487 research outputs found
State and Church Relationships under the European Convention on Human Rights: A Value Framework for State Action
No full textAs they impact the condition of religious groups, and in fine that of the very individuals composing them, state-church relationships are an important dimension of religious freedom. The way states interact with religious groups, communities, and associations has a decisive impact on the religious condition of their members, in their effort to develop their religious beliefs or practices. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to explore the European Court of Human Rights’ regulation of state-church relationships. The research focuses on ECtHR’s judgments issued on article 9, either autonomously or in connection with article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It also considers cases adjudicated upon article 2 of Protocol I to the Convention. For optimal consistency with Europe’s social evolution, however, special attention was given to those cases issued from early 2011. The article argues that behind the margin of appreciation granted for states to enact any system they see fit, the Court puts forward limits they cannot trespass. Indeed, the systems adopted have to abide by the values underlying the Convention as a whole. The article argues said values materialize a global framework that unifies states into one European global approach, thus giving a further illustration of the oligopolistic Pluralism that the Court develops in its regulation of individual religious freedom
Protection of European Values at the International Level: The European Court of Human Rights and Freedom of Religion
No full textFundamental values and principles such as rule of law, democracy and human rights are at the heart of growing concerns within Europe and its Institutions — from the European Union to the Council of Europe. This Article explores how the European Court of Human Rights protects European fundamental values through its main instrument—the European Convention on Human Rights—, with a special focus on article 9 and religious freedom. Religion is a powerful social force, it is still at the heart of social dynamics and henceforth, through the values it tends to endow individual behavior with, is at the heart of the value frameworks structuring societies. A chronological reading of the Court’s judgments in religious cases shows the Court has developed, through the years, a specific reasoning that spins around a set of values said to underly the whole Convention, for being the fundamental values and principles of the European Society as a whole. The Article argues this approach tends to favor the latter values and principles sometimes over religious behaviors. It amounts, therefore, to consecrating a European value order on which the Convention is said to rest, from which it is said to rise, and at the conservation of which its application aims
Religion in Society: New Paradigm and New Challenges
No full textIn the early decades of the XX century, religion, as a social fact, was considered a dying agent. Social scientists had settled for the upcoming death of religion and the gradual secularization of society and individual minds. In the late decades of the same century, though, a radical shift shook that paradigm: field observation showed religion was still present within society and individual minds, it was only hiding behind new patterns and principles that social sciences’ mindset of the time could not grasp:. It was becoming more individual an experience, less rigid, more spiritual, and relegating religious institutions and prominent religious figures to a very limited and narrow dimension of social life. In short: it is individual religious experience, as a lived reality, that mutated. This mutation drove with it new issues and challenges for social scientists to explore—especially lawyers, sociologists and political scientists—and warrants new interdisciplinary approaches for scholarship in the domain
Trophoniella radesiensis Chaibi & Antit & Bouhedi & Meca & Gillet & Azzouna & Martin 2019, n. sp.
No full textTrophoniella radesiensis n. sp. Chaibi and Gillet Figures 3–6 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D7C85C70-87FF-4AF4-8599-A8462B3FB8B1 Material examined. Holotype: MNCN16.01 /18453, collected on 25 Nov 2015 in Radés Station, Gulf of Tunis (15°55′ N, 97°41′ W) by the first author. Paratypes: MNCN 16.01 /18454. 6 specimens, same data as for holotype; UCO T FLA 025.1specimen, same data as for holotype. Diagnosis. Body covered by sediments of different grain size (50–1000 µm of long axe) embedded on tunic, completely concealed except in posterior region. Tunic pale, dorsally smooth, ventrally rough, with large papillae, carrying sediment grains and particles. Body papillae arranged in two dorsal and four ventral rows. Branchial plate tongue-shaped. Unidentate anchylosed neurohooks from chaetiger 20. Description. Holotype with some chaetae broken, non-reproductive adult, unknown sex. 35 mm long, 4 mm wide, with 60 chaetigers; paratypes varying from 30–43 mm long and 1–4 mm wide for 43–74 chaetigers (Fig. 3 A– E). Anterior body sub-cylindrical in cross-section, tapering towards pygidium. Tunic transparent, dorsally smooth, ventrally rough with large papillae, carrying sediment grains and particles with long axes ranging from 50 to 1000 µm, totally embedded in tunic, completely concealing it dorsally and ventrally, absent in posterior region. Pale brown, slightly reddish anteriorly. Cephalic cage 12 mm long, with chaetae ca. 1.5 times longer than body width, formed by chaetigers 1–5; chaetiger 2 dorsolateral, chaetiger 3–4 lateral. Chaetal transition from cephalic cage to body chaetae gradual (Fig. 3A, 3 C–E). Body papillae similar in colour to body wall, mostly eroded, arising in two dorsal and four ventral longitudinal rows from first chaetiger to posterior end, better preserved anterior-most body region (Fig. 3A, 3 C–E). Parapodia well developed. Noto and neuropodia have four prechaetal papillae and five postchaetal papillae (Fig. 3C). Especially long papillae absent from anterior chaetigers. Gonopodial papillae not seen. Chaetiger 1 with about six notochaetae and eight neurochaetae; anterior dorsal margin with dorsal papillae, arising as a multifid cephalic veil (Fig. 4A). Chaetiger 5 widening posteriorly. Cephalic hood not exposed. Caruncle short and triangular (Fig. 4C, 4D). Branchiae cirriform, arising from tongue-shaped branchial plate, arranged in two lateral lobes (Fig. 4A, 4D), thin, long (0.5–3mm), whitish once preserved in ethanol, with ca. 60 filaments. Palp, long, corrugated, pale, as long as largest branchiae, 6 mm long (Fig. 4B, 4C). Prostomium lowcone, with two large and two small black eyes (Fig. 3D, 3E). Lateral lip expanded; dorsal and ventral lips not well developed (Fig. 3D, 3E). Notochaetae all multiarticulated capillaries; articles progressively longer towards falcate tips; medial ones in short longitudinal series, 4–7 per bundle; some yellowish some dark brown; unidentate tips (Fig. 5 A–5D). Multiarticulated capillary neurochaeta from chaetiger 2 to 5, then short unidentate neurohooks from chaetiger 6 to 19 (Fig. 6A) and anchylosed hooks from chaetiger 20 to body end (Fig. 6B), darker than preceding ones, arranged in transverse series of 4–6 units per bundle, similarly wide along their length, subdistally not or slightly expanded, with short rings continued up to a subdistal, non-annulated hyaline region, hooked, tapering to roughly pointed, unidentate tips (Fig. 5A, 6B). Pygidium simple, with single anal cirrus. No intra-specific variability in morphological characters was observed, except for lacking sediment gains in some specimens. Distribution. Known only from the type locality, Radés Station (Gulf of Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea). Collected from both soft and rocky bottoms, from 3–4 m to 10 m depth. Etymology. The species name radesiensis refers to the type locality, Radés Station.Published as part of Chaibi, Marwa, Antit, Mouna, Bouhedi, Marwa, Meca, Miguel A., Gillet, Patrick, Azzouna, Atf & Martin, Daniel, 2019, A new species of Flabelligeridae (Annelida), Trophoniella radesiensis n. sp., from Tunisia, pp. 551-561 in Zootaxa 4571 (4) on pages 554-556, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4571.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/261426
Higher-order Hermite-Gauss modes for gravitational waves detection
No full textAs part of the research on thermal noise reduction in gravitational-wave detectors, we experimentally demonstrate the conversion of a fundamental TEM00 laser mode at 1064 nm to higher-order Hermite-Gaussian modes (HG) of arbitrary order via a commercially available liquid crystal spatial light modulator. We particularly studied the HG5,5/HG10,10/HG15,15 modes. A two-mirror plano-spherical cavity filters the higher-order modes spatially. We analyze the cleaned modes via a three-mirror diagnosis cavity and measure a mode purity of 96/93/78% and a conversion efficiency of 6.6%/3.7%/1.7%, respectively. A full set of simulations and mathematical proofs are also presented which shows that (i) Hermite-Gauss modes resonate in a two-mirror cavity provided mirrors are properly angled with respect to the impinging mode, and (ii) Hermite-Gauss modes resonate in triangular cavities. Hence, higher-order Hermite-Gauss modes are compatible with ground-based gravitational-wave detectors' architecture and can be employed for the mitigation of mirror thermal noise for the third generation Einstein Telescope or Cosmic Explorer
Multitemporal analysis of cliffs evolution along an Atlantic African coast (Safi Region, Morocco)
No full textUnstable coastal cliffs represent a major threat to coastal infrastructure, housing, and economic activities, which depend on coastal stability. Understanding recession rates and the factors influencing them is therefore essential for enhancing risk prediction and management. Here, we investigated the evolution of coastal cliffs in a crucial sector of the Atlantic African coast in Morocco, stretching from Cap Beddouza in the north to Jorf Lihoudi in the south, covering an area of around 48 km and including the large city of Safi. The instability of these cliffs constitutes the main coastal geological hazard of the area, which has its geomorphological expression in different types of landslides punctuating the coastal cliff. We employed multidecadal aerial imagery along with GIS technique to calculate the rate of change of the cliff over 66 years. Our results indicate that most of the Safi Region coastal zone has undergone recession with rates of change generally variable from 0.04 to 0.08 m/yr +/- 0.01 m. The central part of the study area, conversely, experienced the highest retreat rate, exceeding 0.10 m/yr. The spatial variability of recession rates is explained through geological and morphological factors such as the nature of low-strength clay rock formations, favoring large-scale gravity movements. These data are crucial to better define the current level of coastal hazard in this densely populated portion of the Moroccan coast, given that cliff recession have considerable effects on the economic, social and environmental risk of the area. Moreover, this study represents one of the first applications of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) method to an African coastline segment, specifically from Cape Beddouza to the Lihoudi cliffs. More generally, it is among the few studies focused on cliff recession rates in Africa. While a similar application has been conducted for the cliff base in the northern part of the same study area (Raja et al., 2023), that study primarily addresses coastal cliff failure hazards along the Safi coastline in Morocco. In contrast, the present study is focused on determining long-term cliff recession rates and understanding the distribution of these rates and modes of retreat in relation to the physical processes affecting the study area
Condensation irrigation [Elektronisk resurs] : a combined system for desalination and irrigation
No full textCondensation Irrigation (CI) is a new irrigation method that combines desalination and subsurface irrigation by making use of saline water for supplying clean irrigation. In this system, solar stills are used for evaporating non-potable water, and the formed vapour heats and humidifies the ambient air above the water surface. The warm, humid air is led from the stills into a system of horizontally buried drainage pipes. While flowing through the pipes, the air is cooled by the ground and vapour precipitates as freshwater inside the pipes. The perforations in the pipe wall enable the formed freshwater to percolate into the surrounding soil, and thereby irrigate it. Some of the humid air also infiltrates the soil through the perforations, which further increases irrigation by vapour condensation in the cooler ground. The airflow through the ground supplies soil aeration, which is important for high crop yield.Because the CI system generates freshwater from saline or otherwise contaminated water sources, this system can operate in locations that would normally lack irrigation possibilities. This subsurface irrigation system has also further advantages, such as reduced water losses through surface evaporation and deep percolation, increased soil aeration, and low tech / low cost design. To investigate the potential of the CI system, an implicit transient finite element simulation model, CI2D, was developed in Matlab, that was able to simulate the complex coupled mechanisms of gas, liquid and heat transfer in the soil-pipe system, including water evaporation and condensation. The validated and verified model also included solar radiation, root water extraction, and surface evaporation.The CI2D model was used to simulate a reference example of a theoretical CI facility in Malta. The irrigation rate under steady operation was 3.44 mm d-1 and the root water uptake was 19.8% of the supplied water. By lowering the inlet air temperature, the crop could be placed closer to the pipes without the roots being overheated. The irrigation rate obtained by decreasing the inlet air temperature from 70°C to 50°C, and reducing the pipe spacing from 1.2 m to 0.6 m, was 3.00 mm d-1. The root water uptake was, however, increased to 48% of the irrigation, resulting in a higher root water uptake.The principle behind CI can be used for drinking water production by using pipes without perforations in the ground. The condensed freshwater can then be collected at the pipe endings. This system was simulated under the same reference scenario as the irrigation system. The daily water production rate in a 50 m long pipe was in the example 135 kg d-1, corresponding to 2.26 mm d-1.A small scale laboratory setup where humid air was led through a perforated pipe in a sand box was tested and theoretically simulated. In the experiments, the importance of a free flow path for the gas phase through the soil was visualized. It could therefore be concluded that the CI system should not be implemented in low-permeability soils. From simulations in CI2D, it was evident that soils with high capillarity are unsuitable for CI systems as well, because the water accumulation around the pipe prevents humid air from entering the soil through the perforations.CI is a system with many unexplored possible designs and applications. For example, by leading the cooler saline feed water to the solar stills through the perforated irrigation pipes, the vapour condensation in the pipes would increase. This would also increase the solar still efficiency since the incoming saline water would be preheated by the humid airflow. In future work on this system, this, and other suggested improvements should be explored.</p
Analyse des charges instantanées induites par le vent sur une paroi perméable. Étude en vraie grandeur, simulation numérique et application aux règles de calcul
No full textThe loads borne by building claddings depend on both the external pressure field (a function of wind, site and building geometry) and the internal pressure field in the air gap between cladding and wall (a function of the external pressure field and cladding permeability). Preliminary full-scale studies enabled us to access the instantaneous external and internal pressure fields and assess their correlations. In particular, we found that without taking into account the role of internal pressure, dimensioning forces can be increased by 40 to 60%. In order to reduce cladding dimensioning problems to the sole knowledge of the external pressure field, easily accessible by measurement on a scale model in an atmospheric wind tunnel, we developed a permeability measurement bench and a numerical model to simulate the instantaneous internal pressure field from the external pressure field and the permeability characteristics of the cladding. These three tools (atmospheric wind tunnel, permeability measurement bench andLes charges supportées par les revêtements extérieurs des bâtiments dépendent à la fois du champ de pression externe (fonction du vent, du site et de la géométrie du bâtiment) et du champ de pression interne dans la lame d'air entre le bardage et la paroi (fonction du champ de pression externe et de la perméabilité du bardage). Des études préliminaires en vraie grandeur nous ont permis d'accéder aux champs instantanés de pression externe et interne et d'évaluer leurs corrélations. Il en est en particulier ressorti que sans prise en compte du rôle de la pression interne, les efforts dimensionnants peuvent être majorés de 40 à 60 % Afin de ramener les problèmes de dimensionnement des bardages à la seule connaissance du champ de pression externe facilement accessible par mesure sur modèle réduit en soufflerie atmosphérique, nous avons mis au point un banc de mesure des perméabilités et élaboré une modélisation numérique permettant de simuler le champ instantané de pression interne à partir du champ de pression
Protein-Inorganic Hybrid System For The Efficient His-Tagged Enzyme AO:DCPIP-OR Immobilization
No full textAnalyse des charges instantanées induites par le vent sur une paroi perméable. Étude en vraie grandeur, simulation numérique et application aux règles de calcul
No full textThe loads borne by building claddings depend on both the external pressure field (a function of wind, site and building geometry) and the internal pressure field in the air gap between cladding and wall (a function of the external pressure field and cladding permeability). Preliminary full-scale studies enabled us to access the instantaneous external and internal pressure fields and assess their correlations. In particular, we found that without taking into account the role of internal pressure, dimensioning forces can be increased by 40 to 60%. In order to reduce cladding dimensioning problems to the sole knowledge of the external pressure field, easily accessible by measurement on a scale model in an atmospheric wind tunnel, we developed a permeability measurement bench and a numerical model to simulate the instantaneous internal pressure field from the external pressure field and the permeability characteristics of the cladding. These three tools (atmospheric wind tunnel, permeability measurement bench andLes charges supportées par les revêtements extérieurs des bâtiments dépendent à la fois du champ de pression externe (fonction du vent, du site et de la géométrie du bâtiment) et du champ de pression interne dans la lame d'air entre le bardage et la paroi (fonction du champ de pression externe et de la perméabilité du bardage). Des études préliminaires en vraie grandeur nous ont permis d'accéder aux champs instantanés de pression externe et interne et d'évaluer leurs corrélations. Il en est en particulier ressorti que sans prise en compte du rôle de la pression interne, les efforts dimensionnants peuvent être majorés de 40 à 60 % Afin de ramener les problèmes de dimensionnement des bardages à la seule connaissance du champ de pression externe facilement accessible par mesure sur modèle réduit en soufflerie atmosphérique, nous avons mis au point un banc de mesure des perméabilités et élaboré une modélisation numérique permettant de simuler le champ instantané de pression interne à partir du champ de pression
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