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Abstract The informational structure of an utterance is the way in which the already available information recalled or presupposed by the utterance (the " theme ") and the new information conveyed by the utterance (the " propos ") are distributed within …

Abstract The need for new materials to tackle societal challenges in energy and sustainability is widely acknowledged. As demands for performance increase while resource constraints narrow available options, the vastness of composition, structure and …

Abstract Planets in formation interact gravitationally with the protoplanetary disk, causing their orbits to evolve. One of the most remarkable phenomena is the change in the planet's orbital radius, a process known as migration. This lecture will explore …

Abstract In this first lecture, I will present an overview and historical perspective of epigenetics, the notion of phenotypic plasticity and how epigenomes can respond to environmental stimuli. I will discuss the extent to which epigenetic heritability, …

Abstract The conversion of semi-natural environments into cultivated ones and the intensification of agricultural practices, particularly the growing use of pesticides, are among the main factors behind the current decline in biodiversity. At the same …

Abstract Humans depend on living things for their survival and quality of life, a dependency illustrated by the notions of " ecosystem services " or " nature's contributions to people ". In particular, pollinators are essential to our food supply, and to …

Abstract Optical frequency combs have revolutionized time and frequency metrology by providing rulers in frequency space that measure large optical frequency differences and/or straightforwardly link microwave and optical frequencies. Such combs enable …

Abstract More than 10   years ago, David Burr and I proposed the use of computational modelling to identify the mechanisms that underlie autistic sensation and perception. Specifically, we suggested that attenuated Bayesian priors could result in autistic …

The Role of Education and Visual Experience in Geometric Intuition Abstract How do experience and education transform our geometric intuitions ? The lecture reviews several experiments carried out among children and adults from relatively isolated …

Abstract Domestication is a process of rapid evolution under the influence of human selection. We have domesticated the dog, but we have also evolved fruit trees and microorganisms. We'll look at the evolutionary processes at work in the domestication of …

Abstract Readings in Greek paideia continued into the Christian period, in languages other than Latin and Greek. A whole network of Syriac schools is attested in the Roman Empire, as well as in the Sassanid Empire in the regions of northern and southern …

Abstract A thorough understanding of the nervous system is essential for the development of neurotechnology. This involves the study of neurons, synapses and neural networks, as well as the biochemical and electrical processes that regulate communication …

Abstract Natural selection is based on three main principles : the principle of variation, the principle of differential reproductive success, and the principle of heredity. Although natural selection acts on phenotypes, it is mainly the genetics …

Abstract Accusations of biopiracy made by indigenous peoples against pharmaceutical companies have brought to the fore the more general question of the commercial appropriation of indigenous knowledge, whether in specialized fields such as biological …