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This article analyses the debate over an ‘antisemitic Marx’ in the French context. Since the republication of On the Jewish Question in the aftermath of the Six-Day War, the French intellectual field has seen continuous conflict between supporters of this ‘thesis’ (Mishari, Kaplan, Birnbaum) and their detractors, who are sometimes militant (J. Aron, Bensaïd) and sometimes academic (De Fontenay, Traverso), including those involved in the Grande édition Marx et Engels (Clochec). First, the article examines at length the French debate which spans over 50 years. Second, building on the insights garnered from this debate, it tackles the limits of materialist criticism of religious views. In light of the contemporary crisis of secularism in France, this problem forces Marxist and critical thinkers (Tosel, Meziane) to reassess the issue of religious minorities and their ‘assimilation’ to the ‘national majority’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the rates of healing, major amputation and mortality after 12 months in patients with a new diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their care in a French diabetic foot service (DFS). Method: A prospective single-centre study including patients from March 2009 to December 2010. The length of time to healing, minor amputation, major amputation and mortality rate after inclusion were analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Some 347 patients were included (3% lost to follow-up), with a median follow-up (IQR) of 19 (12–24) months. The mean (SD) age was 65±12 years, 68% were male, and the median duration of the ulcer was 49 (19–120) days. Complications of the DFU were ischaemia (70%), infection (55%) and osteomyelitis (47%). Of the patients, 50% were inpatients in the DFS at inclusion (median duration of hospitalisation 26 (15–41) days). The rate of healing at one year was 67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 61–72); of major amputation 10% (95% CI: 7–17); of minor amputation 19% (95% CI: 14–25), and the death rate was 9% (95% CI: 7–13). Using an adjusted hazard ratio, the predictive factors of healing were perfusion and the area of the wound. The risk factors for a major amputation were active smoking and osteomyelitis. The risk factors for mortality were perfusion and age. Conclusion: This study confirms the need to treat DFUs rapidly, in a multidisciplinary DFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests play an important role in many different cycles (carbon sink, biodiversity, timber) and, consequently, in regulating the global climate system. Moreover, forests are the source of a wide range of goods and services to human societies and, as a result, the decisions made by forest owners affect forest ecosystems. Since forests are currently threatened by climate change, there is a need to provide support to forest owners for managing forests under risk, taking conflicting objectives into account. This study focuses on developing an explicit multiple-objective and sequential forest management model under risk. The multi-objective sequential optimization approach used here is based on the concept of Pareto optimality, and the computation of the Pareto frontier (the set of non-dominated solutions), instead of a single solution. We consider a Markov Decision Process (MDP) model to evaluate forest management policies under different criteria, and to generate the Pareto frontier. The framework is applied to the management of a private forest located in southwestern France. We identify optimal forest management practices for each objective separately and trade-off policies considering all objectives jointly. We analyze the forest management policies located on the Pareto frontier, yielding different trade-offs among the conflicting objectives. Our framework makes it possible to envision all possible trade-offs, and to understand how a trade-off policy takes each objective into account. It is hoped that this information will help in analyzing potential policy implications for forest management, taking the provision of multiple forest ecosystem services into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the rates of healing, major amputation and mortality after 12 months in patients with a new diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their care in a French diabetic foot service (DFS). Method: A prospective single-centre study including patients from March 2009 to December 2010. The length of time to healing, minor amputation, major amputation and mortality rate after inclusion were analysed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Some 347 patients were included (3% lost to follow-up), with a median follow-up (IQR) of 19 (12–24) months. The mean (SD) age was 65±12 years, 68% were male, and the median duration of the ulcer was 49 (19–120) days. Complications of the DFU were ischaemia (70%), infection (55%) and osteomyelitis (47%). Of the patients, 50% were inpatients in the DFS at inclusion (median duration of hospitalisation 26 (15–41) days). The rate of healing at one year was 67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 61–72); of major amputation 10% (95% CI: 7–17); of minor amputation 19% (95% CI: 14–25), and the death rate was 9% (95% CI: 7–13). Using an adjusted hazard ratio, the predictive factors of healing were perfusion and the area of the wound. The risk factors for a major amputation were active smoking and osteomyelitis. The risk factors for mortality were perfusion and age. Conclusion: This study confirms the need to treat DFUs rapidly, in a multidisciplinary DFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background. Reasons for referring school-age children to occupational therapy mainly relate to handwriting problems. However, there are no validated tools or reference values for assessing handwriting in francophone children in Canada. Purpose. This study aimed to adapt and validate the writing tasks described in an English Canadian handwriting assessment protocol and to develop reference values for handwriting speed for francophone children. Method. Three writing tasks from the Handwriting Assessment Protocol–2nd Edition (near-point and far-point copying and dictation) were adapted for Québec French children and administered to 141 Grade 1 (n = 73) and Grade 2 (n = 68) students. Findings. Reference values for handwriting speed were obtained for near point and far point copying tasks. Implications. This adapted protocol and these reference values for speed will improve occupational therapy handwriting assessments for the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The main aim of this article was to develop different visual criteria allowing for an objective definition of hypercementosis (cementum hyperplasia). This preliminary study must notably show how to better understand at a later stage the significance of its frequency as well as its aetiologies, especially in past populations. Materials and methods we set up a study protocol (macroscopic and photographic observations) on material consisting of 2 medieval samples from France (1) Sains-en-Gohelle sample-SG (AD 7th–17th century; 407 individuals; 5756 teeth observed, 319 with hypercementosis) which was used to develop the different criteria for defining hypercementosis (2) Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac sample-JDL (AD 7th-8th century; 55 individuals; 709 teeth observed, 24 with hypercementosis) which was used to test the reproducibility of the criteria. Results From our observations we formulated different inclusion criteria with which to define hypercementosis objectively ( k intraobserver ≥ 0.96; k interobserver ≥ 0.63). We were able to distinguish moderate (1m) and marked (1M) forms of diffuse hypercementosis, focal hypercementosis in the form of small knots (2m) or large nodules (2M), or excrescences in the form of ridges (3m) or spurs (3M). Different exclusion criteria were also determined. Conclusion The definition that we propose in this study are based on various statistically validated inclusion and exclusion criteria. It is hoped that this will improve the significance of hypercementosis. More generally, this would also give a better understanding of the dynamics of cementum apposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare two different elicitation methods for measuring risk attitudes on a sample of French farmers. We consider the lottery tasks initially proposed by Holt and Laury (Econ Rev 92:1644-1655, ) and by Eckel and Grossman (Evol Hum Behav 23:281-295, ; J Econ Behav Org 68:1-7, ). The main empirical result from this within-subject study is that risk preference measures are affected by the type of mechanism used. We first show that this risk preference instability can be related to non-expected utility preferences of farmers. Using a risk-taking psychometric questionnaire, we then demonstrate that risk preferences of farmers are context-dependent. This may be another explanation of the observed risk preference instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a multiple forest use model to determine the optimal harvest date for a forest stand producing both timber and carbon benefits under a risk of fire. An empirical application is provided for a forest owner producing maritime pine in Southwest of France. Our results indicate that a higher risk of fire will decrease the optimal rotation period. On the contrary, higher carbon prices increase the optimal harvesting age. To investigate the contradictory effects of fire risk and carbon price on forest rotation, we identify the set of carbon prices and fire risks that lead to a given rotation age. We also show that forest owner's willingness to pay for a risk reduction can be substantial (37.33euros by ha and by year to reduce the annual fire risk from 1.26% to 0.07%). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The concentration of Pb and its stable isotope composition were measured in 216 composite samples of 50 blue mussels (Mytilus edulis (M. edulis)) collected quarterly between 1985 and 2005 at three sites along the French Atlantic coast, one in the La Fresnaye Bay and the others in the Loire and Seine River estuaries. Depending on the sites and time periods, Pb concentrations were 5-66 times higher than the natural background value for the North Atlantic. Even for the samples with the lowest Pb concentrations, the isotopic signature of Pb is very different than that of the regional natural Pb, suggesting that most of the bioaccumulated Pb is anthropogenic in origin. Stable Pb isotope ratios measured in the mussels differ markedly from that of Pb emitted in Western Europe as a result of leaded gasoline combustion, which was still a dominant source of contaminant Pb to the atmosphere during most of our study period. The isotope composition of Pb in the mussels was instead more typical of that of the Pb released to the environment by wastewater treatment plants, municipal waste incinerators, and industries such as metal refineries and smelters. Continental runoff, rather than atmospheric deposition, is therefore identified as the leading transport pathway of Pb along the French Atlantic coast. From the strong seasonal variations in 206Pb/208Pb ratios in the mussels from the Seine Estuary site we also conclude that the resuspension of contaminated sediments, triggered by high river runoff events, is a chief factor affecting the bioaccumulation of Pb in M. edulis. The value of this organism as a biomonitor of coastal contamination is thus further demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural practices are heterogeneous among farmers in the face of climate hazards. Structural and material resources as well as risk preferences explain some of this heterogeneity, but little is known about how psychological factors associated with the decision-making process may explain differences in practices among farmers. The aim of this study was to understand whether decision-making process factors help explain the heterogeneity of a specific practice—the date of first irrigation—among maize farmers, along with material and structural factors. We conducted semi-directed interviews with 35 farmers who irrigated maize in southwestern France. We analyzed discriminating factors of the decision-making process, such as reactivity (i.e., capacity to change plans), deliberation (i.e., level of internal information used to make decisions) and assistance (i.e., level of external information used to make decisions). We used two complementary statistical methods (linear regression and regression trees) to analyze the database. Our study confirms the influence of material and structural factors, and also reveals the strong influence of decision-making process factors. A high level of reactivity is associated with adaptive behavior. Moreover, using decision-support tools and technologies helps farmers to manage the use of water resources. These elements could be used by advisors and public policy-makers in the agriculture sector to improve adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revue d'Etudes en Agriculture et Environnement is the property of Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a short, self-administered questionnaire to assess diet quality in clinical settings, using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) as reference. Methods: A total of 1040 men and women (aged 44.6 ± 14.4 y) completed a validated web-based food frequency questionnaire (webFFQ) and had their height and weight measured (development sample). Participants were categorized arbitrarily according to diet quality (high: AHEI score ≥ 65/110, low: AHEI score < 65/110) based on dietary intake data from the webFFQ. The Brief Diet Quality Assessment Tool was developed using a classification and regression tree (CART) approach and individual answers to the webFFQ among participants considered to have a plausible energy intake (ratio of reported energy intake to basal metabolic rate ≥ 1.2 and < 2.4; n = 1040). A second sample of 3344 older adults (aged 66.5 ± 6.4 y) was used to test the external validity of the Brief Diet Quality Assessment Tool (external validation sample). Results: The decision tree included sequences of 3 to 6 binary questions, yielding 21 different pathways classifying diet quality as being high or low. In the development sample, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the predictive model was 0.92, with sensitivity, specificity and agreement values of 89.5, 83.9 and 87.2%. Compared with individuals having a low-quality diet according to the Brief Diet Quality Assessment Tool (mean AHEI 56.7 ± 11.4), individuals classified as having a high-quality diet (mean AHEI 71.3 ± 11.0) were significantly older, and had lower BMI, percent body fat and waist circumference, and had lower blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol/HDL ratio and fasting insulin as well as higher HDL-cholesterol concentrations (all P < 0.05). Similar results were observed in the external validation sample, although overall performance of the Brief Diet Quality Assessment Tool was slightly lower than in the development sample, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.79 and sensitivity, specificity and agreement values of 73.0, 69.0 and 71.3%, respectively. Conclusion: The CART approach yielded a simple and rapid Brief Diet Quality Assessment Tool that identifies individuals at risk of having a low-quality diet. Further studies are needed to test the performance of this tool in primary care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. Introduction: The Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP) is an instrument designed to evaluate ambulatory capacity with and without a prosthesis in persons with lower-limb amputation. The purpose of the study is to cross-culturally adapt and translate the AMP into French (AMP-F), and to determine the reliability and construct validity of AMP-F. Materials and Methods: The AMP was translated and cross-culturally adapted to French following standardized procedures. Thereafter, the AMP-F was subjected to psychometric evaluation with 30 participants with lower-limb amputation. Each participant completed the AMP-F three times: once with each of the two raters on the day of the first evaluation (interrater reliability) and a third time at the second evaluation by one of the two raters, held within 9 days of the first (intrarater reliability). Other tests completed at the second evaluation include the Locomotor Capabilities Index questionnaire and the 6-minute walk test, administered to measure construct validity. Results: The AMP-F was developed as a result of the translation process. It showed excellent intrarater (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.97; MDC90, 7.0) and interrater (ICC = 0.95; MDC90, 6.3) reliability. Correlations were high between the AMP-F and the 6-minute walk test (r = 0.71) as well as the Locomotor Capabilities Index in persons with amputation (r = 0.88). Conclusions: The AMP-F is a reliable and valid instrument for the evaluation of ambulatory capacity in individuals with lower-limb amputation. The AMP-F will allow clinicians residing in a francophone country to have access to a valid and reliable instrument for the evaluation of ambulatory capacity with and without prosthesis in individuals with lower-limb amputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plum bark necrosis stem pitting-associated virus (PBNSPaV), the causal agent of plum bark necrosis stem pitting disease, belongs to the genus Ampelovirus in the family Closteroviridae. The complete genome sequence of PBNSPaV isolates from four Prunus sources was determined by pyrosequencing. All isolates showed the same genomic organization as the PBNSPaV reference isolate. The least divergent isolate, found in a peach tree from China, showed an overall 91.8% of nucleotide identity with the type isolate. Two closely related isolates, defining a second cluster of diversity, were found in two Japanese plum lines from France and showed only 82.8% identity with the type isolate. On the other hand, they were highly homologous with two recently described PBNSPaV divergent isolates from China. The fourth and most divergent isolate, from a Chinese peach, showed only 71.2% identity to other PBNSPaV isolates and was not detected by currently available PBNSPaV reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction detection assays. Complete sequencing of the divergent isolates allowed the development of a more broadspectrum detection test targeting a conserved region in the P61 gene. Taken together, these results indicate a much broader diversity of PBNSPaV than previously thought and provide for a more robust detection of this still poorly characterized pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zooarcheological and geochemical evidence suggests Neanderthals were top predators, but their adherence to a strictly carnivorous diet has been questioned. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of calcium-stable isotopes to evaluate trophic and ecological relationships. Here, we measure the δ44/42Ca values in bone samples from Mousterian contexts at Grotte du Bison (Marine Isotope Stage 3, Yonne, France) and Regourdou (Marine Isotope Stage 5, Dordogne, France) in two new Neanderthal individuals, associated fauna, and living local plants. We use a Bayesian mixing model to estimate the dietary composition of these Neanderthal individuals, plus a third one already analyzed. The results reveal three distinct diets: a diet including accidental or voluntary consumption of bone-based food, an intermediate diet, and a diet without consumption of bone-based food. This finding is the first demonstration of diverse subsistence strategies among Neanderthals and as such, reconciles archaeological and geochemical dietary evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The early diagenesis of the major carrier phases (Fe and Mn minerals), trace elements (As, Co, Cr, Hg, MeHg, Ni) and nutrients (ΣNO3, , ΣPO4) and their exchange at the sediment water/interface were studied in the Berre Lagoon, a Mediterranean lagoon in France, at one site under two contrasting oxygenation conditions (strictly anoxic and slightly oxic) and at an adjacent site with perennially well-oxygenated water. From the concentration profiles of the primary biogeochemical constituents and trace elements of the pore and bottom waters, as well as the total and reactive particulate phases, it was possible to locate and identify the diagenetic reactions controlling the mobility of trace elements in the sediments and quantify their rates by coupling one-dimensional steady-state transport-reaction modelling and thermodynamic speciation calculations. Under oxic conditions and in the absence of benthic organisms, the main redox reactions were well identified vertically in the surface sediments and followed the theoretical sequence of oxidant consumption: . However, under anoxic conditions, only MnO2, Fe(OH)3 and reduction were present, and they all occurred at the interface. The main biogeochemical controls on the mobility of As, Cr, Hg, MeHg and Ni in the surface sediments were identified as the adsorption/desorption on and/or coprecipitation/codissolution with Fe oxy-hydroxides. In contrast, Co mobility was primarily controlled by its reactivity towards Mn oxy-hydroxides. In sulphidic sediments, As, Hg and MeHg were sequestered along with Fe sulphides, whereas Co and Ni precipitated directly as metallic sulphides and Cr mobility was enhanced by complexation with dissolved organic ligands. The fluxes of trace elements at the sediment–water interface are essentially dependent on the localisation of their remobilisation and immobilisation reactions under the interface, which in turn is governed by the benthic water oxygenation conditions and kinetic competition among those reaction and diffusion processes. Under oxic conditions, the precipitation of Fe or Mn oxy-hydroxides in the surface sediments constitutes the most efficient mechanism to sequester most of the trace elements studied, thus preventing their diffusion to the water column. Under anoxic conditions the export of trace elements to the water column is dependent on the kinetic competition during the reductive dissolution of Fe and/or Mn oxy-hydroxides, diffusion and immobilisation with sulphides. It is also shown that benthic organisms in the perennially oxygenated site have a clear impact on this general pattern. Based on the extensive dataset and geochemical modelling, it is predicted that the planned re-oxygenation of the entire lagoon basin, if complete, will most likely limit or reduce the export of the trace elements from the sediments to the water column and therefore, limit the impact of the contaminated sediment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Increased RANKL expression is observed in the bone tissue of fibrous dysplasia of bone/McCune-Albright syndrome (FD/MAS). In one animal model of FD/MAS, the inhibition of RANKL reduced tumor volume. A beneficial effect of denosumab on pain in patients refractory to bisphosphonates has been reported, but without systematic quantification of pain improvement. This work describes the clinical experience of our group on the efficacy on pain of denosumab treatment, along with safety, in FD/MAS patients refractory to bisphosphonates. We have conducted a retrospective multicenter study in 6 academic rheumatology centers in France. We have collected patients and FD/MAS characteristics, duration of prior exposure to bisphosphonates, denosumab treatment modalities (dosage - administration regimen - number of courses); evolution of pain evaluated by Visual Analogic Scale (VAS). 13 patients were included (10 women and 3 men) 45 years on average, 5 MAS, 4 monostotic and 4 polyostotic forms. The average duration post-diagnosis of FD/MAS was 25 years and the mean duration of prior exposure to bisphosphonates was 4.7 years. Pain could be analyzed in 7 patients, showing a significant improvement from a mean VAS of 7.8 to 2.9 (−4.9 points, p = 0.003). In one patient with fronto-orbital FD/MAS, a 30 % decrease in lesional volume, assessed by MRI, was observed within 6 months of treatment, that was sustained over the following 12 months. Treatment regimens were heterogeneous. No hypercalcemia was observed after treatment cessation and the clinical tolerance was good. This study suggests that denosumab reduces pain in patients with DF/MAS refractory to bisphosphonates, and quantifies this improvement for the first time in a multicenter study. In our cohort, no patients who discontinued denosumab developed hypercalcemia and clinical tolerance was overall good. This study also provides encouraging data regarding lesion volume control. Further controlled studies are required to determine the place and modalities of the denosumab treatment of FD/MAS. Denosumab significantly decreased pain in FD/MAS refractory to bisphosphonate. This study paves the way for a randomized clinical trial to validate and standardize the prescription of denosumab in FD/MAS. • Denosumab significantly reduces pain in bisphosphonate resistant FD/MAS. • Denosumab is well tolerated in adults with FD/MAS. • A persistent tumoral volume decrease was observed in one patient with craniofacial FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The French Paris Basin is well known as a complex cultural area of the Early/Middle Neolithic, particularly with respect to funerary practices. Gurgy “Les Noisats”, which is an important necropolis in the southern Paris basin, is a burial site (N = 128) associated with the first Neolithic groups established in that area. The understanding of the necropolis composition and organization is complicated given the substantial homogeneity of the site's spatial organization in relation to a great diversity of characterized funerary traits. The unprecedented quantity of genetic (mitochondrial DNA), osteological (sex, age), and archaeological (funerary) data obtained for the Gurgy necropolis facilitates the search for potential correlations between cultural and biological (i.e. genetic and osteological) diversity at the site level. Despite the application of the powerful geographic information system, no correlation could be detected (i) between individual maternal lineages and specific bioarchaeological profiles (ii) or between maternal lineages and spatially identified bio-archaeological clusters. Therefore, analyses were performed to test for a correlation between the maternal ancestries of the individuals (i.e., hunter-gatherer/Central European farmer and Southern European farmer ancestries) and specific funerary traits. Again, the homogeneity of the funerary treatment of all of the individuals regardless of their potential maternal ancestries is striking. Taken together, our results regarding the way in which the Gurgy necropolis functioned provide strong evidence for the acculturation of all maternal ancestries groups, at least in terms of funerary practice. In addition, the demonstration of a recurrent association of adult men and immature individuals suggests a patrilocal system, which could be consistent with the detected acculturation of women who present a hunter-gatherer ancestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]