French Overseas Department Research Articles

Mortality and severe morbidity of very preterm infants: comparison of two French cohort studies

BackgroundIn Reunion Island, a French overseas department, the burden of preterm birth and perinatal mortality exceed those observed in mainland France, despite similar access to standard perinatal care. The purpose of the study was to compare the outcome of two cohorts of NICU-admitted very preterm infants born between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation (WG): the registry-based OGP (Observatoire de la Grande Prématurité, Reunion Island, 2008–2013) cohort, and the nationwide EPIPAGE-2 (mainland France, 2011) observational cohort.MethodsThe primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcomes defined as a composite indicator of in-hospital mortality or any of three following severe morbidities: bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotising enterocolitis, or severe neurological injury (periventricular leukomalacia or grade III-IV intraventricular haemorrhages). Logistic regression modelling adjusting for confounders was performed.ResultsA total of 1272 very preterm infants from the Reunionese OGP cohort and 3669 peers from the mainland EPIPAGE-2 cohort were compared. Adverse neonatal outcomes were more likely observed in the OGP cohort (32.6% versus 26.6%, p < 0.001), as result of both increased in-hospital mortality across all gestational age strata and increased BPD among the survivors of the 29–31 WG stratum. After adjusting for gestational age, gender and multiple perinatal factors, the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes was higher in the OGP cohort than in the EPIPAGE-2 cohort across all gestational age strata.ConclusionsDespite similar guidelines for standard perinatal care, very preterm infants born in Reunion Island have a higher risk for death or severe morbidity compared with those born in mainland France.

Ethnic differences in postmaturity syndrome in newborns. Reflections on different durations of gestation

Objective To describe the prevalence, by weeks of gestation, of post-maturity signs in newborns by ethnic origins. Study design Observational cohort study (2001–2018), of all consecutive singleton births delivered at Center Hospitalier Universitaire Hospitalier Sud Reunion’s maternity (Reunion Island, French overseas department, Indian Ocean). The presence of clinical post-maturity signs was recorded by a week of gestation using Clifford’s clinical post-maturity signs in newborns (desquamation, dry skin, wrinkling fingers and cracked skin). Results Of the 67,463 singleton births during the period, 58,503 newborns were from Reunion island, 5756 were of European origin (mainland France), and 4061 newborns from the archipelago of Comoros (North of Madagascar). Mean duration of gestation was 276 days in Caucasian women, 272 days in Comorian mothers and 273 days in Reunionese (p < .001). Post-maturity is defined by WHO as gestation greater than 293 days (41 weeks + 6 days). At 41 weeks (287 days) 12.1% of Caucasian babies presented post-maturity signs and 22.4% meconium-stained liquid versus respectively, 22.8 and 27.1% in Reunionese and 44 and 39.8% in Comorians (p < .001). Conclusion Among African (Black) pregnancies, duration of gestation was approximately 7 days shorter than in Caucasian (White) pregnancies. In the Reunionese intermixed population and Comorians, the gestation was shorter by 3–4 days. Black newborns presented severe clinical post-maturity signs beginning around 40 weeks and 4–6 days, while it was 1 week later in white infants. Consequences of these differences, with respect to clinical outcomes, are discussed.

Towards the optimization of botanical insecticides research: Aedes aegypti larvicidal natural products in French Guiana

Natural products have proven to be an immeasurable source of bioactive compounds. The exceptional biodiversity encountered in Amazonia, alongside a rich entomofauna and frequent interactions with various herbivores is the crucible of a promising chemodiversity. This prompted us to search for novel botanical insecticides in French Guiana. As this French overseas department faces severe issues linked to insects, notably the strong incidence of vector-borne infectious diseases, we decided to focus our research on products able to control the mosquito Aedes aegypti. We tested 452 extracts obtained from 85 species originating from 36 botanical families and collected in contrasted environments against an Ae. aegypti laboratory strain susceptible to all insecticides, and a natural population resistant to both pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides collected in Cayenne for the most active of them. Eight species (Maytenus oblongata Reissek, Celastraceae; Costus erythrothyrsus Loes., Costaceae; Humiria balsamifera Aubl., Humiriaceae; Sextonia rubra (Mez) van der Werff, Lauraceae; Piper hispidum Sw., Piperaceae; Laetia procera (Poepp.) Eichl., Salicaceae; Matayba arborescens (Aubl.) Radlk., Sapindaceae; and Cupania scrobitulata Rich., Sapindaceae) led to extracts exhibiting more than 50% larval mortality after 48 h of exposition at 100 µg/mL against the natural population and were considered active. Selectivity and phytochemistry of these extracts were therefore investigated and discussed, and some active compounds highlighted. Multivariate analysis highlighted that solvents, plant tissues, plant family and location had a significant effect on mortality while light, available resources and vegetation type did not. Through this case study we highlighted that plant defensive chemistry mechanisms are crucial while searching for novel insecticidal products.

Vaccination coverage in the context of the emerging Yellow Fever threat in French Guiana.

BackgroundFrench Guiana, a French overseas department located in South America between Brazil and Surinam, is the only European territory geographically located in the Amazonian forest complex and is considered endemic for yellow fever (YF).In the context of the emergent threat of YF in Latin America, we conducted a large household cross-sectional survey from June to October 2017 to estimate vaccination coverage in the population and to determine associations with sociodemographic and geographical characteristics.Methodology/Principal findingsIn total, 1,415 households and 2,697 individuals were included from the 22 municipalities of French Guiana. YF vaccination coverage was estimated at 95.0% (95% CI: 93.4–96.2) in the entire territory but was spatially heterogeneous, with the lowest levels estimated in the western part of the territory along the Surinamese cross-border region, particularly in children under 16 years who were not enrolled in school, immigrant adults and disadvantaged populations with low socioeconomic indexes.Conclusions/SignificanceDespite the good vaccination coverage against YF in the general population of French Guiana resulting from the compulsory nature of YF vaccination for residents and travelers, there is an urgent need to improve vaccination coverage in vulnerable populations living in the northwestern part of the territory to limit the risk of transmission in the context of the emerging YF threat in South America.Despite the relative rarity of YF and the significant number of infectious and tropical diseases in French Guiana, clinicians should adopt a high index of suspicion for YF, particularly in vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Integrative evidence confirms new endemic island frogs and transmarine dispersal of amphibians between Madagascar and Mayotte (Comoros archipelago).

Previous genetic studies of frogs from Mayotte Island (a French Overseas Department in the Comoros Archipelago) in the Western Indian Ocean have provided evidence for oceanic dispersal in amphibians, which is a rare phenomenon due to the osmotic intolerance of amphibians to saline water. Using an integrative approach including morphological, bioacoustic, and genetic evidence, we here confirm that these frogs correspond to two new species and are the only representatives of the family Mantellidae not endemic to Madagascar. Blommersia transmarina sp. nov. differs from its sister taxon, B. wittei, by several morphological differences including larger body size (snout-vent length up to 34.5mm) and by slight differences in advertisement calls. Boophis nauticus sp. nov. differs from its closest relatives, B. tephraeomystax and B. doulioti, by slight morphological differences (including larger body size), a reddish (vs. silvery or golden) iris coloration in life, and slightly different advertisement calls. The two new species differ from their closest relatives by a substantial genetic differentiation, with pairwise genetic distances > 5% in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, and based on the limited available data, also by distinct differences in nuclear DNA. They also are both larger than their closest relatives from Madagascar and B. transmarina sp. nov. is the largest Blommersia species, suggesting a moderate form of island gigantism. The Madagascan sister species B. wittei and B. doulioti are among the relatively few amphibian species occurring in the arid western biomes of the island, are adapted to open landscape, and reproduce in stagnant water bodies, which we hypothesizemay represent important preadaptations for successful overseas colonization.

Economic and legal features and consequences of the uk exit from the European union

The paper considers the issues and legal aspects of building relationships between the European Union and the UK. The current difficult situation between the European Union and Britain cannot be under the radar. On June 19, 2018, Brussels saw the start of negotiations on the secession of the UK from the European Union. This process is called Brexit. Before the EU reformed the Lisbon Treaty, the possibility of withdrawing from the organization was not specified. However, there are several cases when the territories left the EU (which changed their political and administrative status within the country of the organization). For example, Greenland, which in 1979 became an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark, left the EEC (European Economic Community, predecessor of the EU) in 1985. In 2007, an island in the Caribbean, Saint-Barthelemy, left the Union. At first, it was part of the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, but then separated from it and received the status of an overseas community (a special territorial unit of France). Each time the exit process was discussed individually. At present, Greenland and Saint-Barthelemy are on the list of Special Territories of the Member States of the European Union (more than 20 territories in total).

Sensitivity analysis of an outdoor swimming pool under dynamic conditions

Abstract Public swimming pools have an important energy consumption and are rarely optimized. One way to do so is to develop a model able to represent the swimming pool behaviour (water temperature and energy consumption) whatever the climatic conditions. The evaluation of thermal losses is done in this work thanks to the presented model and to measurements (ambient air and pool’s temperature, relative humidity, direction and velocity of wind, global solar irradiation) performed on a public outdoor swimming pool situated in La Reunion, a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean close to Mauritius). Each contribution to the decrease of water’s temperature is clearly identified and represented, leading to quite accurate comparisons between simulated results and tests for 4 different nights.

Le français en espace créolophone – Guadeloupe et Seychelles

Abstract Both in Guadeloupe and in the Seychelles a French-based Creole coexists with French. In addition to this shared main ecological parameter, the two areas diverge in several other points of their contact ecology: First, due to the different timing of French colonization, the French variety exported to Guadeloupe in the 17th century differed from the variety exported to the Seychelles a century later. Second, while the Seychelles were a British colony from 1814 to independence in 1976, Guadeloupe always remained French and is still a French overseas department. Therefore, the contact ecology in Guadeloupe may be characterized as a reciprocally dominant monocontact situation (see Gadet/Ludwig/ Pfänder 2009), while the situation in the Seychelles is one of polycontact (Seychelles’ Creole-English-French), with Seychelles’ Creole and English being dominant in their influence on French (while the reverse is not the case). Using data from several corpora of spoken and written French in the Seychelles and Guadeloupe, this paper shows instances of code copying (e.g. Johanson 2002, Kriegel/Ludwig/Henri 2009) from the two Creole languages (and English) on the morphosyntactical level.

Clinical, Radiological, and Microbiological Characteristics of Mycobacterium simiae Infection in 97 Patients.

Mycobacterium simiae is a rare species of slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). From 2002 to 2017, we conducted a retrospective study that included all patients with NTM-positive respiratory samples detected in two university hospitals of the French overseas department of Reunion Island. We recorded the prevalence of M. simiae in this cohort, as well as the clinical, radiological, and microbiological features of patients with at least 1 sample positive for M. simiae In our cohort, 97 patients (15.1%) were positive for M. simiae Twenty-one patients (21.6%) met the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria for infection. M. simiae infection was associated with bronchiectasis, micronodular lesions, and weight loss. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for 60 patients, and the isolates were found to have low susceptibility to antibiotics, except for amikacin, fluoroquinolones, and clarithromycin. Treatment failed for 4 of the 8 patients treated for M. simiae infection. Here, we describe a specific cluster corresponding to a large cohort of patients with M. simiae, a rare nontuberculous mycobacterium associated with low pathogenicity and poor susceptibility to antibiotics.

Management of pregnancy based on healthcare consumption of women who delivered in France in 2015: Contribution of the national health data system (SNDS)

ObjectiveThis study was designed to further our knowledge of the management of pregnant women based on the national health data system (SNDS). Material and methodsWomen covered by the national health insurance general scheme or a local mutualist section, who delivered in 2015. ResultsAmong the 672,182 women included (mean age: 31 years, SD 5.3), 0.3% were under the age of 18 years, 4% lived in a French overseas department (<18 years: 21%), 17% had complementary universal health insurance coverage (<18 years: 75%), 1.2% presented a mental illness, 0.6% had a cancer, and 0.4% had cardiovascular disease. At least one outpatient visit with a gynaecologist or midwife was detected for 93% of women (first trimester (T1): 75%), specific or nonspecific pelvic ultrasound was performed in 98% (T1: 92%), blood glucose assay was performed in 78% (T1: 61%), and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 58%. Before delivery, 0.2% of women had at least one admission to the intensive care unit and 22% had at least one hospital stay (<18 years: 38%), for which the principal diagnoses were: false labour (4.5%), threatened preterm labour (2.5%), surveillance of high-risk pregnancy (2.6%), diabetes (2.6%), and hypertension (0.7%). The preterm delivery rate was 6.7% (<18 years: 14%, ≥40 years: 9%). Although 20% of deliveries were performed by caesarean section, 16% of vaginal deliveries required instrumental extraction. DiscussionSNDS data enrich the data derived from periodic national perinatal surveys, such as the poor follow-up of adolescent girls. These data can promote the elaboration and monitoring of annual indicators.

Outbreak of IMI-1 carbapenemase-producing colistin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae on the French island of Mayotte (Indian Ocean)

The spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Southwest Indian Ocean islands is poorly known. Here we describe an outbreak of colistin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae harbouring blaIMI-1 in the French overseas department of Mayotte. Between October 2015 and January 2017, all isolates of imipenem-non-susceptible E. cloacae at Mayotte Medical Center and University Hospital of Reunion Island were screened for carbapenemase production. Positive isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and all β-lactamase genes were identified by PCR and sequencing. Resistance profiles were determined by agar diffusion and Etest. Genetic support of the blaIMI-1 gene was determined by WGS. A total of 18 E. cloacae isolates harbouring blaIMI-1 were detected in 17 patients from Mayotte. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed 16 of the 18 strains to be clonally related and belonging to ST820. Based on clinical data, this outbreak most likely had a community origin. The blaIMI-1 gene in the 18 isolates was carried by a new variant of an integrative mobile element involving the Xer recombinases, called EcloIMEX-8. The mcr-1-mcr-5 genes were absent from the collection. The isolates belonged to E. cloacae cluster XI, known to be colistin heteroresistant. Here we report the first outbreak of IMI-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae. IMI-1-producers may be underdetected in microbiology laboratories because of their unusual antimicrobial resistance profile (resistant to imipenem but with intermediate resistance to ertapenem and susceptible to extended-spectrum cephalosporins) and the absence of blaIMI-1 in the panel of genes targeted by molecular diagnostic kits.

Relationship between pre-pregnancy maternal BMI and optimal weight gain in singleton pregnancies

BackgroundThere is a peculiar phenomenon: two separate individuals (mother and foetus) have a mutually interactive dependency concerning their respective weight. Very thin mothers have a higher risk of small for gestational age (SGA) infants, and rarely give birth to a large for gestational age (LGA) infant. While morbidly obese women often give birth to LGA infants, and rarely to SGA. Normal birthweight (AGA) infants (>10th and <90th centile of a neonatal population) typically have the lowest perinatal and long-term morbidity. The aim of the current study is (1) to determine the maternal body mass index (BMI) range associated with a balanced risk (10% SGA, 10% LGA), and (2) to investigate the interaction between maternal booking BMI, gestational weight gain (GWG) and neonatal birthweight centiles. Methods16.5 year-observational cohort study (2001–2017). The study population consisted of all consecutive singleton term (37 weeks onward) live births delivered at University's maternity in Reunion island, French Overseas Department. FindingsOf the 59,717 singleton term live births, we could define the booking BMI and the GWG in 52,092 parturients (87.2%). We had 2 major findings (1) Only women with a normal BMI achieve an equilibrium in the SGA/LGA risk (both 10%). We propose to call this crossing point the Maternal Fetal Corpulence Symbiosis (MFCS). (2) This MFCS shifts with increasing GWG. We tested the MFCS by 5 kg/m2 incremental BMI categories. The result is a linear law:opGWG (kg) = −1.2 ppBMI (Kg/m²) + 42 ± 2 kg InterpretationIOM-2009 recommendations are adequate for normal and over-weighted women but not for thin and obese women: a thin woman (17 kg/m2) should gain 21.6 ± 2 kg (instead of 12.5–18). An obese 32 kg/m2 should gain 3.6 kg (instead of 5–9). Very obese 40 kg/m2 should lose 6 kg.

Hmong of French Guiana and Hmong of France: from family and roots tourism towards tourism experience of existential authenticity

French Guiana is a French overseas department located between Brazil and Surinam. Hmong refugees have been settled there in 1977 and 1979 and Hmong villages have become an important tourist attraction. Most of these tourists are Hmong from mainland France or US relatives. This family-oriented tourism has gradually shifted towards a form of roots and nostalgia tourism in which Hmong tourists aim to rediscover a setting and a way of life lost during the diaspora. But in the last ten years, another reason to visit Guiana has emerged: the yuj siab life or, to quote the Hmong, living according to one's heart. This article intends to explore all these tourism experiences and practices, and how identity tourism shifts towards this new form of inward-looking tourism focused on the emotional experience, released of any clear reference to Hmong culture and history in an Asian context.

Translating EU renewable energy policy for insular energy systems: Reunion Island's quest for energy autonomy

Recognition of the negative impacts of climate change has led to agreement on the need to decarbonise energy systems through the employment of renewable energy. With many national and transnational policies in place, the options available to insular energy systems (IES) differ from those of interconnected areas due to fragility in their production and distribution networks. Based on the concepts of policy mobility and translation, this study examines the interplay of EU renewable energy policy and insular governance processes aimed at achieving energy autonomy through renewable energy development. Reunion Island, a French Overseas Department and Region, is used as a case study to examine local energy governance processes, aspects that shape regional translation of national and EU policy, and the potential effects that create structures and pathways of energy transition. The study shows that Reunion Island’s regional Energy Governance Committee has significant application potential as a governance tool in other IES and small islands within the EU, but that renewable energy development is restricted due to national policy measures and path dependent governance structural constraints.

Characteristics of invasive breast cancer and overall survival of patients eligible for mass breast cancer screening in Guadeloupe compared to those of the preceding age group

BackgroundMass breast cancer screening is offered to French women between the ages of 50 and 74. In the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, where the population is of mostly African ancestry, a low age at diagnosis of breast cancer has been reported, as for African-Americans. This raises the question of whether breast cancer is more aggressive in the age group preceding that eligible for mass screening (40–49) in Guadeloupe. MethodsWe compared the tumor-related prognostic factors, first line therapy and overall survival rates of breast cancer cases diagnosed between the 40–49 and 50–74 age groups, based on reports of the cancer registry of Guadeloupe for the period 2008–2013. ResultsThe characteristics studied, risk of death after breast cancer (HR 0.84 [95% CI: 0.58-1.22] and overall survival, did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for higher tumor size (28.8 vs 24.0; p=0.004) in the younger group. ConclusionThese results do not show a pattern of more aggressive breast cancer in the age group preceding that eligible for mass screening in Guadeloupe.

Ex vivo infection with Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi in human, dog and sheep placental explants induces tissue damage

Clinical cases of Chagas disease, an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, have been recently described in humans and dogs in French Guiana, a French overseas department located in South America. Elsewhere in endemic countries for this disease, cases of asymptomatic infections have been described. We performed a prevalence survey of the infection in dogs in Cayenne and Kourou, the main cities of French Guiana. In 2014 and 2016, blood samples were taken from 153 dogs from Cayenne and Kourou. All dogs were apparently healthy at the time of sampling. Sex and age of the dogs were recorded as well as the location where they lived. Serum samples from dogs were screened using a rapid immunochromatographic test (Chagas Stat-Pak®Assay, Chembio, USA) detecting anti-T. cruzi antibodies. Simultaneously, a real-time PCR targeting T. cruzi kDNA was performed on the blood samples of the dog. Six dogs (3.9%) were positive only in serology and one (0.6%) only in qPCR. Two dogs were positive for both tests. The prevalence of infection (positivity for one of the two tests) was 5.8% (9/153). There was no significant difference (χ2 test) between Cayenne (5/100) and Kourou (4/53), between males (3/60) and females (6/93), or between 2014 (2/55) and 2016 (7/98). Canine surveillance is a useful tool for the public health risk assessment of Chagas disease. Positive dogs, even when asymptomatic, should be treated as they can serve as a reservoir for T. cruzi.

Linear association between maternal age and need of medical interventions at delivery in primiparae: a cohort of 21,235 singleton births

Objectives: We sought to investigate the potential association between maternal age and the need for active obstetrical intervention intrapartum in primiparas.Study design: Observational study over 14 years (2001–2014) of all consecutive primiparous singleton births having delivered at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Hospitalier Sud Reunion’s maternity (French overseas department, Indian Ocean).Results: Of the 21,235 singleton primiparous births, there were three significant linear associations between maternal age from 12 years of age to 42 + (all χ2 for linear trend, p < .0001) (a) vaginal deliveries without any medical intervention, (b) rate of cesarean sections, and (c) rate of operative vaginal procedures. These three linear associations persisted when controlling for maternal obesity (±30 kg/m2), “heavy babies” (>3.5 kg), and ethnicity. Using maternal age remained significantly an independent risk factor (p < .0001), after controlling for the major confounders: maternal BMI, maternal height, birthweight ≥3500 g, p < .0001.Conclusions: Increasing maternal age has a linear association with vaginal deliveries without any medical intervention, rate of cesarean sections, and rate of operative vaginal procedures. These associations are independent of maternal BMI and maternal height. We currently do not have a specific explanation why younger women appear to be protected from requiring intrapartum obstetric intervention. Nevertheless, these strong facts deserve acknowledgement and further research.

Molecular and serological investigation of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs in French Guiana.

Clinical cases of Chagas disease, an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, have been recently described in humans and dogs in French Guiana, a French overseas department located in South America. Elsewhere in endemic countries for this disease, cases of asymptomatic infections have been described. We performed a prevalence survey of the infection in dogs in Cayenne and Kourou, the main cities of French Guiana. In 2014 and 2016, blood samples were taken from 153 dogs from Cayenne and Kourou. All dogs were apparently healthy at the time of sampling. Sex and age of the dogs were recorded as well as the location where they lived. Serum samples from dogs were screened using a rapid immunochromatographic test (Chagas Stat-Pak®Assay, Chembio, USA) detecting anti-T. cruzi antibodies. Simultaneously, a real-time PCR targeting T. cruzi kDNA was performed on the blood samples of the dog. Six dogs (3.9%) were positive only in serology and one (0.6%) only in qPCR. Two dogs were positive for both tests. The prevalence of infection (positivity for one of the two tests) was 5.8% (9/153). There was no significant difference (χ2 test) between Cayenne (5/100) and Kourou (4/53), between males (3/60) and females (6/93), or between 2014 (2/55) and 2016 (7/98). Canine surveillance is a useful tool for the public health risk assessment of Chagas disease. Positive dogs, even when asymptomatic, should be treated as they can serve as a reservoir for T. cruzi.

Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World by Gary Wilder

Gary Wilder. Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World. Durham: Duke UP, 2015. Pp. xvi, 384. US$28.95. Aime Cesaire from Martinique and Leopold Sedar Senghor from Senegal remain seminal figures in anti-colonial thought. As founders of the negritude movement with the French-Guyanese Leon-Gontram Damas, they directly confronted racism and imperialism in their literary and political writings and fostered pride and self-affirmation among peoples of African descent around the world with their proclamation that, as Cesaire phrased it in his Notebook of a Return to the Native Land, no race has a monopoly on beauty, on intelligence, on strength (Collected 77). At the same time, Cesaire's and Senghor's ideas have provoked controversy, and their political careers have led critics to point out the seeming contrast between their firm anti-colonial rhetoric and the compromises they supported in the relations between their native lands and the French metropolis. Gary Wilder's Freedom Time: Negritude, Decolonization, and the Future of the World is a fascinating overview of Cesaire's and Senghor's careers at their most critical point: the moment right after 1945 when France, recently liberated from Nazi occupation, was compelled to redefine its identity as a nation and an empire. As such, the book can be read as an intellectual biography of these two figures during that important period. The book is also a reflection on the multifarious relations between anti-colonialism, nationalism, cosmopolitanism, and aesthetics. Wilder's assertion, which he defends compellingly throughout the text, is that Cesaire's and Senghor's positions on these issues, particularly their refusal to regard nationalism as the only alternative to colonialism, have much to teach us today in an increasingly globalized world. Wilder's point of departure is that 1945 opened an untimely moment in which many possible futures could be imagined as achievable--that is to say, as already present immanent possibilities within the circumstances at the time. In France's case, the metropolis and its colonies could radically redefine their relations to one another based on how much the experience of empire had already altered the French republic (a topic that Wilder explores in his previous book, The French Imperial Nation-State). The notion that the colonies could challenge colonial domination only by achieving independence and becoming nation states of their own is, for Wilder, a narrative imposed retrospectively on what was, at the time, a much more fluid reality. Another possibility was for the colonies and France to regard themselves as one large French-speaking community, united by ties of culture, language, and shared history. If carried out in the spirit of the radical critiques of capitalism in which both Cesaire and Senghor engaged, such a solution could have led the former colonies to actual substantive freedom (248). This would involve empowering people by addressing economic inequalities, racial prejudices, and other circumstances that limit individual and collective self-determination. Conversely, the merely formal (248) that many of the colonies acquired as independent states converted them into impoverished neocolonial pawns in the Cold War. From that perspective, Cesaire and Senghor demanded not simply a full integration of overseas peoples with the existing nation state but a type of integration that would reconstitute France itself (163). In Cesaire's case, the vision of a pluralistic, multicultural France led to his instrumental role, as member of the French Assembly, in transforming Martinique into a French overseas department. Through centuries of colonization, Antilleans had become, albeit in an intolerably subordinate role, legitimate participants in French history and culture. Now it was a matter of doing them justice by creating a frame that would allow them to participate as equals while at the same time reconstituting France in the light of the ideals of liberty and equality that were already part of its philosophical tradition and political rhetoric. …

An updated checklist of the scale insects from French Guiana (French overseas department in South America)

An updated checklist of the scale insects recorded from French Guiana (French overseas department) is given. This list has been collated from data from 6 different sources: ScaleNet, the EPPO Global Database, the Catalogue des insectes ravageurs des cultures en Guyane Française (Remillet, 1988), MNHN in Paris, LSV in Montpellier and a survey carried out by Direction de l'Alimentation, de l'Agriculture et de la Forêt de Guyane, Service de l'Alimentation (DAAF‐SALIM). Previously, 29 species were recorded from French Guiana by ScaleNet, but the updated list presented in this paper includes a total of 64 species. The 35 species added belong to 7 families: 1 Cerococcidae, 9 Coccidae, 14 Diaspididae, 1 Eriococcidae, 1 Monophlebidae, 2 Ortheziidae and 7 Pseudococcidae.