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Entre septiembre y octubre de 2011, un equipo libano-español realizó investigaciones arqueológicas en el yacimiento neolítico de Tell Labwe, situado a 30 km al norte de Baalbek, en la Bekaa libanesa. El yacimiento fue sondeado por D. Kirkbride en 1966, documentando ocupaciones del Neolítico Precerámico B Reciente y de los inicios del Neolítico Cerámico. Se trata del yacimiento más antiguo del Líbano con ocupaciones de agricultores y ganaderos al aire libre. Hemos trabajado sobre un amplio corte estratigráfico de 47 m de largo y 4 metros de profundidad, creado durante la construcción de la carretera Baalbek-Homs, durante el siglo xx. Hemos documentado cuatro niveles arqueológicos con arquitecturas y abundante material de todo tipo, fechado por C14 entre 8100 ± 40 BP (base) y 7640 ± 40 BP (nivel superior). International audience

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AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and vasculopathy. CXCL4 represents an early serum biomarker of severe SSc and likely contributes to inflammation via chemokine signaling pathways, but the exact role of CXCL4 in SSc pathogenesis is unclear. Here, we elucidate an unanticipated mechanism for CXCL4-mediated immune amplification in SSc, in which CXCL4 organizes “self” and microbial DNA into liquid crystalline immune complexes that amplify TLR9-mediated plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC)-hyperactivation and interferon-α production. Surprisingly, this activity does not require CXCR3, the CXCL4 receptor. Importantly, we find that CXCL4-DNA complexes are present in vivo and correlate with type I interferon (IFN-I) in SSc blood, and that CXCL4-positive skin pDCs coexpress IFN-I-related genes. Thus, we establish a direct link between CXCL4 overexpression and the IFN-I-gene signature in SSc and outline a paradigm in which chemokines can drastically modulate innate immune receptors without being direct agonists.

This paper presents the evolution with structural parameters of the linearity of the transconductance of multichannel HEMTs measured under low and microwave frequencies. Compared to theoretical calculations, the measured transconductance is in good agreement excepted at high doping levels. These discrepancies are attributed to parasitic effects. The discussion of the different possibilities brings us to conclude that the gate leakage current is most probably involved in the observed phenomena.

The circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses was investigated in the Southwest Indian ocean. In 2010, blood samples were collected from a total of 303 horses originating from Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles and tested for WNV-specific antibodies. An overall seroprevalence of 27.39% was detected in the Indian Ocean with the highest WNV antibody prevalence of 46.22% (95% CI: [37.4-55.2%]) in Madagascar. The age and origin of the horses were found to be associated with the WNV infection risk. This paper presents the first seroprevalence study investigating WN fever in horses in the Southwest Indian Ocean area and indicates a potential risk of infection for humans and animals. In order to gain a better understanding of WN transmission cycles, WNV surveillance needs to be implemented in each of the countries.

Edvard Munch is one the most transcendental artists of all times. His work is innovative in terms of reflecting the grief, sadness, loneliness and the impact of death in human beings as no one did it before. Behind his work it is possible to find many clues given by Munch himself of the reason of his creativity: a childhood surrounded by death and sorrow, and the development of an affective disorder that led him to alcoholism and many hospitalizations due to psychotic episodes. In this review, we analyze Munch's life and his disease that undoubtedly contributed to his great artistic legacy.

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