Search

Geography is certainly a discipline little loved by the public, even though the spatial dimension of societies is an element of fundamental importance in people’s life. This contribution aims to show how this spatial dimension is omnipresent in the daily life of people, societies and territories and tries to illustrate the specific approach of social geography in analyzing these phenomena. We will focus primarily on the manifestations of daily life that can be read with the gaze of social geography. We will then refer to the perspective of this discipline and we will go through its different levels of analysis, to finally arrive at outlining the most used methodologies and tools for conducting studies and research.

Introduction The pathophysiology of Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) remains unclear. There are a number of hypotheses but these are not exclusive. In its clinical presentation, this complication intersects with the semiology of diabetic-induced neuropathy, such as peripheral hypervascularization and the appearance of arteriovenous shunt. The EPICHAR study is as yet an unpublished cohort of people living with diabetes complicated by CN (in active or chronic phase). Based on the findings of the EPICHAR study, this study aimed to investigate whether a reduction in the rate of hyperglycemia accompanies the onset of an active phase of CN.Research design and methods Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were assessed 3 months (M3) and 6 months (M6) before the diagnosis of active CN (M0).Results 103 patients living with diabetes and presenting active CN were included between January and December 2019 from the 31 centers participating in this study (30 in France and 1 in Belgium). The mean age of the participants was 60.2±12.2 years; the vast majority were men (71.8%) living with type 2 diabetes (75.5%). Mean HbA1c levels significantly declined between M6 (median 7.70; Q1, Q3: 7.00, 8.55) and M3 (median 7.65; Q1, Q3: 6.90, 8.50) (p=0.012), as well as between M6 and M0 (median 7.40; Q1, Q3: 6.50, 8.50) (p=0.014). No significant difference was found between M3 and M0 (p=0.072).Conclusions A significant reduction in HbA1c levels seems to accompany the onset of the active phase of CN.Trial registration number NCM03744039.

After a hectic growth in the context of speculative bubbles and urban transformation that characterized the late 1990s and early 2000s, the real estate market is today faced with many difficulties, in a more or less pronounced way depending on the different countries. Among the most recent interpretative proposals, one in particular has been a stimulus to analyze the Italian situation. The price increase would result in a double phenomenon: the spatial homogenization of prices and the tendency to maintain the already existing geographic hierarchies. This article certainly does not pretend to exhaust the subject, but tries to understand whether similar dynamics are also reflected in the residential estate market of the Peninsula, offering an updated overview at national level and focusing in particular on the emblematic case of Rome municipality, where the dynamics seem to be more contrasted.

Les patients québécois peuvent légalement obtenir une aide médicale à mourir s’ils sont aptes à donner un consentement éclairé, atteints d’une maladie grave et incurable, en fin de vie et ont des souffrances qu’ils jugent intolérables. Depuis l’arrêt Carter (2015) de la Cour Suprême du Canada, l’accès, sous certaines conditions, à l’AMM est même devenu un droit constitutionnel. Les médecins québécois sont ainsi maintenant susceptibles de recevoir des demandes d’AMM de leurs patients. Les lois québécoise et canadienne reconnaissent aux médecins un droit à l’objection de conscience, mais le droit est contesté tant dans les écrits en éthique médicale que dans le débat public. L’article présente les résultats d’une étude qualitative menée auprès de vingt médecins québécois qui n’ont pas intégré l’AMM à leur pratique médicale en raison de leur opposition ou ambivalence à l’égard de l’AMM. Les entrevues visaient à explorer les raisons – religieuses et séculières – expliquant l’opposition ou l’ambivalence par rapport à l’AMM. Les raisons séculières exprimées par les participants ont ensuite été regroupées en quatre catégories et analysées. Les quatre catégories sont : 1) Finalités de la médecine et identité professionnelle, 2) Philosophie de la médecine palliative et allocation des ressources en soins palliatifs, 3) Paternalisme bienveillant, « bonne mort » et intérêts du soi futur, 4) Risque de la pente glissante et protection des personnes vulnérables.

Abstract Temporal changes in the concentration profiles of dimethylsulfide (DMS), dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were measured in pack ice from the Bellingshausen Sea (Antarctica) during the winter-spring transition of 2007. Two sites with contrasting snow and ice thicknesses were sampled, with high concentrations of DMS, DMSP, and DMSO observed at both sites, especially in surface ice. These high concentrations were shown to correspond to the development of a surface ice microalgal community dominated by strong DMSP producers (flagellates and dinoflagellates) following flooding of the ice cover. Several short-term synoptic events were observed and shown to influence strongly the dynamics of sea ice DMS, DMSP, and DMSO. In particular, a cold spell event was associated with drastic changes in the environmental conditions for the sea ice microbial communities and to a remarkable increase in the production of dimethylated sulfur compounds at both sites. A good correlation between all dimethylated sulfur compounds, sea ice temperature, and brine salinity suggested that the observed increase was triggered mainly by increased thermal and osmotic stresses on microalgal cells. Atmospheric forcing, by controlling sea ice temperature and hence the connectivity and instability of the brine network, was also shown to constrain the transfer of dimethylated sulfur compounds in the ice towards the ocean via brine drainage. Analysis of the two contrasting sampling sites shed light on the key role played by the snow cover in the sea ice DMS cycle. Thicker snow cover, by insulating the underlying sea ice, reduced the amplitude of environmental changes associated with the cold spell, leading to a weaker physiological response and DMS, DMSP, and DMSO production. Thicker snow also hampered the development of steep gradients in sea ice temperature and brine salinity, thereby decreasing the potential for the release of dimethylated sulfur compounds to the ocean via brine drainage.

L'Adunata degli alpini is the most important “wandering demonstration” which takes place every year in Italy. Each edition attracts about 400.000 people of various social/cultural origins. For two complete days, the normal urban landscape of the chosen city is totally transformed: the city centre, mainly, is entirely taken up with the celebrations. This “festival”, born with commemorative intents, has become during the years a proper popular demonstration. The massive flow of people who attends, requires great preparation but it also brings big economical repercussions for the concerned city, which changes every year.