Residual cognitive function in comatose, vegetative and minimally conscious states

in Current Opinion In Neurology (2005), 18(6), 726-733

Purpose of review The clinical evaluation of cognition in non-communicative severely brain-damaged patients is inherently difficult. In addition to novel behavioural 'consciousness-scales', the role of ... [more ▼]

Purpose of review The clinical evaluation of cognition in non-communicative severely brain-damaged patients is inherently difficult. In addition to novel behavioural 'consciousness-scales', the role of para-clinical markers of consciousness, such as event related potentials and functional neuroimaging is reviewed. Recent findings New behavioural scales for vegetative and minimally conscious patients have been shown to reduce diagnostic error but regrettably remain underused in clinical routine. Electrophysiological studies have confirmed their role in estimating outcome and possibly cognition. Several recent functional neuroimaging studies have shown residual cortical function in undeniably vegetative patients. This cortical activation, however, seems limited to primary 'low-level' areas and does not imply 'higher-order' integration, considered necessary for conscious perception. Minimally conscious patients show large-scale high-order cerebral activation, apparently dependent upon the emotional relevance of the stimulation. Summary Careful clinical assessment of putative 'conscious behaviour' in vegetative and minimally conscious patients is the first requirement for their proper diagnosis and management. Complementary functional neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies will have a major impact on future clinical decision making and may guide selective therapeutic options. At present, more experimental evidence and the elucidation of methodological and ethical controversies are awaited prior to their routine clinical use. [less ▲]

Feeding ecology of five commercial shark species of the Celtic Sea through stable isotope and trace metal analysis

in Marine Environmental Research (2005), 60(5),

In order to trace their feeding habits, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (delta(15)N and delta(13)C), as well as trace metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Se and Hg) were analysed in the ... [more ▼]

In order to trace their feeding habits, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (delta(15)N and delta(13)C), as well as trace metal concentrations (Zn, Cd, Fe, Cu, Se and Hg) were analysed in the tissues of five commercial shark species from the Celtic Sea: the tope shark Galeorhinus galeus, the black-mouthed catshark Galeus melastomus, the starry smooth hound Mustelus asterias, the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias and the lesser-spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula. Our results were compared to previously described stomach contents and isotopic composition of potential preys. Isotopic ratio delta(15)N suggested that tope sharks fed at a higher trophic level (16.7 parts per thousand in the muscle) than the other species, reflecting its piscivorous diet. The lower values of spiny dogfish (11.6 parts per thousand in the muscle) might be explained, amongst other things, by either its migratory behaviour or its preference for preys from lower trophic levels. Cd and Hg were correlated with isotopic ratios delta(13)C and delta(15)N, and were shown to be diet-related whereas Zn, Fe and Cu seemed much more linked to species-specific metabolism. Although this multidisciplinary approach is revealed as a useful tool for the study of shark ecology, the lack of known trophic fractionation suggests that isotopic data be compared to traditional diet analyses. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Mise en place d’une stratégie de communication et de contrôle de la qualité écologique et sociale fondée sur l’étiquetage, les indications de qualité et la force de marque pour les vêtements, les articles de sport et les voitures

Report (2005)

This report describes which are the practices implemented by firms in the furnishment industry, in the auto industry and in the sport industry to signal and to control the external Ecological and Societal ... [more ▼]

This report describes which are the practices implemented by firms in the furnishment industry, in the auto industry and in the sport industry to signal and to control the external Ecological and Societal Quality of their products. [less ▲]

Conséquences de la chirurgie de transposition du muscle grand dorsal

in Abstract book de la 5ème Journée Belge d’Isocinétisme du GIBL (2005, December)

Intérêt de l’exercice excentrique dans le traitement de l’épicondylite chronique

in Abstract book de la 5ème Journée Belge d’Isocinétisme du GIBL (2005, December)

PMTIC - Plan Mobilisateur des Technolgies de l'Information et de la Communication

Report (2005)

Projet de recherche-action visant la formation des demandeurs d'emploi en Région Wallonne.

Vom mittelalterlichen Zorn zur modernen Verlegenheit Über "Fehltritt", Schamgefühl und "Manieren"

in Literaturkritik.de (2005)

Tuareg ethnodiagnostic skill of camel diseases in Agadez area (Niger)

in Journal of Camel Practice and Research (2005), 12(2), 85-93

For generations, nomad herders have been learning to manage herd health, particularly in dromedary because of its high value. They have thus acquired a very comprehensive knowledge of camel's illness ... [more ▼]

For generations, nomad herders have been learning to manage herd health, particularly in dromedary because of its high value. They have thus acquired a very comprehensive knowledge of camel's illness signs and have developed their own nomenclature. The present study aims at the description, scientific identification and recognition of this ethnoveterinary knowledge by means of an investigation carried out in Tuareg populations living in the neighbourhoods of Agadez (Niger). The dominant pathologies cited by herders for being the most alarming are gastro-intestinal helminthiasis (izni), camel calf diarrhoea (efay), tick infestations of camel calves (igardan), camel pox (erk eshik), sarcoptic mange (ajud) and bronchopneumonia (toza). Poorly identified nosologic entities are also reported. [less ▲]

Cocaine-conditioned activity persists for a longer time than cocaine-sensitized activity in mice: Implications for the theories using Pavlovian excitatory conditioning to explain the context-specificity of sensitization

in Behavioural Brain Research (2005), 165(1), 18-25

The present study was aimed at testing the prediction of the Pavlovian excitatory conditioning explanation of context-specific sensitization that the sensitized effect (SE) should persist as long as the ... [more ▼]

The present study was aimed at testing the prediction of the Pavlovian excitatory conditioning explanation of context-specific sensitization that the sensitized effect (SE) should persist as long as the post-sensitization conditioned activity (CR). C57BL/6J mice were tested for the expression of cocaine-induced conditioned and sensitized locomotion on several intervals after the establishment of a sensitization in an unchanging context. A group of mice received 10 once-daily injections of 10 mg/kg cocaine (s.c.) in a short time prior to being tested in activity-meters for 60 min sessions (cocaine-pretreated group), mice from a control group receiving saline in the same manner (saline-pretreated group). On the test sessions, taking place 1, 8 and 28 days after cocaine pretreatment, half of the animals of each pretreatment group (n=8) received a challenge test with saline and the other half with 10 mg/kg cocaine in the pretreatment context room (for CR and SE tests, respectively). The CR was significantly expressed on the three successive saline-challenge tests, albeit the activity levels were markedly decreased on the 28-day retention test. In contrast, the SE was significantly expressed only during the first half of the 1-day test session and the first 10 min of the 8-day test session, no SE effect being expressed on the 28-day retention test. The results, suggesting a functional uncoupling of the CR from the SE, disprove the theories of context-specificity of sensitization based completely or partially on Pavlovian excitatory conditioning mechanisms. [less ▲]

Le traitement clinique du chômage

Doctoral thesis (2005)

Cette thèse prend pour objet une politique publique : la politique du Parcours d’insertion. Menée dans les différents Etats membres de l’Union depuis le milieu des années 1990, au nom d’une meilleure ... [more ▼]

Cette thèse prend pour objet une politique publique : la politique du Parcours d’insertion. Menée dans les différents Etats membres de l’Union depuis le milieu des années 1990, au nom d’une meilleure intégration et coordination des multiples actions destinées aux personnes en recherche d’emploi, cette politique « active » d’emploi vise le développement de l’employabilité des chômeurs, entendons par là leur capacité d’insertion socioprofessionnelle, leurs « chances » d’accéder à un emploi durable et de qualité. Nous procédons à l’analyse de cette politique publique sous l’angle, bien particulier, du travail quotidien de trois groupes d’intermédiaires publics du marché du travail chargés de mettre en œuvre cette politique en Région wallonne (Belgique), d’en traduire les énoncés en action sur autrui : les conseillers en accompagnement professionnel du FOREM, les conseillers en formation de Carrefour Formation, les travailleurs sociaux d’Entreprises de Formation par le Travail. L’analyse tend à montrer que l’action de ces intermédiaires oriente le traitement du chômage dans une voie clinique : l’action des intermédiaires publics du marché du travail, qui vise principalement à mettre le chômeur au travail sur lui-même, repose sur la construction professionnelle de « troubles » de l’employabilité. [less ▲]