Tchernobyl : le vrai, le probable et le faux

The Japanese earthquake and tsunami drew attention worldwide to nuclear power plant accidents and associated health risks. Since Chernobyl 25 years ago, several studies were published and we now have precise information concerning the long-term health of the population living near nuclear power plants and also in different European countries. The authors hope to bring some answers to the key questions from the public concerning radioactive units used and their significance, the evaluation of the number of radio-induced cancers within the different countries of Europe, other eventual health effects and the problem of possible congenital anomalies. Finally, French public perception on nuclear risk is examined and the feedback of the Japanese experience is evoked.     

Dans le bain avec Rouch: A Reminiscence

This issue's Visual Anthropology Section is a tribute to anthropologist and ethnographic filmmaker Jean Rouch (1917–2004). In nine brief articles, authors discuss the impact of Rouch's pathbreaking career on ethnographic and documentary filmmaking and his contributions to our knowledge of postcolonial Africa. The authors demonstrate the significance of his work for the larger discipline of anthropology, and commemorate Rouch with personal reflections of their time working with and learning from him.     

Don de sperme: le lien entre l’anonymat et le bénévolat

France has been the first country to introduce a new policy in matter of semen donation, based on anonymity and unpaid donation. The aim was to put sperm and more largely gametes into the category of human tissues that are, according to the law, out of the market. Nowadays there are trends in the opinion to abolish sperm donors’ anonymity. But, numerous sociological studies show that anonymity and unpaid donation are closely linked with the social intrinsic power to strengthen a joint solidarity based on unselfish altruism. Dissociating anonymity and no payment would open the way to the marketing business in semen donation.     

L'évolution parallèle des Juraphyllitidae euroboréaux et téthysiens au Pliensbachien: le rôle des contraintes internes et externes

Au Pliensbachien, un trend morphologique se developpe chez les Tragophyllocerassimpliquant un mécanisme hétérochronique (paedomorphose par néoténie) pour I'acquisition d'une morphologie suboxycône. Ce changement morphologique majeurest concomitant avecl'ingression de ces formes dans les mers de plateforme euroboréale ob la compétition inter-taxons est forte. Cette option morphofonctionnelle et évolutive, canalisée essentiellement par des contraintes externes étant amorcée, le genre va I'exploiter dans la mesure de ses possibilités (potentialités intrinsèques) en perfectionnant son oxycônie. Au contraire dans les mers téthysiennes, les Juraphyllites ne montrent pas d'évolution pour la morphologie de la coquille; celle-ci reste subplatycône durant tout le Lias moyen et il n'y a pas de changements environnementaux majeurs (milieux tamponnés). En outre la prolifération d'ornementations plus grossières, aussi bien chez les Juraphyllites que chez les Tragopbylloceras, correspond probablement à une meilleure exploitation des biomes d'Europe du NW et de la Téthys à une période bien précise qui est le Carixien moyen. Ce développement d'ornementation similaire chez des taxons partageant un héritage évolutif commun mais séparés paléogéographiquement, évoque le rôle prépondérant des contraintes internes. Ainsi l'évolution des Juraphyllites des Tragophyllocerasau Lias moyen paraît donc ètre un exemple de parallèlisme au sens strict du terme.□Évolution, hétérochronies, Juraphyllitidae, Lias, ontogenèse, Paléogéographie. A morphological trend in the Pliensbachian Tragophyllocerns involves a heterochronic process (paedomorphosis by neoteny) to acquire a suboxycone morphology. This major morphological change is concomitant with the ‘ingression’ of Tragophylloceras in the Euroboreal platform seas, where competition between taxa was strong. This functional-morphological and evolutionary option is mainly canalized by extrinsic constraints. Exploring these possibilities, Tragophylloceras then exploits and improves the oxycone option. By contrast, in the Tethyan seas, Juraphyllites shows no change in shell coiling; it stays subplatycone during all the Pliensbachian. There is no major environmental change. Moreover, the proliferation of coarser ornamentation in Juraphyllitesand Tragophylloceras probably corresponds to a better exploitation of the Euroboreal and Tethyan marine habitats during the Middle Carixian. The development of similar ornamentation in palaeogeographically separate taxa with a common evolutionary origin is mainly canalized by intrinsic constraints. The evolution of Juraphyllites and Tragophylloceras appears to be a good example of parallelism sensu stricto. □ Evolution, heterochrony, Juraphyllitidae, Lios, ontogeny, palaeogeography.