Paris West University Nanterre La Défense

About: Paris West University Nanterre La Défense is a education organization based out in Paris, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Finite element method. The organization has 895 authors who have published 1430 publications receiving 21712 citations.

Currency misalignments and economic growth: the foreign currency-denominated debt channel

Abstract: The literature on the growth effects of currency misalignments, although prolific, revolves around two main axes: one the one hand, the export-oriented growth literature which attributes positive effects to undervaluations (competitiveness gains) and, on the other hand, the Washington Consensus view according to which any deviations from equilibrium hamper economic growth. In this paper, we show that there is no "one size fits all" relationship in this regard. Indeed, relying on a panel of 72 developing and emerging countries, we evidence the existence of a foreign currency-denominated debt channel through which misalignments impact growth. Compared to the "traditional" competitiveness channel, this channel works in the opposite direction. The paper therefore reconciles the two strands of the literature: undervaluations may have indeed a positive growth effect, but it is crucial to take into account the possible costs related to this undervaluation to have a clearer picture of the net total effect.

Effects of natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice on the acute and delayed response of Homocysteine and steroidal hormones following weightlifting exercises: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract: Maximal strength-speed exercise is a powerful stimulus to acutely increase concentrations of circulating steroid hormones and homocysteine [Hcy]. There is some evidence that antioxidant beverages rich in polyphenols can attenuate [Hcy] levels and modulate endocrine responses in favor of an anabolic environment. Polyphenols-rich pomegranate (POM) have been reported to possess one of the highest antioxidant capacities compared to other purported nutraceuticals and other food stuffs. Studies focused on proving the beneficial effect of POM consumption during maximal strength exercises have only measured physical performance, muscle damage, oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, while POM effects on [Hcy] and hormonal adaptations are lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of consuming natural polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice (POMj) on the acute and delayed [Hcy] and steroidal hormonal responses to a weightlifting exercises session. Nine elite weightlifters (21.0 ± 1 years) performed two Olympic-weightlifting sessions after ingesting either the placebo (PLA) or POMj supplements. Venous blood samples were collected at rest and 3 min and 48 h after each session. Compared to baseline values, circulating cortisol [C] decreased (p < 0.01) and testosterone/cortisol [T/C] ratio increased immediately following the training session in both PLA and POMj conditions (p = 0.003 for PLA and p = 0.02 for POM). During the 48 h recovery period, all tested parameters were shown to recover to baseline values in both conditions with significant increases in [C] and decreases in [T/C] (p < 0.01 for PLA and p < 0.05 for POMj) from 3 min to 48 h post-exercises. Compared to PLA, a lower level of plasma testosterone [T] was registered 3 min post exercise using POMj supplementation (p = 0.012) and a significant decrease (p = 0.04, %change = − 14%) in plasma [Hcy] was registered during the 48 h recovery period only using POMj. A moderate correlation was observed between [Hcy] and [T] responses (p = 0.002, r = − 0.50). In conclusion, supplementation with POMj has the potential to attenuate the acute plasma [T] response, but did not effect 48 h recovery kinetics of [Hcy] following weightlifting exercise. Further studies investigating androgen levels in both plasma and muscular tissue are needed to resolve the functional consequences of the observed acute POMj effect on plasma [T]. Clinical Trials.gov, ID: NCT02697903. Registered 03 March 2016.

Paths, Choices, Outcomes, and Uncertainty

Abstract: The purpose of this chapter is to examine some of the problems facing the social sciences in their endevour to understand and explain the processes which, rightly or wrongly, we have got into the habit of calling “democratic transitions”1. My objective however is much more modest than what can be inferred from my initial statement: I would like to re-examine the explanatory principles used by different groups of scholars who have tried to elaborate specific approaches more or less specially “adapted” to these processes, which I shall call “transitology”.

À ma grande surprise

Abstract: On propose une demarche pedagogique permettant de pallier la desaffection pour la grammaire de beaucoup d’enseignants et d’eleves; ce renouvellement suppose que l’on dispose de descriptions grammaticales plus serieuses que celles qui sont donnees dans les manuels. Personne ne peut pretendre detenir la verite de la langue mais au moins se doit-on de fonder les hypotheses avancees — car regles serait un bien grand mot — sur le maximum d’enonces, et d’avouer les difficultes eventuelles — ce que nous ne nous privons pas de faire dans l’exemple de complement circonstanciel analyse!

Éthique professionnelle et activité médicale : une analyse en termes de conventions

Abstract: This article is an attempt to explain professional ethics in the health sector. On the one hand, the scope and limitations of the traditio- nal approach are examined. In this analysis, professional ethics is red u- ced to a constraint or an incentive contract. On the other hand, it should be stressed that the so called « economy of conventions » is a ju- dicious approach to explain profes- sional ethics. The article study the cognitive and emotive contents of this convention.