Les systèmes de localisations existants présentent des insuffisances au niveau desapplications en environnement indoor. Ces insuffisances se traduisent soit par la non-disponibilité des signaux (le GPS) dans ce type d'environnement, soit par leur manque de précision quand ils sont prévus à cet effet. Ces limites ont motivé la recherche de nouvelles techniques. Les transmissions Ultra-Large Bande (ULB) de par leur singularité en matière de précision et de faible puissance d'émission, s'avèrent être la meilleure réponse à la problématique ci-dessus. Nous avons donc choisi cette technique pour mettre au point un procédé de localisation endogène permettant d'assurer, avec précision, la continuité des services de localisation dans les environnements indoor. Ce procédé s'appuie sur la localisation en trois dimensions (3-D). Il utilise la technique temporelle de différenciation du temps d'arrivée (TDOA). Cette technique permet de mieux tirer profit de la bonne résolution temporelle de l'ULB et de pallier au problème de synchronisation entre l'émetteur et le récepteur. Deux techniques de transmission ULB ont été étudiées : la technique d'accès multiples par séquence directe (DS-CDMA) et la technique d'accès multiples par sauts temporels (TH-CDMA). Une autre étape importante de notre étude a été de développer un algorithme non-itératif de localisation en 3-D pour réduire le temps de calcul. En effet, l'utilisation d'un algorithme non-itératif permet d'optimiser les performances du système en termes de temps de calcul voire de coûts de consommation énergétique. Après l'étude théorique des différents blocs du système, le système a été tout d'abord simulé dans le canal Gaussien (AWGN) et les canaux IEEE.802.15.4a indoor. Il a été ensuite testé dans différents environnements réels de types laboratoires. Les résultats obtenus démontrent que l'utilisation des techniques de transmission basées sur la technologie radio impulsionnelle ULB permet d'obtenir un système de localisation en 3-D avec une précision centimétrique pour les applications indoor.

This study mainly addresses the problem of estimating the prior earthquake damage on the response of reinforced concrete structures to future earthquakes. The motivation has arisen from the heavy damages or collapses that occurred in many reinforced concrete structures following two major earthquakes that recently occurred in the Marmara Region, Turkey. The analysis tool employed for this purpose is the package named IDARC2D. Deterioration parameters of IDARC&#039 / s hysteretic model have been calibrated using a search method. In the calibration process experimental data of a total of twenty-two beam and column specimens, tested under constant and variable amplitude displacement histories, has been used. Fine-tuning of deterioration parameters is essential for more realistic predictions about inelastic behavior and structural damage. In order to provide more realistic damage prediction, three ranges of parameters are proposed. Some damage controlling structural parameters have been assessed via a large number of two-dimensional section analyses, inelastic time history and damage analyses of SDOF systems and seismic vulnerability analyses of reinforced concrete buildings. Inelastic time history and damage analyses of numerous SDOF systems have been carried out to determine whether the loading history has an effect on damage and dissipated hysteretic energy. Then this emphasis is directed to the analyses of MDOF systems. In the analyses of the SDOF systems, various forms of constant and variable amplitude inelastic displacement reversals and synthetic ground motions composed of one of the four earthquake records preceded or followed by its modified records acted as a prior or successive earthquake, have been used. The analyses of two five-story R/C buildings have been caried out using synthetic accelerograms comprised of base input provided by the two recorded ground motions. It is shown that both damage progression and cumulative hysteretic energy dissipated along a path seem to depend on the number and amplitude of cycles constituting the path. However, final damage and accumulated hysteretic energy dissipated along a loading path are independent of the ordering of the same number and amplitude cycles along the path. There is a nonlinear relationship between the earthquake excitation intensity and final damage attained in the end. Increase in the acceleration amplitude leads to exponential increase in damage. As the prior earthquake intensity increases the damage from the succeding main earthquake decreases. A definite ground motion acting as prior and successive earthquake causes substantially different amount of damage. Prior earthquake damage does not substantially affect the maximum drift response in future larger earthquakes. A MDOF frame type structure with aprior damage suffers less overall damage in an earthquake in comparison with the one without a prior damage.

La Nouvelle École de Paris est un objet à géométrie variable de l’histoire de l’art. Plus qu’une école nationale, elle est un concept résultant de la somme des discours qui n’ont de cesse de la définir de 1945 à 1980. L’École de Paris est une zone de transformation permanente au gré des projections et des interprétations des acteurs du monde de l’art (critiques, galeristes, artistes et historiens) ainsi que des intervenants extérieurs (politiques, milieux économiques). Chaque partie en a une lecture personnelle.Cette thèse, articulée en deux volets, revient sur les origines de ces interprétations contradictoires. Ainsi, la première partie concerne les lectures contemporaines de la Nouvelle École de Paris de 1945 à 1955. Cette période qui s’étend depuis la Libération de la France jusqu’au début de la guerre froide, revient sur les conditions d’émergence de la Nouvelle École de Paris et analyse les différentes acceptions qu’elle revêt. Le deuxième volet, intitulé l’École de Paris face à son histoire de 1955 à 1980, se concentre sur les réécritures de l’histoire de l’art. Au milieu des années 1950 la Nouvelle École de Paris atteint une stabilité qui relance la modernité et permet de réaffirmer la place de la France sur la scène internationale. Néanmoins, le modèle qui s’impose alors, va être fortement contesté tant au niveau national qu’international, alors que jusqu’ici l’École de Paris avait imposé un modèle historiographique basé sur la continuité des avant-gardes historiques françaises. À la fin des années 1960, l’école parisienne devenue trop embarrassante dans un monde de l’art internationalisé, devient un enjeu de relecture. L’histoire de l’art qui s’écrit dans les années 1970, frappée par la crise de l’avant-garde, réévalue les termes de son passé moderniste et ceux de la tradition nationale française. Il s’agit alors de déterminer la place et le rôle de l’École de Paris au sein du programme de refondation des politiques culturelles et de l’historiographie qui s’écrit de 1960 à 1980. Bien qu’officiellement condamnée, certains aspects de l’École de Paris entrent pourtant en résonnance avec la néo-avant-garde qui se développe entre 1970 et 1980, permettant de repenser et de dépasser les blocages engendrés par les définitions paradoxales de l’École de Paris. / The Nouvelle École de Paris is a “geometrical object” with multiple facets that have evolved throughout the History of art. More than a national school, the Nouvelle École de Paris arose from cumulative discourses that have been trying to define it from 1945 to 1980. The École de Paris is a permanent morphing zone, changing upon two main components. The first one includes the interpretations and projections stemming from various actors constituting the artistic community (i.e. critics, gallery owners, historians, artists, etc.) and the second one involves independent contributors (i.e. political and economic protagonists). Each one has a different reading. This thesis contains two parts, both exploring the multiple conflicting interpretations to understand the resulting artistic heritage of the École de Paris. Thus, the first part of the thesis named “The contemporary readings from 1945 to 1955” investigates the conditions and contexts allowing the rise of École de Paris and analyzes the multiple acceptations it faces through contemporary readings from the end of the Second World War in 1945, after the Liberation, to the beginning of the Cold War in 1955. The second part, named “L’ École de Paris facing its history, from 1955 to 1980” is focused on the way of rewriting the History of art. The Nouvelle École de Paris reaches enough stability to revive the modernity in the middle of the 50’s, allowing reinforcing the international position of France on the artistic scene. Nevertheless, the historiographical model based on the French historical avant-garde that has been so far imposed by the École de Paris will be strongly contested at both national and international levels. Becoming too embarrassing in such an internationalized artistic world, the École de Paris is again subjected to further reinterpretations at the end of the 60’s. Stricken by the artistic avant-garde crisis of the 70’s, the History of art is constrained to reappraise the terms defining its Modernist past and those of the artistic French national tradition. The new issues to determine the place and the role of the École de Paris within the rebuilding program of French cultural policies and through the historiography writing come up from1960 to 1980. Although officially condemned, the resonance of some aspects of the École de Paris within the neo-avant-garde arising between 1970 and 1980, allows rethinking and surpassing the blockages formerly engendered by all paradoxical definitions of the École de Paris.

The first definitive haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) produced during embryonic development are generated from a specialised subset of endothelial cells known as haemogenic endothelium. Recently, it was reported that Gata3 plays a dual role in the development of sympathetic nervous system and haematopoietic system. In fact, Gata3 has proven to be crucial for the production of HSCs through regulation of catecholamine production from the co-developing sympathetic nervous system. Also, it was recently shown that Gata3 is expressed in the haemogenic endothelium and haematopoietic progenitor cells. Here, I will specifically examine the role of Gata3 in the production of HSCs; if it is expressed and plays a role in the precursors from which HSCs arise. Using a Gata3-GFP reporter mouse line, we found that Gata3 is expressed in various cell types in the HSCs microenvironment, including mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, haematopoietic cells and sympathetic nervous system, and this expression was stage dependant. In the endothelial cells, we have found that the haemogenic endothelium activity is enriched in Gata3 expressing cells. Within the haematopoietic cells, we have found that Gata3 marks a specific stage along the developmental pathway towards the generation of definitive haematopoietic stem cells, and that Gata3 expressing haematopoietic cells are enriched for the most immature and stem cell like progenitors. Moreover, Gata3 will be specifically knocked out in haemogenic endothelial cells to determine whether it plays an essential role in the production of HSCs from the endothelium using the Vec-Cre system. We found that Gata3 within the haemogenic endothelium plays a major role in haematopoietic progenitors formation, and possibly haematopoietic stem cell formation. Finally, we used molecular assay (RNA seq) to identify the role of Gata3 in the haematopoietic stem cell microenvironment and found that Gata3 plays a major role in the development and differentiation of various cells and systems, and implicated Gata3 as cell cycle regulator. In summary, we found that Gata3 expressing cells is enriched for haemogenic endothelium, crucial for the haematopoietic progenitors formation, plays and important role in endothelial to haematopoietic transition, and plays a key developmental role in both haematopoietic stem cell and its microenvironment.

Small and medium sized businesses play an important part in functioning economy. Due to the current economy crisis, enterpreneurs have to reevaluate their ecomonic strategies in order not only to remain prosperous, but to try to expand as well. Therefore it is important for them to choose the right banking institution that can satisfy their needs. Poor selection of bank product could cause financial burden for the business and would not meet the original expectations. The aim of this dissertation is to identify the hidden potential of the regional financial centre of the Poštovní spořitelna Bank in Ceske Budejovice (PSB), in order to get new clients amongst small and medium sized businesses. First, based on the findings in the questionnaire and business environment analysis, this dissertation will try to analyze certain PSB products for small and medium sized businesses. Secondly, to analyze the interest and demand of the businesses, their number and layout in South Bohemia, especially in Ceske Budejovice region. The above mentioned questionnaire and business environment analysis confirmed that small and medium sized businesses are not much aware of the PSB{\crq}s products, and therefore the use of them is rather poor. The solution may be a certain way of closer communication with small and medium sized businesses. Building this type of communication is dependant on regional marketing budget and thus not easy, due to the limited resources. The final decision maker in this case is the regional bank director. The PSB will cooperate with Association of small and medium sized businesses as well as with the South Bohemian Economic Chamber, and also will advertise in regional press.

Esse trabalho de tese descreve a síntese e a caracterização de materiais amorfos e cristalinos na forma de pó e de filmes finos pertencentes ao sistema Er2O3-Y2O3-Al2O3-B2O3. O principal objetivo do trabalho foi o de obter filmes finos amorfos contendo íons Er3+ próximo à composição YAI3(BO3)4 (YAB), visando sua aplicação como amplificador em dispositivos ópticos integrados. Na síntese das amostras foi empregado o método dos precursores poliméricos e o método sol-gel. Uma vez estabelecida às condições de síntese das resinas e de sóis estáveis, diferentes parâmetros foram otimizados visando à deposição de filmes relativamente espessos e amorfos. As propriedades térmicas, estruturais e ópticas de amostras cristalinas ou amorfas, na forma de pó e na forma de filmes finos, foram caracterizadas através das técnicas de análise termogravimétrica, calorimetria exploratória diferencial, difração de raios X, espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier, espectroscopia Raman e microscopia eletrônica de varredura de alta resolução, microscopia de força atômica, espectroscopia \"m-line\", medidas de espectros de luminescência. Baseado na análise térmica e estrutural das amostras na forma de pó, foi possível realizar a síntese de amostras na forma de filmes finos de composição Y1-xErxAl3(BO3)4 que apresentaram características estruturais, microestruturais e ópticas adequadas à aplicação desejada. Através do estudo das propriedades térmicas e estruturais, foi observado que as amostras preparadas através do método dos precursores poliméricos e do método sol-gel apresentam respectivamente uma temperatura de transição vítrea (Tg) à 723 &#176C e à 746 &#176C e uma temperatura de cristalização (Tc) à 814 &#176C e à 830&#176C. O tratamento térmico à aproximadamente 1150 &#176C da amostra amorfa na forma de pó de composição Y0,9Er0,1Al3(BO3)4 contendo boro em excesso levou a obtenção de uma solução sólida cristalina de composição Y0,9Er0,1Al3(BO3)4. No que se refere às propriedades dos filmes finos, as melhores condições de densificação, homogeneidade, eficiência de guiamento, emissão luminescente e tempo de vida foram observadas quando os filmes de composição Y0,9Er0,1Al3(BO3)4 foram tratados entre as temperaturas de Tg e Tc. Os filmes amorfos de composição Y0,9Er0,1Al3(BO3)4 se comportam como guias monomodos, apresentando alta emissão luminescente e um tempo de vida comparável a outros sistemas amorfos a base de boro. Esse comportamento mostra a viabilidade de aplicação desses filmes amorfos como amplificadores ópticos planares. / This work specifies the synthesis and the characterization of amorphous and crystalline powder and thin films materials belonging to the Er2O3-Y2O3-Al2O3-B2O3 system. The main objective of this work was to develop amorphous thin film samples near the YAI3(BO3)4 composition with yttrium partially substituted by erbium Y1-xErxAl3(BO3)4 with the aim of applying these thin films as waveguide amplifiers in integrated optical systems. The polymeric precursor and the sol-gel methods were applied in order to produce such thin films. After the first step where the conditions to obtain very stable resins and sols was established, different parameters were adjusted aiming the deposition of thick and stable thin films. To well define the best conditions to obtain amorphous and dense thin films, the powder samples of the same compositions were first characterized by thermal analysis techniques, X-ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopies, high resolution electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. From thermal analysis and structural results, it was observed that the samples prepared from the polymeric precursor and sol-gel methods exhibit glass transition temperatures, Tg, at 723 and 746 &#176C and cristallisation temperatures, Tc, at 814 and 830 &#176C, respectively. The heat treatment at around 1150 &#176C of Y0,9Er0,1Al3(BO3)44 powder sample containing a smaller amount of boron in excess produced by both methods lead to the formation of a crystalline solid solution of the same composition without the presence of secondary phases. These results show that dense, free of cracks, thick and homogeneous thin films could be obtained when they were submitted at a heat treatment in temperatures between Tg and Tc. From the \"m-line\" spectroscopy technique and luminescence measurements we observed that the Y0,9Er0,1Al3(BO3)4 amorphous thin films can be considered as monomode waveguides showing a high luminescence intensities and a lifetime similar to other amorphous borate systems. These results show the potentiality to apply such amorphous thin films as optical planar amplifiers.

O objetivo desta tese é analisar Operación masacre de Rodolfo Walsh à luz da reflexão sobre as relações entre literatura e testemunho. O trabalho tem como hipótese que Operación masacre pode ser lida como um romance de testemunho não só porque em suas páginas denuncia a prática da violência de Estado mas, sobretudo, porque essa violência gera o imperativo ético de escrever e a procura de uma forma narrativa. / The purpose of this thesis is to analise Operación masacre written by Rodolfo Walsh under the lights of reflection about the relations between literature and testimony. The work has as hypothesis that Operación masacre can be read as a testimony novel not only because in its pages denounces the State´s violence, but above all, because this violence generates the ethical imperative of writing and the search for a narrative form.

Abstract This material culture study focuses on the residents of Oulu via small clothing-related items (buttons, buckles, pins). The source material is comprised of not only excavation material, but also of the probate inventories of the townsfolk. Gender archaeology, previously unused in Finnish urban archaeology, is used as the theoretical framework. This study discusses early modern clothing from the perspective of identity with particular emphasis on gender and class; why did townsfolk dress as they did in the 18th century Oulu? Although clothing was mainly tied to class and gender in early modern Oulu, on a personal level there was room for negotiation and transgression. Classes were an integral part of society in the 18th century, and the abolishment of the class system was still ahead. However, the signs of the formation of the middle class and the deterioration of the strict class boundaries are visible in the research material. Sumptuary laws notwithstanding, identity could be expressed through clothing, in particular with small details, and clothing gave people some leeway to negotiate their position in the community. / Tiivistelmä Valtaosassa 1700-luvun pukeutumista käsittelevässä suomalaisessa tutkimuskirjallisuudessa pukeutuminen jaetaan säätyläisten ja rahvaan pukuun. Tässä materiaalisesta kulttuurista ammentavassa historiallisen ajan arkeologian tutkimuksessa näkökulma on toinen; keskiössä on kaupunkilaisten pukeutuminen uuden ajan kynnyksellä. Tutkimus ei lähde liikkeelle säädyistä, vaan pukeutumisesta kertovasta kaivausaineistosta ja kaupunkilaisten perukirjoista. Tutkimus kohdentuu Suomen historiallisen ajan arkeologiassa vain vähän huomiota saaneisiin esineryhmiin (napit, neulat, soljet) yhdistäen arkeologisen ja dokumentaarisen lähdemateriaalin. Teoreettisena viitekehyksenä käytetään Suomen kaupunkiarkeologiassa aiemmin hyödyntämätöntä sukupuoliarkeologiaa. Tutkimus käsittelee varhaismodernia pukeutumista identiteetin näkökulmasta keskittyen erityisesti sukupuoleen ja luokkaan; miksi 1700-luvun Oulussa pukeuduttiin niin kuin pukeuduttiin? Vaikka varhaismodernissa Oulussa ihmisten pukeutuminen oli pitkälti sääty- ja sukupuolisidonnaista, henkilökohtaisella tasolla oli tilaa neuvottelulle ja rajanylityksille. Säädyt olivat 1700-luvulla olennainen osa yhteiskuntajärjestystä ja säätyjärjestelmän lakkauttamiseen oli vielä runsaasti aikaa, mutta merkit keskiluokan muodostumisesta ja tiukkojen säätyrajojen murenemisesta ovat havaittavissa tutkimusaineistossa. Ylellisyysasetuksista huolimatta omaa identiteettiä oli mahdollista ilmaista pukeutumisella, erityisesti pienillä yksityiskohdilla, ja pukeutumisen avulla ihmisten oli jossain määrin mahdollista neuvotella omasta asemastaan yhteisössä.

La voie de signalisation mTOR (mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) joue un rôle central dans la croissance cellulaire, le métabolisme, et l'homéostasie des lymphocytes T (LT). Lors de la transplantation d'organes, l'administration de rapamycine, un inhibiteur de mTOR (mTORi), bloque l'activation des LT et promeut la polarisation des lymphocytes T CD4 régulateur (Treg). En cancérologie, des mTORi sont utilisés pour leur action inhibitrice sur la prolifération et l'angiogenèse tumorales. Cependant l'immunosuppression via l'induction de Treg nécessaire à la prévention du rejet de greffe pourrait être délétère pour la réponse anti-tumorale. Notre hypothèse est que l'efficacité clinique des mTORi serait également dépendante de la modulation de l'immunité adaptative T induite par ces traitements chez les patients atteints de cancer.Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons abordé cette question immunologique dans une cohorte prospective de patients atteints de cancer rénal métastatique (mRCC) traités par évérolimus. L'analyse du taux de Treg et de la réponse spontanée T CD4 Thl anti-tumorale (anti-télomérase TERT) par Elispot-IFN-y a été effectuée au moment de l'inclusion des patients et tous les deux mois après le début du traitement. Nous avons observé chez la majorité des patients une augmentation du taux de Treg après traitement par évérolimus. Ces Treg expriment Hélios, suggérant un phénotype Treg naturel. La fréquence et la qualité de la réponse Thl anti-TERT sont également augmentées suite au traitement. Nous avons montré que conjointement ces deux paramètres immunologiques corrèlent avec l'efficacité clinique du traitement. Les patients présentant précocement une diminution des Treg associée à une augmentation des Thl anti-TERT ont une meilleure survie par rapport aux patients dont les paramètres immunitaires ne variaient pas, ou variaient dans une même direction (13,2 mois vs 8 et 4 mois). De plus, au moment de la progression la plupart des patients perdaient leur réponse Thl anti-TERT, et cet effet était associé à une augmentation des Treg. Les Treg traités par mTORi in vitro inhibent plus fortement la prolifération de LT allogéniques, par un mécanisme contact dépendant. Par l'utilisation d'anticorps monoclonaux déplétant les LT chez la souris et par l'utilisation de souris DEREG, nous avons montré que la présence de Treg in vivo altère l'efficacité anti-tumorale des mTORi, par un mécanisme impliquant l'inhibition des réponses T CD8 anti-tumorales. En conséquence, l'efficacité des mTORi a pu être augmentée par sa combinaison avec des agents bloquant les Treg. En addition, l'administration de temsirolimus améliore l'efficacité anti-tumorale d'un vaccin thérapeutique, en favorisant la différenciation des LT CD8 anti-tumoraux centraux mémoires (CD62L+CD127+) et précurseurs mémoires (CD127+KLRGl'°) induits par la vaccination.En conclusion, ces études ont montré pour la première fois le rôle de l'immunité T anti-tumorale sur l'efficacité clinique des mTORi et soulignent ainsi l'intérêt potentiel de combiner les mTORi avec des immunothérapies anti-tumorales / The mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a central role in the regulation of cell growth andmetabolism, and is involved in oncogenesis. Everolimus and temsirolimus are two mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) approvedfor renal and breast carcinoma treatments. However, accumulating evidence highlights a central role for mTOR pathwayin T cell immunity. We showed that 21 out of 23 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients under everolimus treatmenthad an increase of Tregs atter everolimus treatment. Paradoxically, strong antitumor Th 1 responses were detected andthen greatly decreased at the time of disease progression when high expansion of Tregs occurred. Furthermore, weidentified three immune groups based on the early modulation of both Treg and anti-tumor Thl cells and found thatpatients with {low Tregs plus high anti-tumor Thl cells} showed the best survival. In vitro, mTORi-exposed Tregs highlysuppressed T cell proliferation and Thl-associated cytokines production. We showed in vivo that T cells depletiondifferentially modulated the antitumor efficacy of mTORi. Although anti-mTOR effect was loss in B16-OVA-bearingmice lacking CD8 T cells, CD4 T depletion increased mTORi efficacy. The studies conducted in mice demonstratedthat the presence of Tregs in vivo altered the responses to mTORi via a mechanism involving the inhibition of antitumorCD8 T cell responses. Finally the efficacy of mTORi was improved by combination with Tregs depleting agents andvaccines. Altogether, our results describe for the first time a dual impact of host adaptive antitumor T cell immunity onthe clinical effectiveness of mTQRi and prompt their association with immunotherapies.

This dissertation presents new evidence about Anglo-Moroccan relations in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, with particular reference to the development of the links between the Gharb region of Morocco and Gibraltar and the establishment of the Moroccan consulate there. This evidence is used to re-evaluate prevailing arguments about Moroccan isolationism, especially during the reign of Mawlay Sulaymān (r. 1792-1822), linking this to the nature of the Moroccan sultanate's foreign and trade policy over the longer term. It is argued that the Sīdī Muḥammad b. 'Abd Allāh's (r. 1757-90) well-known 'opening up' of the country should be seen not just as a response to European expansion, but also as a continuation of the sultanate's historical development as a state based partly on the control of trade. It is further argued that Mawlay Sulaymān and his successor Mawlay 'Abd al-Raḥmān (r. 1822-59) essentially followed Sīdī Muḥammad's policy. With reference to this context, the dissertation analyses the development of the Moroccan consulate in Gibraltar, including re-dating its initial establishment. The example of the consulate is also applied to reconsidering dominant assumptions about the role of religious discourse in limiting Morocco's contact with the outside world by assessing the wider social and economic context in which it operated, specifically the growth of trade between Gibraltar and the Gharb and the related development of a group of both Jewish and Muslim Moroccan merchants who partly conducted it. The dissertation finally assesses the political importance of these trade links and commercial interests, and how they influenced the operation of power and authority in the Gharb. The overall case is presented in the context of a critique of civilisational or culturalist approaches to the study of reactions to European expansion and modernity that prioritise cultural difference between Western and, in this case, Muslim societies. It is argued that the Straits of Gibraltar - a ubiquitous symbol of the supposed dividing line between different civilisations - actually illustrate the importance of the interaction between different societies for accurately understanding their development and the agency of actors on both sides.