50 research outputs found
Occupation, race, and empire: Maxence Van der Meersch\u27s Invasion 14
No full textIn his 1935 novel Invasion 14, Maxence Van der Meersch painted a nuanced picture of the German invasion and occupation of northern France during World War I. Despite local controversy, Invasion 14 won national and international praise, losing the Prix Goncourt by a single vote. Though neglected in the wake of World War II, when the author\u27s treatment of Franco-German relations between 1914 and 1918 ran headlong into evolving myths of widespread resistance between 1940 and 1944, Invasion 14 has garnered renewed attention as a window onto the occupation of World War I. Heretofore unappreciated, however, is Van der Meersch\u27s use of colonial themes of race and empire. Based on research in the Archives Maxence Van der Meersch, this study explores the author\u27s treatment of colonial motifs, demonstrating their centrality to the novel and the debate it generated. © Berghahn Journals
Maxence Van der Meersch, herald of the common people
No full textCette thèse se propose d’examiner la place de Maxence Van der Meersch dans la littérature populaire, notamment en confrontant les choix esthétiques et les oeuvres romanesques de l’écrivain aux courants populiste et prolétarien, mais aussi en étudiant les rapports personnels que le romancier entretint avec le peuple. L’examen de ses idéologies sociales et politiques permet de mieux cerner un homme qui, fidèle à ses convictions, refusa d’intégrer un groupe qui ne le représentât pas intégralement et demeura ainsi inclassable tant sur le plan littéraire que politique. Les thèmes de prédilection du romancier sont passés en revue, femmes pécheresses, rachat par la souffrance, figures christiques, personnages d’hercules, etc. ; et l’analyse de ces différents poncifs et clichés, populaires ou non, conduit à une remise en questions des reproches de manichéisme et de simplification extrême souvent faits à l’écrivain. Si son engagement et sa volonté de convaincre l’amenèrent parfois à des prises de position très tranchées, la principale cause qu’il voulut défendre fut celle du peuple, pour lequel son attachement ne se démentit jamais. L’étude s’appuie sur les romans publiés et inédits de l’auteur, ainsi que sur les nombreux et précieux documents présents au Fonds Maxence Van der Meersch de Wasquehal et dans les archives Albin Michel à l’IMEC. Elle est complétée par des annexes qui exhument des textes jusque là restés inédits.This thesis proposes to examine Maxence Van der Meersch’s place in popular literature, especially by confronting the writer’s aesthetic choices and novels with populist and proletarian movements, and also by studying the personal relationship the novelist had with the popular classes. The examination of his social and political ideologies allows to grasp better a man who, true to his convictions, refused to integrate a group that would not have represented him entirely and therefore remained unclassifiable both in the political and literary fields. The novelist’s favourite themes are reviewed : sinful women, atonement by suffering, Christly figures, Herculean characters, etc. ; and the analysis of those different stereotypes and commonplaces, whether popular or not, leads to a questioning of the criticisms about Manicheism and extreme simplification that are often made to the writer. If his commitment and his will to convince sometimes induced him to very clear-cut standpoints, the main cause he wanted to defend was that of the workers, for whom his attachment was never denied. The study is based on published and unpublished novels of the author, and on the numerous and precious documents from the Maxence Van der Meersch Resource of Wasquehal and from Albin Michel archives at IMEC. It is completed with appendixes that bring to light so far unpublished texts
Regular arrays of mono and bimetallic clusters on nanostructured alumina substrates
No full textLes nanoparticules métalliques et bimétalliques supportées par des oxydes sont de plus en plus utilisées comme catalyseur modèle. Cependant, leur potentiel en vue des applications en catalyse n’est pas complètement exploité à cause d’un manque de connaissance de leurs propriétés fondamentales. Ainsi, pour comprendre les mécanismes de la catalyse hétérogène, il est important d’élaborer ces catalyseurs en contrôlant différents paramètres comme la taille, la distribution spatiale et la composition chimique des agrégats supportés. Nous avons montré qu’en utilisant un film ultramince d’alumine nanostructurée comme gabarit, il était possible d’élaborer des réseaux réguliers d’agrégats mono ou bimétalliques en contrôlant indépendamment leur taille et leur composition chimique. Ces réseaux de particules sont obtenus, sous ultravide, par condensation successive des deux métaux (Au, Pd) sur un film ultramince d’alumine nanostructurée.Metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles supported on oxides become increasingly used as model catalysts. However, their potential toward applications is not fully achieved because of a lack of knowledge of the nanoparticles properties. In order to understand the mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis it is important to elaborate these model catalysts in controlling simultaneously the size, spatial distribution and chemical composition of these particles. Recently, we have shown that by using nanostructured ultrathin alumina film as a template, it was possible to obtain regular arrays of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles with independent control of size and chemical composition. These arrays of clusters are prepared by successive atomic deposition of two metals (Au, Pd), under UHV, on a nanostructured ultrathin alumina fil
Réseaux réguliers d'agrégats mono et bimétalliques sur des substrats d'alumine nanostructurée
No full textLes nanoparticules métalliques et bimétalliques supportées par des oxydes sont de plus en plus utilisées comme catalyseur modèle. Cependant, leur potentiel en vue des applications en catalyse n est pas complètement exploité à cause d un manque de connaissance de leurs propriétés fondamentales. Ainsi, pour comprendre les mécanismes de la catalyse hétérogène, il est important d élaborer ces catalyseurs en contrôlant différents paramètres comme la taille, la distribution spatiale et la composition chimique des agrégats supportés. Nous avons montré qu en utilisant un film ultramince d alumine nanostructurée comme gabarit, il était possible d élaborer des réseaux réguliers d agrégats mono ou bimétalliques en contrôlant indépendamment leur taille et leur composition chimique. Ces réseaux de particules sont obtenus, sous ultravide, par condensation successive des deux métaux (Au, Pd) sur un film ultramince d alumine nanostructurée.Metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles supported on oxides become increasingly used as model catalysts. However, their potential toward applications is not fully achieved because of a lack of knowledge of the nanoparticles properties. In order to understand the mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis it is important to elaborate these model catalysts in controlling simultaneously the size, spatial distribution and chemical composition of these particles. Recently, we have shown that by using nanostructured ultrathin alumina film as a template, it was possible to obtain regular arrays of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles with independent control of size and chemical composition. These arrays of clusters are prepared by successive atomic deposition of two metals (Au, Pd), under UHV, on a nanostructured ultrathin alumina filmAIX-MARSEILLE2-Bib.electronique (130559901) / SudocSudocFranceF
Social environment and feeding state influence movement decisions in a web‐building spider
No full textIt is well recognized that feeding rate has a major influence on the amount of movement between microhabitats for many animals. However, the role of other extrinsic and intrinsic factors, and particularly how these factors may interact, is not well understood. This three-part study examines the movement decisions of a web-building spider, Latrodectus hesperus, by assessing microhabitat tenacity in established spiders and by testing how the presence of conspecific neighbours and the combined influence of individual feeding state (determined by prior feeding experience) and neighbour presence influence microhabitat residence time in unestablished spiders. The results show that naturally established spiders did not leave their microhabitats readily, emphasizing the importance of choosing a profitable location. Unestablished spiders stayed longer in microhabitats occupied by conspecifics than in unoccupied ones, and there was practically no cannibalism even though neighbours shared webs. Furthermore, feeding state and neighbour presence showed an interactive effect on microhabitat residence time. When spiders were housed alone, microhabitat residence time increased with feeding state. However, in the presence of conspecifics, spiders had a low propensity to move, regardless of feeding state. Together, these results demonstrate the combined importance of grouping dynamics and feeding state in shaping movement decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishe
Western black widow spiders express state-dependent web-building strategies tailored to the presence of neighbours
No full textWeb-building spiders are territorial animals whose webs serve several purposes including foraging, reproduction and protection. Two factors are predicted to be of primary importance in determining a spider's web-building strategy: (1) current nutritional state (a function of prior feeding rate), which determines the net value of a web, and (2) the presence of co-occurring spiders with whom it may have to interact and partition resources. I conducted a laboratory experiment to test whether western black widow spiders, Latrodectus hesperus, express state-dependent web-building strategies that vary with the presence of conspecific or heterospecific (Tegenaria agrestis and T. duellica) spiders in a microhabitat. I maintained L. hesperus females on two different diets (high- versus low-food) and tested their web-building behaviour in the presence or absence of neighbours. When sharing a microhabitat with con- or heterospecific spiders, L. hesperus increased their web-building investment by producing higher-density webs containing more silk and by initiating web-building sooner. Web building was further influenced by nutritional state, such that well-fed spiders produced more silk and built denser webs than their poorly fed counterparts. Furthermore, microhabitat occupancy level and nutritional state showed a combined effect on the different components of web-building behaviour in L. hesperus. I discuss how this behavioural plasticity might optimize microhabitat settlement investments in the context of constraints on web-building activities imposed by nutritional state and cohabitation.Peer reviewedfinal article publishedbehavioural plasticitywestern black widow spiderweb buildingtrade-offsstate-dependent behaviourspider webLatrodectus hesperushabitat selectionforagingcohabitatio
Habitat use by western black widow spiders (Latrodectus hesperus) in coastal British Columbia: evidence of facultative group living
No full textAnimal social systems come in a wide range of forms characterized by different types of group-living relationships. Species that express facultative group-living behaviours, where individuals only associate under certain conditions or at certain times, are especially interesting for studying social evolution. We investigated the social structure of the western black widow spider (Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935) over 5 years in a coastal British Columbia habitat, and present the first comprehensive evidence of facultative group living in the genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805. Latrodectus hesperus have a flexible social structure that varies seasonally, wherein individuals (mostly females) either form groups or live solitarily. In the fall and early winter, females spontaneously form groups of 2-8 individuals, but live alone during the oviposition season in the spring and summer. When living in groups spiders share large webs and are tolerant of each other, although they appear to forage individually. We also report on the relationships between different ecological factors and the social structure of L. hesperus, including the interaction of these spiders with two co-occurring species of introduced spiders (Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer, 1802) and Tegenaria duellica Simon, 1875). Our findings suggest that L. hesperus is a good model system with which to explore the mechanisms involved in the evolution of sociality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Peer reviewedfinal article publishe
The natural diet of a polyphagous predator, Latrodectus hesperus (Araneae: Theridiidae), over one year
No full textThe natural diets of many terrestrial predators such as spiders have yet to be investigated. In this study, I analyzed the diet of a web-building spider, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie (1935), over one year in a natural habitat of coastal British Columbia, Canada. This is the first study to document the natural diet of L. hesperus over several months. I identified and measured 1599 prey items collected from L. hesperus webs and web sites between January and December. Spiders fed on ground-active prey from eight different orders of arthropods. Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the predominant prey of L. hesperus in this habitat, combinely accounting for . 85% of the total prey catches and biomass. The other prey orders included, in order of abundance, Isopoda, Araneae, Dermaptera, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera. Spiders captured prey mostly between May and October, when females oviposit, juveniles grow, and prey are most active. These results show that L. hesperus is a polyphagous predator that feeds primarily on prey from two orders of insects.Peer reviewedfinal article publishedFeeding regimespiderspreypredator-prey interactionsforagin
Social organization of the colonial spider Leucauge sp. in the Neotropics: vertical stratification within colonies
No full textA first step toward understanding why sociality has evolved in a particular taxonomic group is to establish comparison points by studying the organization of different social systems. We examined the social organization and spatial distribution of individuals in colonies of the undescribed colonial spider Leucauge sp. (Araneae: Tetragnathidae). The social organization of this species was typical of a colonial species, with spiders maintaining individual territories (orb webs) within a scaffolding of shared support lines maintained by the group. Furthermore, we observed a size-dependent vertical stratification of spiders within colonies, with large spiders occupying the highest positions, followed by medium, extra-small and small individuals, a spacing pattern that was consistent across colonies of all sizes. Spiders captured and consumed prey individually and displayed territorial behaviors involving web defense. This study provides a new example of a colonial spider species that shows a distinctive within-group spatial distribution. We discuss possible reasons underlying this species’ spatial arrangement in the context of social evolution.Peer reviewedfinal article publishedAggregationspatial distributionsocialityorb webgroup livin
Life-history data for the funnel weavers Eratigena agrestis and Eratigena atrica (Araneae: Agelenidae) in the Pacific Northwest of North America
No full textThe life history of the funnel weaver Eratigena agrestis (Walckenaer) (Araneae: Agelenidae) is not well studied despite its widespread occurrence in Europe and its establishment and spread in the Pacific Northwest of North America since its introduction in the early 20th century. We report phenology and life-history data for E. agrestis and another co-occurring funnel weaver, Eratigena atrica (Koch), in two study sites in British Columbia, Canada. The most notable difference in phenology between the two Eratigena species was the timing of emergence: E. atrica spiderlings emerge in the fall whereas E. agrestis spiderlings emerge in the spring. Surprisingly, the contrasting densities of E. atrica in the two study sites and the presence of the western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae), in one study site had little effect on the life history of E. agrestis. This unexpected finding may be explained by (i) low overall competition pressure in the study habitats, (ii) conspecifics and heterospecifics exerting equivalent competition or predation pressures; and/or (iii) aggregations of heterospecifics providing benefits that offset costs associated with any competition.Peer reviewedfinal article publishe
