Geological period from -416 to -397 million years ago which is characterised by a substantial diversification of terrestrial plants (emergence of roots and leaves, unequal division of main stems leading to the emergence of lateral branched systems, etc.)

Canadian political scientist born in 1917. He is best known for creating the systems theory in political science.

A branch of marine animals with five-point radial symmetry and a mesodermal skeleton (the origin of this branch’s name), present at all depths. The most well-known are sea urchins and starfishes.

All the environmental conditions allowing a given species to form viable populations. Therefore, it is both the position a species occupies in the ecosystem and the environmental conditions in which it lives.

G.E. Hutchinson (1957) defined an ecological niche as a hypervolume (an envelope) where each dimension of space represents a resource (food, materials, spatial, hidden supply, substrates or perches, …) or a condition (temperature, precipitation, acidity, …) of the environment. The quantity of resources varies in space and time according to the activity of the species. The conditions and resources are limiting conditions that can be organized into a hierarchy in order to study the vulnerability of the species in the environment.

An ecosystem comes down to the association of two components in constant interaction with each other: an environment (biotope) and a living community (biocenosis). The elements which make up an ecosystem develop a network of energy and matter exchange, enabling the maintenance and development of life. The different seas, mountains, deserts or forests are ecosystems.

Outside the normal place. Ectopia is the abnormal positioning of an organ or a cell.

Ectothermic organisms (insects, reptiles, fish, etc.) are not able to regulate their body temperature. Consequently, their body temperature is very close to the temperature of the environment in which they live. They are more vulnerable to environmental changes, including global warming.

A term with origins in the Greek oikouménè, meaning the ‘totality of the world’ and designating a Council which has a universal ecclesiastical value.

In cinema editing is the selecting and assembling of the shots taken during shooting. Several editing techniques can be used to construct a story, meaning or even suspense.

A comics publishing house created by Thierry Groensteen in 2002 and ended in 2006. It was bought by the group Actes Sud in 2007 and is today devoted to comics only.

A protein with elastic properties. It is secreted by the cells of the aortic wall and other connective tissues such as skin.

A cell capable of producing electric discharges.

A technique which, thanks to electrodes placed on the scalp, can measure the electrical activity of the brain.

An electromagnetic wave is a model used to represent electromagnetic rays. Its behaviour is consistent corresponding to a sinusoidal function and is characterised by three variables: a wavelength (distance between two maxima), a speed (speed of light, if in a vacuum) and a frequency. A light wave in an electromagnetic wave whose wavelength corresponds to the visible spectrum, i.e. between 380 and 780 nanometres. As for radio waves (including GPS signals), they have a far greater wavelength (sometimes kilometres).

System for recording electric currents which accompany muscular activity and make it possible to study muscular activity and enabling study of the nervous system and muscles.

The study of electrical phenomena produced in the cells of living organisms.

A Belgian French speaking poet, who was born and who died in Antwerp. All of his work, nourished with piety and written in a Symbolist tone, is constructed as the echo of ‘the traditional soul of the people,’ the people with little exposed to the bad weather of the Northern climate and who are soothed by the gentle warmth of the Flemish hinterlands. It is the simplicity of song which prevails here, notably when it metamorphoses into lament, as well as the delicacy of prosody: his Enluminures (1898) are significant in this respect. Inspiration became more bitter, however, from August 1914 onwards, the beginning of the Great War, which led him to seek refuge in nearby Holland. This poet, finally, is also an image producer because he from time to time himself illustrated with wood engravings certain of his poetry collections.

From the Greek elutron, meaning sheath. The elytra are the two hardened forewings of certain orders of insect, notably the Coleoptera. They cover and protect, when at rest, the hindwings like a case. During the insect flight, the elytra are simply held open to allow the movement of the hindwings and give more balance, but they do not beat. The elytra can serve as camouflage in adopting the tones of the insect habitat, but they can also be used as a form of defence, adopting bright colours which alarm predators.

Chemical substance that modifies the functioning of the hormonal systems. This is the case with bisphenol A which can be found in food wrappings and phthalates, chemical products used in plastics and cosmetics for example.

In biology the term describes a function or a product generated internally within a system and in the case of an organism synthesised by the organism itself.

A genome sequence of a stable organism (i.e. one which is transmitted from one generation to the next) which has analogies with certain retroviruses (themselves categorised as exogenous because their genome is not present in that of the organism).

A network of membranous tubules dispersed throughout the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells in contact with the cell nucleus. It is where the synthesis of protein and lipids takes place.

organism that lives inside the body or cells of another organism.

form of symbiosis characterised by the mutually beneficial cooperation between two living organisms, where one is contained by another.

The endothelium is the innermost layer of the blood vessels, which is in contact with the blood. It plays an important role in the permeability of the blood vessels, but also in phenomena such as thrombosis.

the second geological era of the tertiary. This era extends from 55 to 34 million years ago. It saw the domination of mammals and the appearance of the cetaceans. 

Leukocyte-type blood cell.

From the Ancient Greek 'epiklesis', meaning 'appelation', it consists of a qualifier attached to the name of a divinty in the context of the cult system. Depending on the circumstances the same god had various forms of epiclesis, which could in particular refer to one of the divinty's functions (Athena Polias, the protector of the city; Zeus Soter, who ensured protection), to the site of his or her cult (Artemis Lindia, the goddess honoured at Lindos; Artemis Limnatis, 'of the marshlands'), etc.

Significant spread of the number of cases of a transmissible infectious disease in a given region.

The superficial layer of the skin, whose surface is made up of dead skin cells that slough off. The epidermis consists of five layers of cells; blood does not circulate through it. Its cells are nourished by diffusion from the dermis. The epidermis does however contain many nerve endings. Its thickness of about one millimeter varies depending on the part of the body: it is thickest in the area of the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet.

Factors modifying gene activity.

Changes in the expression of genes occurring in the absence of DNA mutations.

A field that studies how the environment and the each person’s history influences gene expression.

Related to inscriptions, in other words written or engraved characters, particularly on stone or marble. Epigraphy is for its part the discipline which studies these inscriptions.

A small gland in the brain responsible for the nightly synthesis of melatonin.

Plants and animals which use other plants in order to grow. They are not parasitic because they do not feed on the plant that they use as a support.

In the same way that stars are attributed to hotels, épis are used as a classification for rural guest-houses and bed and breakfasts. These go from 1 to 5. The more épis the establishment has, the more prestigious it is.

Tissue composed of juxtaposed epithelial cells arranged in one or more layers. Skin or the mucous membrane lining the stomach wall are examples of epitheliums.

This has become a proper noun to describe the European student exchange programme and is an acronym for "EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students ".

For further information : http://www.esn.org/content/erasmus-programme

A Dutch humanist, born near Rotterdam, and who died in Basle.  After a solid religious education this illegitimate son became a monk, but the rules of monastic life did not suit him. On the other hand the discovery of Antiquity filled him with enthusiasm. Excused from his vows by Pope Julius II, he set down to travelling across Europe, notably to England and Italy. The story of his life thus merges with that of his travels and his works. Amongst these stands out The Praise of Folly (1509), written in Latin and first of all printed in Paris in 1511, in which he in particular criticises the ostentatious luxury of the ecclesiastic hierarchy. Moreover, persuaded that at the foundations of the Christian faith were the words of Christ, he looked to bring together the study of the Ancients and the spirit of the New Testament, without for all that abandoning a sense of measure and tolerance. Finally, in 1517, his attachment to classical languages inspired him to found the College of the Three Languages – Latin, Greek, Hebrew – at Louvain.

The E. coli bacteria is composed of several different strains. Scientists give them a name according to the identity of their surface antigens and from the moment they have been described. These names resemble for example O104:H4 or O157:H7. But what is the significance of these letters and numbers?

The E. coli bacteria is made up of a structure protected by two membranes. On one of these the antigen known as O is present, protected by another strain, the K antigen (which is rarely mentioned today). Finally, the bacteria can carry another antigen, the H antigen, which is a flagellum that allows E. coli to move around. In the case of the K antigen, the protective layer can mean Kaufmann, from the name of its discoverer in the 1940s, or “Kapsel” (capsule). The O antigen signifies “Ohne Kapsel” (without capsule), because it can only be detected if the capsule does not exist or is destroyed. The antigen H comes from “Hauch”. “The reason for the designation of this flagellated antigen is independent of the E. coli species. Also the fact of understanding that the H antigen allows the bacteria to move around is sufficient.” Explains Professor Jacques Mainil. Around 200 O antigens, 70 K antigens and 60 H antigens have been described. The different combinations of these three types of antigens form the different strains of the E. coli bacteria which will have general and pathogenic properties that are different from each other.

With regard to the figures present beside the letters O and H (and also K when they exist), these signify that these antigens have been the ones described umpteen times. For example, the O157:H7 strain is made up of the 157^th O antigen and the 7^th H antigen described. This pathogenic strain was observed for the first time at the end of the 1970s. The O104:H4 strain is therefore composed of an O antigen which was the 104^th described, and a H antigen which was the 4th described. However, while these antigens were discovered before those of the O157:H7 strain, the pathogenic strain O104:H4 was only observed in 2011, during the outbreak in Germany.

A philosophical concept according to which essence precedes existence. In literature it supposes that writers, blessed by Mother Nature, have an innate gift, beyond any social influence.

Under the Ancien Régime, the “estates” were synonymous with “orders” of society, and designated the socio-political condition of a person. After the Peace of Fexhe (1316), the legislative power in the Principality was shared between the Prince-Bishop and three Estates: the primary Estate (Chapitre, representing all clergy), the noble Estate (made up of a few important nobles) and the Third Estate (made up of bourgeois who were serving as burgomasters in the 23 “bonnes villes”, 12 speaking a dialect of Dutch and 11 speaking the Walloon language, in the country).

A European Commission service, launched in 1973. It has the aim of measuring and analysing public opinion and trends at regular intervals in every Member State and membership candidate state. This instrument is based on the principle that it is useful to know what the general public think, in various areas, to help the European Commission to draw up its suggestions for legislative texts, to take decisions and evaluate its work. The Eurobarometer leans on opinion polls and target groups. Its studies give rise to the publication of around one hundred reports each year.

Concept borrowed from Aline Gohard-Radenkovic to designate the discourse of European institutions. 

The ‘European Blue Card,’ inspired by the American ‘Green Card,’ and aimed at highly qualified immigrants, was adopted by the European Parliament on November 4, 2008.
• The European Blue Card is valid for three years and can be renewed.
• The European Blue Card authorises freedom of movement in all the member states after three years. (The Green Card offers the right to live and travel on all the American states).
• The European Blue Card does not automatically grant the right to permanent residence whilst the American Green Card offers the right to residence for ten years.
• Holders of The European Blue Card can obtain long term residence status after five years. Holders of the Green Card can request American citizenship after five years.

The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, commonly referred to as the European Convention of Human Rights, was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950. It entered into force in 1953 and refers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The European Court of Human Rights, located in Strasbourg, is responsible for monitoring its implementation in the member countries of the Council of Europe. Individuals may file complaints for violation of human rights before this Court when all other remedies have been exhausted in the Member State concerned.
 

An individual who has lived through a bout of depression but is not suffering from it currently.

An ecological process that is found in aquatic systems, which occurs when an excess of nutrients disrupts the ecological balance of the ecosystem.

The departure of the Hebrew people from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. The ‘Book of Exodus’ is the biblical account of the oppressions of the Hebrews in Egypt, their departure and journey across the Sinai desert and the giving of the Ten Commandments.

Less subjective than the term “foreign”. This term refers to artists who at some time or other worked in their artistic areas outside the formative environment of their birthplace. 

The part of genome made up of exons, that is to say the coding part of the genes expressed.

The search for exoplanets, in other words planets situated beyond our solar system, began in the 1940s. The first discovery of one of them (or two of them, to be precise) occurred in 1991, but it concerned planets orbiting around a dead star and not a living star like the Sun. In 1995 Swiss astronomers announced the discovery of another exoplanet, spinning round Pegasus 51, situated 40 light years from us. The detection methods are generally indirect ones: perturbations brought about by the presence of the planet are measured (read the article Liège astrophysicists in seventh heaven). Nonetheless the method known as ‘active optics’ (the surfaces of telescope mirrors are modified several times a second in order to compensate atmospheric turbulence) enabled the first photo of an exoplanet to be taken in 2008.

A hard external envelope which protects an animal.

Vesicle secreted by a cell into its immediate environment playing a role in the communication between cells by transferring messenger RNAs, proteins or microRNAs.

Are the opposite of flexor muscles, because they allow the limbs to stretch.

Loss of a right by its holder as a result of prolonged inaction. Prescription periods (statutes of limitations) vary from six months to thirty years but the most common is a period of ten years (decennial prescription). An example of extinctive prescription: when person A lends person B money, person A becomes person B's creditor. If A is not paid back at the end of the credit term and does not begin court proceedings to this end within the ten years that follow, the debtor will be released of his obligations, person A having lost his right to claim or the action that accompanies such right.

Extremist parties are characterised by the radicalism with which they try to impose their ideology on a society. They reject democracy and the multi-party system. There are traditionally two types of political extremists: the extreme left and the extreme right, which disagree about the concept of human equality. The extreme left recognizes the complete and absolute equality of every man and woman. The extreme right believes that the human species must exist according to a hierarchy, whether it is based on religion, nationality, or the arbitrary establishment of different human races. The three pillars of the extreme right are thus a rejection of social equality, nationalism, and the radical methods its members use to achieve the objectives of their ideology.  

An organism is referred to as an extremophile when its normal ideal living conditions are deadly for the majority of other organisms. Extremophiles include hyperthermophiles (organisms living at a temperature higher or equal to 100°C), psychrophiles (organisms living at a temperature less than or equal to 0°C), halophiles (organisms living in an environment with high salt concentrations), anaerobic organisms (organisms living in an environment deprived of oxygen), piezophiles, organisms that thrive at high pressure (such as the bottom of the ocean), in highly acidic, hyper-alkaline or very radioactive environments or organisms living in complete darkness.
Extremophile organisms most often belong to the branch of bacteria or archaea.

Group of techniques that can measure eye movements, most often based on images of the eye recorded by an infrared camera.