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L’idee que des objets de nature autre que sexuelle ou affective (argent, statut social, etc.) puissent etre echanges au sein de relations intimes communement comprises comme non marchandes, beneficie aujourd’hui d’une attention accrue de la part des sciences sociales. Toutefois, les etudes s’attardant aux facons dont ces echanges prennent forme dans les representations contemporaines de cultures occidentales sont rares. Les produits culturels, comme les series televisees, transmettent ce que Simon et Gagnon appellent des scenarii culturels orientant la conduite intime (1986 ; Wiederman, op. cit.). Ces scenarii riches en comportements, attitudes et emotions appropries en contexte amoureux et sexuel, font ainsi office de carte routiere dans la constitution des interactions et des relations intimes. Cet article en explore les contenus en matiere d’echanges intimes en prenant appui sur l’analyse audiovisuelle de la serie televisee quebecoise La Galere. Quatre circuits typiques d’echange intime sont formules afin de rendre compte de diverses recurrences dans les regles, pratiques et symboles qui president a ce type d’echanges.

Abstract To conduct a successful geomechanical characterization of rock masses, an appropriate interpretation of lithological heterogeneity should be attained by considering both the geological and geomechanical data. In order to clarify the reliability and applicability of geological surveys for rock mechanics purposes, a geomechanical characterization study is conducted on the heterogeneous rock mass of Niobec Mine (Quebec, Canada), by considering the characteristics of its various identified lithological units. The results of previous field and laboratory test campaigns were used to quantify the variability associated to intact rock geomechanical parameters for the different present lithological units. The interpretation of geomechanical similarities between the lithological units resulted in determination of three main rock units (carbonatite, syenite, and carbonatite-syenite units). Geomechanical parameters of these rock units and their associated variabilities are utilized for stochastic estimation of geomechanical parameters of the heterogeneous rock mass using the Monte Carlo Simulation method. A comparison is also made between the results of probabilistic and deterministic analyses to highlight the presence of intrinsic variability associated with the heterogeneous rock mass properties. The results indicated that, for the case of Niobec Mine, the carbonatite-syenite rock unit could be considered as a valid representative of the entire rock mass geology since it offers an appropriate geomechanical approximation of all the present lithological units at the mine site, in terms of both the magnitude and dispersion of the strength and deformability parameters. Article Highlights Evaluating the reliability and applicability of geological survey outcomes for rock mechanics purposes. A geomechanical characterization study is conducted on the heterogeneous rock mass by considering the various identified rock lithotypes. The geomechanical parameters of intact units and their associated variabilities are used to stochastically estimate the geomechanical parameters of the heterogeneous rock mass by employing the Monte Carlo Simulation. A comparison is also made between the results of probabilistic and deterministic geomechanical analyses. The results indicate that, in the case of Niobec Mine, the combined syenite-carbonatite rock unit could be considered as a valid representative of the entire rock mass.

La fascination des elites culturelles et scientifiques francaises de la seconde moitie du xixe siecle envers la prostitution a provoque une proliferation d’œuvres et de documents – devenus archives au fil des annees – que Mireille Dottin-Orsini et Daniel Grojnowski proposent d’etudier. En restituant ce que les auteurs appellent l’imaginaire de la prostitution a cette epoque, Mireille Dottin-Orsini et Daniel Grojnowski etalent au fil des pages une multiplicite de sources dont les perspectives ...

We sought to determine if different beta-adrenergic receptor (betaAR) subtypes, and their associated signalling machinery, are functionally localized to nuclear membranes.Employing enriched nuclear preparations, we assayed the specific presence of betaAR by measuring 125I-cyanopindolol (CYP) binding, Western blotting, confocal microscopy and functional assays.Western blots of rat heart nuclear fractions and confocal immunofluorescent analysis of adult rat and mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes displayed the presence of beta 1AR and beta 3AR but, surprisingly, not the beta 2AR on nuclear membranes. Nuclear localization of downstream signalling partners Gs, Gi and adenylyl cyclases II and V/VI was also demonstrated. The functional relevance of nuclear betaAR was shown by receptor-mediated stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity by isoproterenol but not the beta 3AR-selective agonist CL 316243 in enriched nuclear preparations. We also examined the effect of subtype-selective ligands on the initiation of RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. Both isoproterenol and another beta 3AR-selective agonist, BRL 37344, increased RNA synthesis which was inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX). Neither a beta 1AR-selective agonist, xamoterol, nor a beta 2AR-selective agonist, procaterol, was able to stimulate transcription. However, both CGP 20712A and ICI 118,551 blocked isoproterenol-mediated effects to varying extents. PTX treatment also revealed that nuclear betaAR may be coupled to other signalling pathways in addition to Gi, as stimulation under these conditions reduced initiation of transcription below basal levels.These results highlight differential subcellular localization for betaAR subtypes and indicate that betaAR may have specific roles in regulating nuclear function in cardiomyocytes.

Intermolecular interactions between members of both similar and divergent G protein-coupled receptor subfamilies have been shown in various experimental systems. Here, we demonstrate heterodimerization of predominant β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) subtypes expressed in the heart, β 1 AR, and β 2 AR, and its physiological relevance. In intact adult-mouse cardiac myocytes lacking native β 1 AR and β 2 AR, coexpression of both βAR subtypes led to receptor heterodimerization, as evidenced by their coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization at optical resolution, and markedly increased binding affinity for subtype-selective ligands. As a result, the dose-response curve of myocyte contraction to βAR agonist stimulation with isoproterenol (ISO) was shifted leftward by ≈1.5 orders of magnitude, and the response of cellular cAMP formation to ISO was enhanced concomitantly, indicating that intermolecular interactions of βAR subtypes resulted in sensitization of these receptors in response to agonist stimulation. In contrast, the presence of β 1 AR greatly suppressed ligand-independent spontaneous activity of coexisting β 2 ARs. Thus, heterodimerization of β 1 AR and β 2 AR in intact cardiac myocytes creates a novel population of βARs with distinct functional and pharmacological properties, resulting in enhanced signaling efficiency in response to agonist stimulation while silencing ligand-independent receptor activation, thereby optimizing β-adrenergic modulation of cardiac contractility.

In the last few years, significant experimental evidence has accumulated showing that many G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are structurally and perhaps functionally homodimers. Recently, a number of studies have demonstrated that many GPCRs, notably GABAB, somatostatin, and δ and κ opioid receptors form heterodimers, as well. Based on these observations, we undertook a pharmacological and functional analysis of HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with the β1AR or β2AR or with both subtypes together. High-affinity binding for subtype-specific ligands (betaxolol and xamoterol for the β1AR, and ICI 118,551 and procaterol for the β2AR) was detected in cells expressing the cognate receptors alone with values similar to those reported in the literature. However, a significant portion of these high-affinity interactions were lost when both receptors were expressed together while nonspecific ligands (propranolol and isoproterenol) retained their normal affinities. When competition assays were performed with each subtype-specific ligand in the presence of a constant concentration of the other subtype-specific ligand, the high-affinity binding site was rescued, suggesting that the two receptor subtypes were interacting in a fashion consistent with positive cooperativity. Our data suggest that the β1AR and β2AR can form heterodimers and that these receptors have altered pharmacological properties from the receptor homodimers.Key words: G protein coupled receptor, signalling, G protein, dimerization, heterodimer, adrenergic.

The beta-globin gene of 306 newly diagnosed beta-thalassemia (thal) minor patients were sequenced. Analysis revealed that only one amongst all the identified mutations had not been previously reported. This new mutation, causing a beta(+)-thal minor phenotype, was found in a patient of Arabic origin. The insertion frameshift mutation (+A) between codons 45 and 46 [codons 45/46 (+A)] results in a premature termination signal at codon 52. No truncated beta-globin or abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) was identified.

Les personnages de Daniel Danis, dramaturge quebecois contemporain, sont des etres ecorches par la vie. Des proies traquees par la solitude, l'insecurite, la difficulte de dire. Mon memoire s'emploiera a deployer un questionnement sur la condition des personnages dans la piece intitulee Cendres de cailloux (1992-2000) a partir d'une triple problematique. D'une part, on les decouvre incapables de se reconnaitre les uns les autres; d'autre part, ils semblent maitrises par un discours ambiant; en outre, ils occupent differentes positions de victime. Pour elaborer cette analyse, je m'inspirerai de trois theories. La premiere est celle de Stanley Caveli sur la reconnaissance; la deuxieme est celle de Ludwig Wittgenstein sur le jeu de langage; la troisieme est celle de Margaret Atwood, sur la victimisation. La reconnaissance est a mon sens une mise a nu mutuelle, un engagement de sympathie envers autrui, l'etablissement d'un dialogue. Quant au jeu de langage, il exprime le caractere non ludique, mais dissimilateur du discours, celui qui camoufle les verites, qui transforme les personnages en conduits pour une parole ethique. Pour ce qui est de la victimisation, je l'entrevois comme un element qui empeche les personnages de prendre leur destin en main, qui les empeche de se tourner vers l'avenir. Mais l'originalite de certains personnages me permettra de faire progresser la perspective en explorant l'espace d'une certaine liberte.

Beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR) are co-expressed in numerous tissues where they play a central role in the responses of various organs to sympathetic stimulation. Although the two receptor subtypes share some signaling pathways, each has been shown to have specific signaling and regulatory properties. Given the recent recognition that many G protein-coupled receptors can form homo- and heterodimers, the present study was undertaken to determine whether the beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR can form dimers in cells and, if so, to investigate the potential functional consequences of such heterodimerization. Using co-immunoprecipitation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, we show that beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR can form heterodimers in HEK 293 cells co-expressing the two receptors. Functionally, beta-adrenergic stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity was found to be identical in cells expressing beta(1)AR, beta(2)AR, or both receptors at similar levels, indicating that heterodimerization did not affect this signaling pathway. When considering ERK1/2 MAPK activity, a significant agonist-promoted activation was detected in beta(2)AR- but not beta(1)AR-expressing cells. Similarly to what was observed in cells expressing the beta(1)AR alone, no beta-adrenergic stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation was observed in cells co-expressing the two receptors. A similar inhibition of agonist-promoted internalization of the beta(2)AR was observed upon co-expression of the beta(1)AR, which by itself internalized to a lesser extent. Taken together, our data suggest that heterodimerization between beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR inhibits the agonist-promoted internalization of the beta(2)AR and its ability to activate the ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathway.

Introduction: Thalassemia minor is a prevalent genetic disorder around the world. A large number of mutations have been implicated in the development of a β-thalassemia minor phenotype. The diagnosis of β-thalassemia minor is made based on phenotypic parameters: microcytosis and elevated HbA2, with or without elevated HbF. We previously reported (ASH 2004, abstract #3761) that erythrocytic parameters of β-thalassemia minor are significantly different in patients with concomitant α-globin deletions, suggesting a reduction of ineffective erythropoiesis. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the effect of α and β-globin mutations on erythrocytic parameters in β-thalassemia minor patients. Methods: Diagnosis of β-thalassemia minor was established using Hb HPLC analysis (Variant II, Bio-Rad) with increased HbA2 +/− increased HbF without expression of an abnormal Hb in cases of microcytosis. The DNA of consecutive cases with newly diagnosed β-thalassemia minor was extracted from leucocytes. A m-PCR was used to detect the presence of 7 α-globin gene deletions (-α3.7, -α4.2, --SEA, --FIL, --MED, --THAI, -α20.5). PCR and automated sequencing using fluorescence-based capillary electrophoresis (ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyser) was performed to identify β-globin mutations causing the thalassemia phenotype. Data on age, sex and erythrocyte indices (Hb, MCV, RBC and RDW) was recorded. Student t-test was used to compare groups on the erythrocytic parameters. Results: At the time of analysis, 175 samples were fully studied. At least one mutation in the β-globin gene was identified in 172 cases (98.3%, 95%IC: 95–99.5%). Groups were defined for comparison of erythrocytic parameters: mutations causing β+ phenotype, mutations causing β0 phenotype. Sub-groups were also analysed based on the presence or absence of α-globin gene deletions. Results are presented in Table 1 and 2. Conclusion: The correlation between β-globin mutation and a β-thalasemia minor phenotype indicates that the phenotypic parameters correctly diagnoses β-thalasemia minor in the great majority of cases. Mutations classified as β0 affect more negatively the MCV, probably as a consequence of a reduced β-globin production and a greater level of ineffective erythropoiesis than in the β+ group. Higher MCV values in both β+ and β0 mutations when paired with an α-globin deletion compared with cases without an α-globin gene deletion could be explained by the concomitant reduction of functional α and β globin chain production, therefore causing less ineffective erythropoiesis. Differences in erytrocytic parameters between β° and β+ genotypes Erythrocytic parameter β+ β° P Hb 122.3 118.4 NS RBC 5.70 5.78 NS MCV 67.2 64.5

Il existe trois positions principales dans la littérature sociologique occidentale sur les transformations de l’intimité et des imaginaires amoureux contemporains : la thèse de l’individualisation comme émancipation de la tradition, la thèse de la détraditionnalisation comme déliaison et la thèse de la coexistence entre tradition et modernisation dans les discours et les pratiques intimes. À partir d’une étude de cas sur la télésérie québécoise La Galère (2007-2013), cet article propose une quatrième approche pour aborder ces transformations qui permet de dépasser les limites théoriques et empiriques des trois positions mentionnées. Cette approche développe le concept de « sémantique intégrée » pour décrire en détail les éléments des sémantiques en circulation dans les produits culturels occidentaux, ainsi que les modalités de la coexistence entre imaginaires traditionnels et imaginaires novateurs. De plus, cette approche offre des outils conceptuels pour formuler des hypothèses sur la relation entre les évolutions sémantiques et les transformations sociales contemporaines dans la sphère intime., Western sociological literature on contemporary intimacies and dominating love ideals can be divided in three main approaches: the first defines detraditionalization and individualization as emancipation, the second regards the dissolution of traditional references as a source of disengagement, the third highlights the coexistence between modernity and tradition in intimate practices and discourses. By drawing on the results of a case study on the Quebec TV show La Galère (2007-2013), this paper presents a fourth approach, one which is able to overcome the theoretical and empirical limits of the three above mentioned stances. Our approach champions the idea of an “integrated semantics” in order to describe semantic elements circulating in Western contemporary cultural productions, as well as the terms and the features of the coexistence between traditional and modern semantic themes. In addition, our approach provides the conceptual tools to support hypotheses regarding the link between observed semantic elements and contemporary social transformations impacting the intimate sphere., En la literatura sociológica occidental hay tres posiciones principales acerca de las transformaciones de la intimidad y de los imaginarios amorosos contemporáneos: la tesis de la individualización como emancipación de la tradición; la tesis de la destradicionalización como desconexión; y la tesis de la convivencia entre tradición y modernidad en los discursos y las prácticas íntimas. A partir de un estudio de caso acerca de la teleserie quebequense La Galère (2007-2013), este artículo propone un cuarto enfoque para abordar estas transformaciones que permite superar los límites teóricos y empíricos de las tres posiciones mencionadas. Este enfoque desarrolla el concepto de “semántica integrada” para describir en detalle los elementos de las semánticas en circulación en los productos culturales occidentales, así como las modalidades de la coexistencia entre imaginarios tradicionales e imaginarios innovadores. Este enfoque proporciona además herramientas conceptuales para formular algunas hipótesis acerca de la relación entre las evoluciones semánticas y las transformaciones sociales contemporáneas en la esfera íntima.

Que représentent les selfies des femmes sur les réseaux sociaux? Pour contribuer à l’exploration de ce phénomène, les auteures analysent la production de culture visuelle numérique de la part des femmes sur Instagram et Facebook. Se basant sur les résultats d’une étude qualitative menée sur un échantillon de 11 femmes habitant Montréal, les auteures documentent les façons dont les femmes naviguent les intersections entre normes culturelles sur les réseaux sociaux et en dehors de ceux-ci. Ces normes – autant rigides que contestées – régulent principalement la visibilité des corps et des identités de genre sur les plateformes numériques, surtout par rapport aux standards de beauté féminine., What do women’s selfies on social network sites represent? How do they represent it? In order to further explore this phenomenon, the authors analyze the production of digital visual culture by women on Facebook and Instagram. Based on the results of a qualitative study of a sample of 11 women living in Montreal, the authors discuss how women navigate the crossroads of cultural norms on social networks and in everyday life. These norms – rigid and yet contested – regulate the visibility of bodies and gender identities on digital platforms, especially with regards to feminine beauty standards., ¿Qué y cómo representan los selfies de las mujeres en las redes sociales? Para ayudar a explorar este fenómeno, las autoras del artículo analizan la producción de cultura visual digital por parte de las mujeres en Instagram y Facebook. Basado en los resultados de un estudio cualitativo realizado en una muestra de 11 mujeres que viven en Montreal, el artículo documenta las formas en que las mujeres navegan en las intersecciones de las normas culturales dentro y fuera de las redes sociales. Estos estándares – que son tan rígidos como controvertidos – regulan principalmente la visibilidad de los cuerpos y las identidades de género en las plataformas digitales, especialmente en relación con los estándares de belleza femenina.

Il saggio tratta delle trasformazione della ciultura dell'amore utilizzando in particolare lo strumento della re-entry per mostrare come l'amore contemporaneo evolva includendo nel suo codice comportamenti che un tempo sarebbero stati compresi cone devianti.