Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Mitochondrial DNA integrity is ensured by several nuclear-encoded proteins in vertebrates, and a number of mtDNA alterations in human diseases, including deletions and duplications, have been suspected to result from errors in the mitochondrial recombination pathway. However, the presence of the latter system is still a matter of controversy as RecA proteins display various functions in vitro. In Escherichia coli, RecA plays a central role in homologous recombination by pairing and transferring a single strand to a homologous duplex DNA. To address indirectly the issue of a mitochondrial recombination pathway in vivo, we have constructed a chimeric gene containing an N terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence and the E. coli RecA gene. Cells were transfected by the recombinant plasmid, then tested for their mtDNA repair upon bleomycin treatment. We found an increased repair rate of the mitochondrial DNA in cells expressing RecA as compared to control cells. These results indicate that the transfected cells display an improved mtDNA repair replication pathway due to the exogenous RecA, likely in synergy with an endogenous rate-limiting mitochondrial recombination pathway.
ISSN: 0027-5107

hal-01680533
https://hal.univ-antilles.fr/hal-01680533
PUBMED : 11356332

Résumé : The use of acoustical systems in various human activities in the ocean (industry, defence, science) raises the issue of their impact upon marine mammals populations. Several serious accidents linked to the use of naval sonars led the military, industrial and scientific communities to investigate the potential dangers of their own activity. This report aims at identifying the risks for the cetaceans linked to the use of acoustic and seismic systems currently used for oceanographic science. The analysis proposed here stays within the frame of bibliography synthesis and elementary modelling, and brings no new scientific elements on the topic. An overview of the status of cetacean populations is given first, with a summary of the possible acoustical threats. Risks are classified and described, insisting on the cases of massive stranding events. The present status of knowledge about auditory characteristics of cetaceans is summarised, and the definition of an objective threshold for acoustical risk is discussed ; the usually-admitted values are finally retained, despite of their evident limitations. The report presents also the emission characteristics of the various acoustic and seismic systems used in oceanographic, emphasising the ones operated by Ifremer; for the potentially harmful ones (according to the currently-used criteria) a model is proposed for the radiated acoustical intensity field, giving the extent of risk areas. This analysis concludes to the harmlessness of most systems, excepted heavy seismics and at a lesser degree low-frequency multibeam echosounders. Finally a variety of possible mitigation measures are presented and discussed; the regulations imposed by some countries are detailed. The report finally recommends both short-term measures aimed at limiting the potential risks, and longer-term actions for participating in the general effort of scientific and technological research in this field.
L'emploi des systèmes acoustiques dans les diverses activités humaines en milieu océanique (industrielles, de défense, scientifiques) pose le problème de leur impact sur les populations de mammifères marins. L'évidence de plusieurs événements graves liés à l'utilisation de sonars navals a amené les communautés militaires, industrielles et scientifiques à s'interroger sur les dangers potentiels de leurs propres activités. Le présent rapport tente de cerner les risques, pour les Cétacés, liés à l'emploi des systèmes acoustiques et sismiques couramment mis en oeuvre pour la recherche océanographique. L'analyse proposée ici reste à un niveau de synthèse bibliographique et de modélisation élémentaire, et n'offre pas d'éléments scientifiques nouveaux sur la question. On commence par donner un panorama de la situation des populations de cétacés et des agressions sonores qui les menacent. Les risques acoustiques sont répertoriés et décrits, en insistant sur les cas avérés d'échouages massifs. L'état actuel de connaissances sur les caractéristiques auditives des cétacés est résumé, et la définition d'un seuil objectif de risque acoustique est discutée ; on retient par défaut les valeurs de seuils généralement admises actuellement, en dépit de leurs limitations évidentes.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/rapport-2390.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2390/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Association for the Advancement of Science
Résumé : International audience
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are introduced in meiosis to initiate recombination and generate crossovers, the reciprocal exchanges of genetic material between parental chromosomes. Here, we present high-resolution maps of meiotic DSBs in individual human genomes. Comparing DSB maps between individuals shows that along with DNA binding by PRDM9, additional factors may dictate the efficiency of DSB formation. We find evidence for both GC-biased gene conversion and mutagenesis around meiotic DSB hotspots, while frequent colocalization of DSB hotspots with chromosome rearrangement breakpoints implicates the aberrant repair of meiotic DSBs in genomic disorders. Furthermore, our data indicate that DSB frequency is a major determinant of crossover rate. These maps provide new insights into the regulation of meiotic recombination and the impact of meiotic recombination on genome function.
ISSN: 0036-8075

hal-01123717
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01123717
PUBMED : 25395542
DOI : 10.1126/science.1256442

Éditeur(s) : Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Résumé : The negative impact of the man on the environment unquestionably increases. The coastal environment as a whole is the maritime environment which is the most exposed to man-made eutrophication. For instance, nitrate loads to coastal waters off Brittany (France) have increased 10 times (from 3 to s 30mg L-1NO3) during the four last decades. Eutrophication of this coastal zone is now a recurrent problem, more and more worrying. This eutrophication exhibits two main forms : " green tides ", which are caused by local proliferations and stranding of green macro-algae (particularly the Ulva species) in nitrogen-enriched areas ; phytoplanktonic blooms, which are responsible for coloured water events, toxic species can be present (Pseudo-Nitzschia, Alexandrium, Dinophysis), and induce banning of shellfish consumption. The objectives of this study are to assess the respective role of various rivers (especially the Loire and the Vilaine) in the eutrophication of the Brittany shelf ecosystem and test the impact of nitrogen enrichment in the triggering of Pseudo-Nitzchia toxicity. For these purposes, a coupled hydrodynamical/ biogeochemical 3D model has been developed and validated against past measured time-series and satellite images. After a brief analysis of primary production over the Brittany shelf under different conditions, we show a description of the real time adaptation of this model. Daily results are currently presented in real time on www.previmer.org web site. The inability of the model to correctly simulate near shore phytoplankton is worsened in this model by the fact that the turbidity field used is a climatological one, made by satellite images averaged on a decadal basis. First, near shore pixels of satellite images are scarcely reliable, secondly a climatological mean cannot represent the sudden bursts or drops of the real turbidity, highly dependent on the actual sea-state : this can explain also why the model at this moment fails to reproduce a sudden bloom occurring in a short period of sunny and calm weather. The simulated Pseudo-Nitzschia biomass and induced risk of toxicity in the water column cannot really be validated offshore, because monitoring measurements are available only near the coast, and deal only with toxicity in benthic filter feeders. To get temporarily rid of that problem, an interesting improvement would be to add to the operational model the bio-accumulation of toxin in the shellfishes : simulated concentrations in shellfish fresh would become directly comparable with usual measurements of the monitoring networks. Our model points out the important impact of Loire river loads on the primary production on the western and southern Brittany. This result is crucial for administrations in charge of reducing the terrestrial loadings responsible for eutrophication, because it can delay reduction programs on small tributaries until the main input from the Loire has been significantly reduced. A question arises, about the reliability of the haline stratification in the model, because the horizontal extent of the Loire plume will be enhanced by a stronger stratification.
L'eutrophisation des milieux marins côtiers, de plus en plus importante, représente un des impacts majeurs des activités humaines sur l'environnement. Les phénomènes d'eutrophisation sont en constante augmentation ; ces dernières décennies ont vu le nombre de sites touchés augmenter de par le monde. La bande côtière bretonne est particulièrement concernée par ce phénomène. L'eutrophisation s'y manifeste de deux façons : "Des phénomènes de marée vertes, très localisées, qui sont provoqués par la croissance excessive et l'échouage de macro-algues du genre Ulva dans ces zones riches en azote ; Des blooms de phytoplancton à l'origine des phénomènes d'eaux colorées, qui peuvent aussi provoquer des interdictions de consommation de coquillages lorsque les espèces mises en jeu sont toxiques (Pseudo-Nitzschia, Alexandrium, Dinophysis). L'objectif de ce travail est multiple : il vise à mettre en évidence et à comprendre l'impact et le rôle des apports en nutriments sur la production primaire et l'eutrophisation des milieux côtiers. Ce travail a aussi pour ambition l'identification et la compréhension des causes des phénomènes d'eutrophisation et permettre ainsi d'apporter des solutions ou des pistes d'amélioration. En n, il a aussi un objectif de prévision à court terme de l'état biologique sur la zone. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, un modèle en temps réel a été mis en oeuvre. Les résultats de simulations numériques et de mesures satellitaires sont présentés sur internet : www.previmer.org. L'outil principal de ce travail est un modèle couplé physique/biogéochimie. La partie hydrodynamique est fournie par le code Mars3D (3D hydrodynamical Model for Application at Regional Scale) développé à IFREMER. Au code hydrodynamique Mars3D est couplé le modèle des cycles de l'azote, du phosphore et du silicium d'IFREMER. Le modèle couplé permet de simuler en 3 dimensions et de manière dynamique les courants, le brassage horizontal et vertical, les champs de température et de salinité, mais aussi les principaux cycles de nutriments, reproduisant ainsi les conditions déterminantes de la production primaire. La croissance des algues est modélisée, et nous permet de voir l'influence des panaches de dilution des principales rivières bretonnes sur leur croissance. Les diffcultés du modèle à correctement simuler les concentrations en phytoplancton près des zones côtières, sont probablement dues à l'utilisation d'une climatologie de concentration en matière en suspension fondée sur des données satellitaires. Tout d'abord, les pixels côtiers des images satellitaires sont entachés d'erreurs, ensuite une climatologie n'est pas capable de représenter les apports soudains des fleuves lors des crues. Cela peut expliquer l'incapacité du modèle a représenter certains blooms liés à des périodes ensoleilées et calmes. A ce modèle de base nous avons ajouté un genre spécifique de phytoplancton : le genre Pseudo-Nitzschia. Certaines espèces de Pseudo-Nitzschia sont réputées toxiques. En effet, ce phytoplancton a la capacité de synthétiser une toxine : l'acide domoïque. Cette toxine est responsable du syndrome ASP (Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning). Le modèle reproduit globalement les mêmes zones de toxicité que les mesures du REPHY, et donne des résultats encourageants. L'étude montre que la Loire influence une large partie de la bande côtière bretonne ; son panache remonte jusqu'au nord de la mer d'Iroise, et contribue pour une grande part à l'enrichissement du sud et de l'ouest de la Bretagne. Le traçage de l'azote en provenance de la Loire au sein des cycles biogéochimiques nous a permis de quantifier cet enrichissement.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00015/12603/9481.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00015/12603/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD BioMed Central
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has gradually emerged as a regulator of inflammation in the lung and other tissues. AhR may interact with the p65-subunit of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcription factors, but reported outcomes of AhR/NF-κB-interactions are conflicting. Some studies suggest that AhR possess pro-inflammatory activities while others suggest that AhR may be anti-inflammatory. The present study explored the impact of AhR and its binding partner AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) on p65-activation and two differentially regulated chemokines, CXCL8 (IL-8) and CCL5 (RANTES), in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). RESULTS: Cells were exposed to CXCL8- and CCL5-inducing chemicals, 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) respectively, or the synthetic double-stranded RNA analogue, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) which induced both chemokines. Only CXCL8, and not CCL5, appeared to be p65-dependent. Yet, constitutively active unligated AhR suppressed both CXCL8 and CCL5, as shown by siRNA knock-down and the AhR antagonist α-naphthoflavone. Moreover, AhR suppressed activation of p65 by TNF-α and Poly I:C as assessed by luciferase-assay and p65-phosphorylation at serine 536, without affecting basal p65-activity. In contrast, Arnt suppressed only CXCL8, but did not prevent the p65-activation directly. However, Arnt suppressed expression of the NF-κB-subunit RelB which is under transcriptional regulation by p65. Furthermore, AhR-ligands alone at high concentrations induced a moderate CXCL8-response, without affecting CCL5, but suppressed both CXCL8 and CCL5-responses by Poly I:C. CONCLUSION: AhR and Arnt may differentially and independently regulate chemokine-responses induced by both inhaled pollutants and pulmonary infections. Constitutively active, unligated AhR suppressed the activation of p65, while Arnt may possibly interfere with the action of activated p65. Moreover, ligand-activated AhR suppressed CXCL8 and CCL5 responses by other agents, but AhR ligands alone induced CXCL8 responses when given at sufficiently high concentrations, thus underscoring the duality of AhR in regulation of inflammation. We propose that AhR-signaling may be a weak activator of p65-signaling that suppresses p65-activity induced by strong activators of NF-κB, but that its anti-inflammatory properties also are due to interference with additional pathways.
ISSN: 1478-811X

inserm-01085082
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01085082
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01085082/document
http://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-01085082/file/s12964-014-0048-8.pdf
PUBMED : 25201625

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
Résumé : International audience
Meiotic recombination is required for the segregation of homologous chromosomes and is essential for fertility. In most mammals, the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that initiate meiotic recombination are directed to a subset of genomic loci (hot spots) by sequence-specific binding of the PRDM9 protein. Rapid evolution of the DNA-binding specificity of PRDM9 and gradual erosion of PRDM9-binding sites by gene conversion will alter the recombination landscape over time. To better understand the evolutionary turnover of recombination hot spots and its consequences, we mapped DSB hot spots in four major subspecies of Mus musculus with different Prdm9 alleles and in their F1 hybrids. We found that hot spot erosion governs the preferential usage of some Prdm9 alleles over others in hybrid mice and increases sequence diversity specifically at hot spots that become active in the hybrids. As crossovers are disfavored at such hot spots, we propose that sequence divergence generated by hot spot turnover may create an impediment for recombination in hybrids, potentially leading to reduced fertility and, eventually, speciation
ISSN: 0890-9369

hal-01281480
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01281480
DOI : 10.1101/gad.270009.115
PUBMED : 26833728

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), are widely distributed environmental contaminants exerting toxic effects such as genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, mainly associated with aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation and the subsequent induction of cytochromes P-450 (CYP) 1-metabolizing enzymes. We previously reported an up-regulation of AhR expression and activity in primary cultures of human T lymphocyte by a physiological activation. Despite the suggested link between exposure to PAHs and the risk of lymphoma, the potential of activated human T lymphocytes to metabolize AhR exogenous ligands such as B[a]P, and produce DNA damage has not been investigated. In the present study, we characterized the genotoxic response of primary activated T lymphocytes to B[a] P. We demonstrated that, following T lymphocyte activation, B[a]P treatment triggers a marked increase in CYP1 expression and activity generating, upon metabolic activation, DNA adducts and double-strand breaks (DSBs) after a 48-h treatment. At this time point, B[a]P also induces a DNA damage response with ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase activation, thus producing a p53-dependent response and T lymphocyte survival. B[a]P activates DSB repair by mobilizing homologous recombination machinery but also induces gene mutations in activated human T lymphocytes which could consequently drive a cancer process. In conclusion, primary cultures of activated human T lymphocytes represent a good model for studying genotoxic effects of environmental contaminants such as PAHs, and predicting human health issues.
ISSN: 0006-2952

hal-01560145
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01560145
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01560145/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01560145/file/Liamin%20et%20al.%20-%20Benzo%5Ba%5Dpyrene-induced%20DNA%20damage%20associated%20with%20.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.04.025

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Nature Publishing Group
Résumé : International audience
The widely-used herbicide atrazine (ATZ) is detected in ground and surface water in many countries. Several studies in animals have demonstrated that ATZ has endocrine-disrupting effects on male and female reproduction in many vertebrate species. In this study, we investigated the effects of ATZ exposure on meiosis, a key step in gametogenesis in mammals. The treatment was initiated before oocyte entry into meiosis, which occurs during the embryonic period in females. We found that embryonic exposure to ATZ increases the level of 8-oxo-guanine in the nucleus of meiotic cells, reflecting oxidative stress and affecting meiotic double-strand break repair, chromosome synapsis and crossover numbers. Finally, embryonic exposure to ATZ reduces the number of primordial follicles and increases the incidence of multi-oocyte follicles in adult mice. Our data demonstrate that embryonic exposure to ATZ disrupts prophase I of meiosis and affects normal follicle formation in female mice.
ISSN: 2045-2322

hal-01560149
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01560149
DOI : 10.1038/s41598-017-03738-1
PUBMED : 28615648

Éditeur(s) : Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Résumé : Archaea are micro-organisms present in all ecosystems, but are majoritary present in extremophilic environments. Hyperthermophilic Archaea, as Pyrococcus abyssi, are permanently exposed at temperature which can increase the rate of spontaneous DNA damage. It is probable that hyperthermophilic Archaea possess efficient molecular mechanism to duplicate, maintain and stabilize their genomes. The aim of this project was to investigate the interaction network involved in the process of DNA replication and DNA repair. The methodological approach consists in the coupling of pull-down with mass spectrometry identification of interacting partners. A preliminary interaction network was identified that was composed of new proteins as well as unsuspected interactions between known components of DNA replication machinery. The main results consist in: (1) the nuclease Pab2263, which interacts with PCNA, is a novel player in DNA metabolism. (2) PCNA is likely part of a macrocomplex with the ubiquitary proteins Mre11 and Rad50 suggesting a role of this complex in the repair of double strand break in connection with a replication fork. (3) Fen1 and DNA primase interact physically and can collaborate in vitro to resolve intermediate step of the base excision repair pathway. These results enhance our understanding of DNA repair process in Archaea.
Les Archaea sont des micro-organismes rencontrés dans tous les écosystèmes, mais qui apparaissent comme majoritaires dans les environnements dits extrêmes. Les archaea hyperthermophiles, comme Pyrococcus abyssi sont en permanence exposées à des températures qui peuvent augmenter le taux de dommages de l'ADN, pourtant, le taux de mutations spontanés chez ces micro-organismes est similaire à celui des espèces modèles mésophiles. Il est ainsi probable que les hyperthermophiles possèdent des systèmes particulièrement efficaces pour dupliquer, maintenir et stabiliser leur génome. L'objectif de ce projet était d'explorer le réseau d'interaction impliqué dans les processus de réplication et de réparation de l'ADN. L'approche méthodologique mise en oeuvre a consisté à coupler la capture de partenaires d'interaction par pull-down avec leur identification par spectrométrie de masse. J'ai pu ainsi mettre en évidence, au sein l'extrait cellulaire de P. abyssi, un réseau préliminaire reliant des protéines de la maintenance génomique. Nous avons non seulement mis en évidence de nouvelles protéines impliquées probablement dans des mécanismes de réparation, mais également des nouvelles interactions non suspectées entre des composants déjà caractérisés. Les principaux résultats sont les suivants : (1) La nucléase Pab2263, partenaire du PCNA, est un nouvel acteur du métabolisme de l'ADN. (2) Le PCNA forme un macrocomplexe avec les protéines ubiquitaires Mre11 et Rad50 suggérant un rôle de ce complexe dans la réparation des cassures double brin de l'ADN lors de la réplication. (3) Les protéines Fen1 et l'ADN primase interagissent physiquement et peuvent collaborer in vitro pour résoudre une étape intermédiaire de la voie de réparation par excision de base. Ces résultats enrichissent notre compréhension des processus de réparation de l'ADN chez les archées.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2008/these-3722.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3722/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
In Taiwan, about one third of the lithospheric plate convergence between Eurasia and the Philippine Sea plate is accommodated on the eastern coast across the narrow Longitudinal Valley (LV). The Longitudinal Valley Fault (LVF) is the main seismically active fault zone in this region. However, the spatial distribution of ground deformation due to interseismic loading on locked fault segments remains widely unknown. To address this problem, we use a "permanent scatterer" (PS) interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) approach for processing the ERS satellite archives. The PS mean velocity maps allow accurately mapping and quantifying the ground deformation all along the LV. Assuming that, close to the surface, the fault plane along the central LVF creeping segment dips 55 degrees to the east, we derive a slip vector at the surface of similar to 25 mm/yr with a mean rake of 70 degrees. In agreement with our PS observations, shallow seismicity indicates a clear change in the fault mechanical behavior of the creeping segment around Fuli town. Finally, we propose a combination of the PS velocity fields for estimating a 3-D map of ground deformation. In the southern part of the LV, the vertical component reveals an uplift of the Coastal Range with respect to the LV of similar to 10 mm/yr. Moreover, between Taitung and Luyeh, the vertical deformation is essentially accommodated along the Luyeh Strand. Finally, north of Rueisuei, the Coastal Range uniformly subsides at similar to 15 mm/yr relative to the western side of the LV. However, a local uplift pattern is detected around latitude 23 degrees 42'.
ISSN: 0148-0227

hal-00595532
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00595532
DOI : 10.1029/2010JB007898

Résumé : En Août 2005, l'ouragan Katrina s'est abattu sur la ville de la Nouvelle-Orléans, en Louisiane causant mort, désespoir, angoisse mais aussi destruction massive. Katrina a forcé une partie de la population affectée à déménager, et à chercher refuge dans les états voisins. Face aux premières images de l'une des pires catastrophes des Etats-Unis, la prépondérance des AfricainsAméricains parmi les victimes a été choquante. Katrina a révélé au monde entier et a mis sous les projecteurs la persistance de l'esclavage, du racisme et des inégalités raciales. Les AfricainsAméricains ont dû s'organiser seuls au Superdome et au Convention Center pour sur/vivre. Ce travail de recherche analyse le lien étroit qui existe entre les notions de «race» de classe et la géographie. Nous examinerons les concepts hautement controversés de « refugiés » et de « pilleurs» dans le contexte américain. Nous chercherons à comprendre comment l'histoire et le racisme peuvent influencer les comportements et les décisions politiques. Etait-ce une catastrophe naturelle, un désastre créé par l'humain ou une crise héritée de legs culturels? La culture et la race ont été les facteurs principaux de cette tragédie. Nous traiterons de cette catastrophe non pas comme un simple phénomène cyclonique mais comme un évènement culturel. La culture a successivement condamné et sauvé les Africains-Américains en 2005. Le jazz, le blues et le hip-hop ont été de véritables atouts suite à Katrina. Les Africains-Américains ont utilisé ces genres musicaux afin d'exprimer leur chagrin et colère. L'écriture est devenue une véritable thérapie assimilée à une catharsis. Grâce à cela, ils ont pu dire non à une annihilation programmée
In August 2005, hurricane Katrina made landfall on the city of New-Orleans, Louisiana causing not only death, despair, anguish but also massive destruction and subsequent relocation. As the catastrophe made headlines worldwide, people were shocked by the overwhelming preponderance of the African American poor among those stranded within the city. Many explained the disproportion as a result of continual neglect. The devastation left by Katrina brought to light the enduring legacy of slavery, racism and racial inequality. African Americans were left alone to fend for themselves at the Superdome and at the Convention Center. This doctoral research provides an insight into the correlation between race, class and geography. We will explore the highly controversial concepts of "the refuge(s)" and "looters" in the US context. We will try to figure out how history and cultural racism influence behaviors and political decisions. Was Katrina a natural catastrophe, a man-made disaster or a cultural crisis? Besides race, culture seems to be a major component in this tragedy. We delve into this analysis from the framework of cultural studies. On the one hand, culture condemned African-Americans in 2005, but on the other hand, it put them out of harm's way. Jazz, blues and hip-hop became serious assets in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. African-Americans used these musical genres to express grief and anger. They used writing as a powerful tool to recover from Katrina. Jazz, blues and hip-hop proved to be synonymous with catharsis

http://www.theses.fr/2013AGUY0667

Résumé : L’étude des prépositions représente un des thèmes fondamentaux de la linguistique cognitive. L’objectif de cette étude est de montrer en quoi la préposition contribue à l’émergence de la signification de l’énoncé en langue créole martiniquaise spécifiquement. La préposition est au centre de la relation " Figure-Ground". C’est à partir de cette relation fonctionnelle que nous pourrons définir les liens conceptuels que la préposition établit entre les unités linguistiques qu’elle unit. Aussi voulons-nous mettre en évidence la subtilité de la substance notionnelle de ces morphèmes. Cette substance notionnelle se nourrit des effets de sens que ces morphèmes polysémiques peuvent avoir grâce à leur déformabilité. Décrire les usages d’une préposition demande d’en décrire la distribution. C’est donc à partir de données relevant de la distribution des prépositions que nous proposerons une analyse cognitive de ces dernières. Notre approche n’est pas comparative. Toutefois, nous ne pourrons pas ignorer la relation de diglossie entre le créole martiniquais et le français. Nous montrerons, par endroits, en quoi une langue dite minorée et une langue dite haute sur le plan sociolinguistique peuvent s’affecter mutuellement par des emprunts de conceptualisation. Les prépositions sont des morphèmes qui témoignent de la dynamique de la langue créole martiniquaise. Il nous suffit d’observer les usages des doublets asou-anlè (sur), ba-pou (pour), épi-ek (avec), et des allomorphes an, nan, adan, anndan, andidan, dan (dans) pour le comprendre. « C’est (donc) en relation avec notre connaissance du monde » (VANDELOISE 1986 :241), que nous procéderons à l’analyse cognitive des prépositions du créole martiniquais. Les prépositions nous invitent à considérer des phénomènes tels que l’aphérèse, la déflexivité, la sérialisation verbale, la préfixation, l’iconicité diagrammatique, l’indexicalité. Nous montrerons en quoi épi (avec), morphème encodant le concept d’association, est porteur d’un trait archisémique, le comitatif.
The study of prepositions represents one of the fundamental topics of cognitive linguistics. The aim of this dissertation is to show to what extent a preposition can contribute to the emergence of the significance of utterances in the Martinican creole language, the language under study. The preposition is central to the relation « Figure-Ground ». It is from this functional relation that we can define the conceptual links that the preposition establishes between the linguistic units that it binds together. We thus want to highlight the subtilety of the notional substance of these morphemes. This notional substance feeds on the pragmatic meanings that these polysemous morphemes can have owing to their deformability. In order to describe the uses of a preposition, we must first establish its distribution. We will, therefore, use data containing tokens of prepositions in order to propose a cognitive analysis of these latter. We will not use a comparative approach. However, we cannot ignore the diglossic relation between Martinican Creole and French. We will have occasion to show how, from a sociolinguistic point of view, a language considered as the « low » variety (basilect), and a language considered as the « high » variety (acrolect), can affect each other conceptually. Prepositions are morphemes which illustrate the dynamics of Martinican Creole. It suffices to observe the uses of the doublets asou-anlè (on), ba-pou (for), épi-ek (with), and the allomorphs an, ann, nan, adan, andidan, anndan, dan (in) in order to understand this. It is, then, « in relation to our knowledge of the world » (VANDELOISE 1986:241) that we will propose a cognitive analysis of prepositions in Martinican Creole. Prepositions invite us to consider such phenomena as apheresis, deflexivity, stranded preposition, verbal serialisation, prefixation, diagrammatic iconicity and indexicality. We will show how épi (with), a morpheme encoding the concept of association, includes an archisemic feature, the comitative.

http://www.theses.fr/2014AGUY0736/document