France Archives

Unravelling the links between substance use and binge-like eating disorders

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The researchers explore the role of brain reward systems in eating disorders and substance use disorders.

Binge eating disorder (BED) and substance use disorders (SUD) are characterised by maladaptive responses in the reward system of the brain. Dr Mary C Olmstead at Queen’s University, Canada, and Dr Katia Befort, University of Strasbourg, France, are using rodent models to explore how a part of the reward system, called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), affects the two conditions. They hope […]

Irreversible electroporation: A safe and effective therapy for low to intermediary prostate cancer risk profiles

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Prostate cancer affects millions of men globally, and is also the third-largest cause of cancer-related deaths among men. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is one of the more targeted, focal, and minimally aggressive therapies for prostate cancer ablation in comparison to radiotherapy, thermal, or cryo-based ablation methods. Distinguished scientist Professor Olivier Cussenot, surgeon urologist expert for the French National Cancer Institute, is […]

How to get out of the debt trap? Navigating the global financial turmoil

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Jean-François Serval and Jean-Pascal Tranié advocate for the conversion of public debt into equity in productive businesses, fostering innovation and economic growth.

Global economies faced a precarious cycle of recovery pre-pandemic, marked by currency imbalances and interest rate cuts, resulting in a staggering 300 trillion USD global debt burden. Urgent reform of the international monetary system is necessary to address escalating geopolitical crises and economic vulnerabilities, requiring coordinated efforts and a shift towards inclusive and resilient frameworks. Renowned French experts Jean-François Serval, […]

The importance of image viewing conditions for timing and precision in minimally invasive surgery

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Minimally invasive medical procedures such as laparoscopic surgery are challenging because they involve navigating the instruments in use via image views from tiny cameras attached to them. Surgeons need to interpret visual information correctly to guide their instruments with precision. Understanding how the brain adapts to these procedures will help improve fine surgical skills. Dr Birgitta Dresp-Langley, Research Director at […]

Reliably exploring the presence of languages on the Internet

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Dr Pimienta studies the presence of languages on the Internet.

The Internet is a precious resource for linguists as it offers an easily accessible and broad space where they can observe the evolution of languages over time. Daniel Pimienta, Head of the Observatory of Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in the Internet (OBDILCI), has developed a method to measure the presence of languages on the Web, which was greatly enhanced in […]

Healing with star power: Using plasma to treat skin wounds

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Drs Eric Robert and Thierry Prazuck research the use of non-thermal, or cold, plasma, for decontamination and healing in skin wounds with infections

New resistant bacteria strains and viruses are appearing all the time, making the treatment of infections increasingly difficult. Humanity is in dire need of new weapons to fight this worldwide war against emerging pathogens. Dr Eric Robert, Thierry Prazuck, and their teams at GREMI, CNRS/Université d’Orléans, and CHRO, Orléans, France, perform pioneering work using cold plasma to treat bacterial infections. […]

Designing disorder at the atomic scale

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Dr Daniel Chaney investigates the properties of new materials that can be created when they are unable to adopt their preferred atomic arrangements, and aims to understand the mechanisms by which to control such disorder on an atomic scale

The crystal structures of solids can exhibit a vast array of different atomic arrangements, which may also change depending on conditions, temperature, pressure, etc. In new research, a team led by Dr Daniel Chaney, based at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in France, have used cutting-edge techniques to show for the first time how some materials display exciting new […]

Metrology for the Factory of the Future

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Metrology for the future is a joint European research project which aims to combines metrology and modern digital technologies to encompass the lifecycle of measured data in industrial applications.

Metrology for the Factory of the Future (Met4FoF) is a joint research project that brings together researchers from leading national metrology institutes and universities in Europe. This project establishes a metrological framework and combines metrology and modern digital technologies to encompass the lifecycle of measured data in industrial applications. The researchers demonstrate the practical applicability of the framework with its […]

Cointegration of causes of mortality as a possible measure of human ageing

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Many of us can expect to live longer than previous generations. We might also surmise that one of the top five causes of mortality will prove our demise. Ultimately, however, most causes of death are linked to ageing, an inevitable process for which we have no direct measurement. Professor Séverine Arnold, of the University of Lausanne, has provided a potential […]

When Narratives Collide: The Fundamentals of Islamic Fundamentalism

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The destruction of heritage sites by the IS has been religiously grounded in Jihadist Salafism.

Heritage is a group’s claim to a legacy. There are, however, different ways of reading history in the process. The Western notion of World Heritage finds value in a culturally diverse past, which is already fulfilled by the present. Conversely, Islamic fundamentalism seeks to bring about conformity to its founding age, condemning any deviance from this particular foundation. Baudouin Dupret, […]