens, the skin harbors specialized immune cells, including dermal dendritic cells (DDCs) and interleukin (IL)-17 producing γδ T cells (γδT17), whose aberrant activation by IL-23 can provoke psoriasis-like inflammation1–4. The skin is also innervated by a meshwork of peripheral nerves consisting of relatively sparse autonomic and abundant sensory fibers. Interactions between the autonomic nervous system and immune cells in lymphoid organs are known to contribute to systemic immunity, but how peripheral nerves regulate cutaneous immune responses remains unclear5,6. Here, we have exposed the skin of mice to imiquimod (IMQ), which induces IL-23 dependent psoriasis-like inflammation7,8. We show that a subset of sensory neurons expressing the ion channels TRPV1 and NaV1.8 is essential to drive this inflammatory response. Imaging of intact skin revealed that a large fraction of DDCs, the principal source of IL-23, is in close contact with these nociceptors. Upon selective pharmacological or genetic ablation of nociceptors9–11, DDCs failed to produce IL-23 in IMQ exposed skin. Consequently, the local production of IL-23 dependent inflammatory cytokines by dermal γδT17 cells and the subsequent recruitment of inflammatory cells to the skin were dramatically reduced. Intradermal injection of IL-23 bypassed the requirement for nociceptor communication with DDCs and restored the inflammatory response12. These findings indicate that TRPV1+NaV1.8+ nociceptors, by interacting with DDCs, regulate the IL-23/IL-17 pathway and control cutaneous immune responses