December marks the beginning of winter and the return of the cold weather. Most of the actions taken in the garden consist of preventing potential frost damage. This does not mean that there will not be other actions to be taken!

Planting, sowing: what to do in December?

In the food garden, December is a rather quiet month. On the planting side, it's time to sow the hardy weights, asparagus and shallots in the ground. Under cover, you can also sow broccoli, carrots, chervil, cabbage, cauliflower, watercress, lettuce, parsley, peas, leeks and radishes.
As for the harvest, we hope you have made a few preserves, otherwise, no more sunny vegetables! Say hello to winter vegetables like winter radishes, curly chicory, escaroles, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lamb's lettuce, salsify, Jerusalem artichokes, beets, and carrots. 'In December in the southern region, it's the olive harvest,' says Laurent Petraud, network coordinator at Botanic. A small consolation that will make you think of your holidays by the Mediterranean.
'In December, depending on the climate and the region where you are, you can continue to plant all the plants in the ornamental garden, as well as the fruit trees,' adds Laurent Petraud. As for flowers, if you have transplanted pansies, don't forget to mulch them to protect them from the cold. It's also time to bring in your dahlias if you haven't already.

Maintaining your garden in winter: pruning, cuttings, cleaning, treating

Once the leaves have fallen, it's also time to prune your currants, blackcurrants, raspberries, and young apple and pear trees. But also to take cuttings from small fruit shrubs such as vines, blackcurrants and raspberries, protect the rhubarb plants and force the endives (which means placing the roots next to each other, making sure that the buds are at the same height).
'In December, it's time to collect the leaves, they can be used in the compost or directly on the ground to then enrich the vegetable garden or orchard,' explains Laurent Petraud. Prunings can also be shredded and used as compost or mulch.
'Nourish the soil of the vegetable garden with the chimney ashes; they will enrich the soil with potash (potassium editor's note)', Gamm Vert also advises. You can also dig the unfrozen plots and fertilize them with an amendment.
Also remember to treat your trees preventively with Bordeaux mixture. This fungicide will protect your orchard from diseases like downy mildew. Wilted vegetation and rotten vegetables should also be cleaned to prevent the spread of disease.
Finally, take the scions for the spring grafts of your apple, pear, quince, peach, cherry and plum trees.

Protecting your garden from the cold: what equipment?

In December, you'll make your final preparations before winter gets too biting. It is important to have the right equipment to protect your garden and also to keep an alert eye on the weather. In the event of frost, consider installing overwintering sails or tunnels to protect your plantings in the ground such as spinach, lamb's lettuce and other lettuce.
Generally speaking, installing winter protection will punctuate your schedule in the garden. Don't panic, as you have taken the lead, normally all your chilly plants are in greenhouses. It should also be noted that the greenhouse is ideal for those who prefer to sow early, around mid-February, and harvest late, until October.
Protecting from the cold also means using individual cloches to keep salads and herbs warm. Be careful, on mild and sunny days, remember to raise the bells to avoid burning your plants. Also, don't forget to mulch your soil so it doesn't freeze. This will make harvesting much easier!
After a snowfall, shake tree branches so they don't give way under the weight, and cut off dead or diseased branches. Finally, as in October and November, take advantage of December to dig retention basins, install water collectors and stock up on supplies in order to anticipate spring and summer.

And to help garden friends weather the cold of winter, you can, if you haven't already, set up nesting boxes and other small shelters for them to find refuge in. And don't forget to regularly replenish them with seeds and fat balls to help them feed.

 Pleasant to live in and friendly, the open kitchen has it all. But for it to retain its warm side and for its airy volumes not to become uncomfortable, it is essential to arrange it well. Here are the mistakes, not to make.

It is appreciated for its convivial side, which makes it a living room in its own right. Very trendy in recent years, the open kitchen appeals to lovers of large volumes and those who want to ventilate their interior. But so that its advantages do not become disadvantages, it is important to think carefully about its layout, from the different elements that make it up to the decoration.

Evacuate cooking odours

Protect yourself from noise in the kitchen

A tidy kitchen at all times

Quality materials and meticulous finishes

A well-appointed kitchen

Adequate lighting

 Winter is coming slowly with its shorter days, snowflakes, winter clothes and fireplaces. Winter is the coldest time of the year, but it is also the most magical. For many adults, Christmas revives the child's soul, from the first days of December. Preparations for the holidays begin more or less early depending on everyone's habits. This is how your interior decoration takes on a whole new look by adorning it with magnificent Christmas colours.

Discover the art of Christmas decorating with our inspiring ideas: flickering candles, vibrant color harmonies, and tips for a dazzling tree. Make your parties magical!

Welcome the magic of Christmas with our decorating tips. From the twinkling Christmas tree to the fairy lights to the door and window decorations, every corner of your home will be adorned with magic. Whether you prefer traditional wooden decor or bright outdoor decor, you will find inspiration here to make your celebrations an unforgettable moment. And for those who like creativity, find out how to make your own Christmas decoration.

How to decorate your home for Christmas?

Christmas is the ideal time to transform your interior into a magical and warm place. Here are some creative ideas to give your home an unforgettable festive atmosphere:

• Choose a color palette. Classic combinations like red and green, white and silver, or gold and pine green are always winning choices.
• Fairy lights and candles: Nothing creates a cozy ambiance like the soft glow of fairy lights and candles. Place them on shelves, around windows, and on the coffee table for a touch of magic.
• Wall decorations: Use ephemeral wall decorations like stickers, paper garlands or Christmas posters to add a festive atmosphere to the walls of your home. It’s a quick and inexpensive way to transform space.
• Create a Christmas centerpiece. Place a centerpiece with candles, holly branches, pine cones, or even hanging ornaments for an elegant touch.
• Hang an Advent calendaralong with decorative Christmas stockings on the mantelpiece or on a wall for added charm.

Decorating a window for Christmas.

Windows are an ideal canvas to express your creativity. Use garlands, twinkling stars, or small hanging ornaments to add a festive touch to your windows. Red or white curtains can also complete this winter decoration.

How to make a pretty Christmas decoration for your exterior?

Illuminate your home's exterior with twinkling lights and specific outdoor decorations. Snow floodlights, reindeer silhouettes and fairy lights will dress up your façade to create a real fairytale scene.

Decorating your door for Christmas.

The front door is the first thing your guests will see. Hang a Christmas wreath, add red or gold ribbons, and place lanterns on either side to create a welcoming and festive entrance this holiday season.

How to decorate your Christmas tree?

The tree is the focal point of the Christmas decoration. Choose a color theme and add ornaments, garlands, and lights. Homemade decorations, such as paper balls, can add a personal and creative touch to your Christmas tree.

What are the decorative accessories of the table for New Year's Eve?

For an elegant Christmas table, use tablecloths and table runners in festive colours. Add candle holders, artistically folded napkins, and decorative place cards. Centerpieces with candles or floral arrangements will perfectly complement the décor, ready to host a delicious yule log!

The must-have accessories for a successful Christmas decoration

The magic of Christmas is often in the small details. For a festive and successful decoration, it is essential to take care of the accessories. Discover these must-haves that will add a special touch to your home this holiday season:

• String lights
• Christmas baubles
• Door Crowns
• Multifunctional Lights
• Christmas Socks
• Wrapping paper
• Christmas Figurines
• Scented candles
• Christmas Centerpieces
• Natural elements such as holly branches or pine cones
• An Advent Calendar

Where to find the most beautiful Christmas decorations?

The most beautiful Christmas decorations can be found in a variety of places. Explore local Christmas markets for one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces, browse specialty home décor shops for stylish, high-end items, and don't overlook dedicated department stores that offer a huge selection at affordable prices. Specialty online stores also offer a diversity of styles, while furniture and home stores can offer stylish pieces. Flea markets, artisan shops, and local art galleries are perfect for authentic finds, while nurseries and garden stores add a natural touch. DIY and hobby stores offer the opportunity to create personalized decorations for the holiday season.

Where to buy your cheap Christmas decoration?

If you're on a budget, discount stores, seasonal sales, and thrift stores can be great sources for finding affordable decorations.

Homemade: Handmade Christmas Decoration Ideas

Nothing beats a homemade Christmas decoration to add a personal touch. Try creating unique paper ornaments, DIY wreaths, and garlands to personalize your space.

When to put up and when to remove your Christmas decoration?

Traditionally, Christmas decorations are put up after the Thanksgiving holiday and removed after the New Year. However, some prefer to prolong the magic by leaving them until Epiphany.

 TB remains a major infectious disease worldwide, with more than 10 million cases, resulting in 1.4 million deaths each year. The synergy with the AIDS epidemic and the emergence of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Koch's bacillus) multiresistant to antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents contribute to aggravating the impact of this disease, considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global health emergency. Despite the enormous health and social issues surrounding TB, there is some progress to note. Indeed, the WHO estimates that between 2000 and 2019, 63 million lives were saved thanks to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, but the future of this promising assessment may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which causes many disruptions to screening and treatment centers.

Epidemiology

On average, 10 million people develop an active form of the disease each year (10 million in 2019, according to the World Health Organization - WHO). And TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2019, 1.4 million people died, 208,000 of whom were also infected with HIV. More than 95% of TB deaths occur in developing countries, but TB remains a major public health problem in many industrialized countries, especially when it comes to multidrug-resistant forms, which are particularly difficult and long (2 years) to treat.

Globally, a quarter of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 30 countries alone account for 87% of global cases. Globally, there were an estimated 206,030 cases of multidrug-resistant TB in 2019, 10% more than in 2018.

Transmission

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease, caused by the Koch's bacillus (strains of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex). This infectious agent is transmitted by air, via droplets containing bacteria, and expectorated by the cough of patients. Inhaling a small number of contaminated droplets is enough to infect an individual. An untreated TB person can infect an average of 5 to 15 people each year. Precarious health and social conditions are often associated with the spread of the disease.

The disease

The active development of the disease among people infected with Koch's bacillus depends on many factors (genetic, immunological, nutritional, and social). It is estimated that 5-15% of infected people will develop TB with symptoms during their lifetime. The bacillus can remain in the body in a 'dormant' state for years. Immunocompromised people have a higher risk of developing active TB. The HIV virus and Koch's bacillus form a dangerous combination, as system deficiencies caused by HIV infection help TB progression. If left untreated, TB is fatal in almost all people with AIDS.

Treatment

In the 40s, there were no drugs to cure tuberculosis. Today, a combination of antibiotics and chemotherapy is used to treat tuberculosis patients, but treatment must be followed for at least 6 months (and up to two years in the case of multidrug-resistant strains). Incomplete or poorly followed treatment is often responsible for the development of antibiotic-resistant TB, which is then transmitted in the community. When treatable, these cases of drug-resistant TB are 100 times more expensive to treat than TB cases that can be treated with standard regimens.

Vaccine

B.C.G. (Bacille de Calmette et Guérin) is the only vaccine currently licensed to vaccinate against tuberculosis. Nevertheless, this vaccine, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021, is a partially effective vaccine: although it is very useful for preventing severe forms of the disease in young children (almost 90% effective in the case of tuberculous meningitis), it provides little protection against cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in adolescents and adults. It, therefore, does not prevent the transmission of the disease and stop the global epidemic.

At the Institut Pasteur

Several teams of microbiologists, immunologists, and geneticists are developing research programs to understand the host-bacillus interaction (including genomic tools), study the genetic evolution of the bacillus, improve the diagnosis of the disease, and find new anti-tuberculosis drugs and improved vaccines.

Faithful to its teaching mission, the Institut Pasteur offers a course "Tuberculosis – biology of microorganisms", and a MOOC, based on international experts. This course is intended for physicians, veterinarians, directors of clinical mycobacteriology laboratories, pharmacists, and researchers who wish to acquire current knowledge about tuberculosis and the practice of molecular methods of diagnosis and medical susceptibility testing, new drugs and treatment regimens as well as molecular and traditional epidemiology. Created in Shanghai in 2008, it has since been taught in Paris, Tunis, and Yaoundé. The next session of the course will take place in 2023.

Latest WHO Reports

TANZANIA, Tanzania (AP) — Senior United Nations officials, health industry leaders, and activists on Monday called for the world to invest more in developing new vaccines and fighting a resurgence of tuberculosis, fuelled by the impact of COVID-19 and armed conflict, including in Ukraine and Sudan.

Monday's event aims to set the stage for the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly in September, which will hold a meeting on tuberculosis.

The latter is the most common deadly infectious disease today, killing approximately 4400 people every day worldwide, including 700 children," said Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Director of the Stop TB Partnership.

UN Under-Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said international efforts to combat the disease have saved 74 million lives since 2000. However, more than 10.5 million people contracted the disease and about 6.1 million died in 2021, and it is now the leading cause of death among people living with HIV.

The TB epidemic is fuelled by a multitude of factors, including poverty, malnutrition, and HIV, and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in all countries, she said.

According to her, $22 billion is needed to provide all people diagnosed with TB with access to quality treatment by 2027, as well as access to health and social benefits so that they do not suffer financial hardship. It also says an additional $5 billion a year is needed for research.

"We can develop safe and effective vaccines and one-stop shops for quality testing and care," she said.

The Director-General of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in a video address to the meeting that COVID-19 "has turned our world upside down" for three years and that in addition to the millions of deaths attributed to it, it has deprived millions of people of essential health services.

"Conflicts in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East have made these essential services even more difficult for people living with TB to access," he said. These challenges were a setback in the fight against TB, wiping out some of the important gains we had made over the past 20 years in expanding access to prevention, testing, and treatment. »

Ukraine has the highest estimated number of people with TB in the European Region, at 34 000. It is also home to a high number of people with drug-resistant TB, Dr. Ditiu said.

Ghebreyesus argued that the September meeting must be a turning point in reviving the fight against the disease. This is why WHO "has proposed to establish a TB Vaccine Acceleration Council to facilitate the development, licensing, and use of new vaccines."

 You may be one of those many adults who can't sleep if they don't have a blanket with them, or who stay chilly, even in the late hours of summer nights, when temperatures start to drop. If you find that a simple sheet is too light for you, even in summer, then you need a duvet for the summer. Beware, however, of overheating and excess perspiration if your duvet is too heavy or too hot. Choose it for the summer to enjoy the best sleep. Here are our tips to help you avoid making a mistake.

Duvet for summer: the heat index is your friend

To choose your light duvet for the summer, you have the opportunity to check the characteristics of the models offered in shops and specialized sites. Among these characteristics, one should attract your attention more than the others, the heat index. This one is graduated from 1 to 4 and the higher it is, the warmer the duvet will keep you.

As you can see, there is no question of choosing a duvet with a heat index of 4 or 3 if you want to cover yourself with it in summer. Instead, choose duvets with lower heat indices, ideally 1, because the other indices are reserved for colder seasons.

Note that there is another heat index, it is Anglo-Saxon and is affixed to duvets sold in North America and the United Kingdom in particular. This is the Tog, a reference that makes it possible to evaluate the thermal insulation offered by the duvet. This index ranges from 1 to 15 and the higher it is, the warmer the duvet.

For your summer duvet, an index of 1, up to 4.5 is ideal, because you will have limited insulation that will allow you to have bearable temperatures, but not too cold. If you suffer somewhat from cool summer nights, you can choose a Tog index of 10, which corresponds to a temperate duvet. You opt for a duvet that corresponds to a good compromise and is closer to the spring and autumn duvet than the winter one.

The breathable envelope: an imperative for summer

Even if you like to be covered during your summer nights, you probably don't like waking up covered in sweats or having a restless sleep because of a sweaty and unbreathable duvet. To avoid these inconveniences and so that your nights are peaceful and your sleep deep, prefer duvets with breathable envelopes.

Natural fibers, especially if they are vegetable, are therefore preferred, because they are naturally breathable and will not bother you even if you sweat a lot while sleeping. In addition, it is advisable to choose organic and untreated fibers to prevent your skin from contact with chemicals that could be harmful to it.

To help you choose healthy duvets, you can rely on Oeko Tex certification, an environmental label that guarantees that your duvet does not contain substances that are harmful to the environment or your body. This label also guarantees an eco-responsible and ethical production process that does not represent any danger to human health.

And the filling then?

Your summer duvet must have a filling and it can be made of various materials. Natural Down is by far the one to be preferred, except in case of allergy to Down or asthma aggravated by the use of such materials. The down makes it possible to fill the duvet while giving it lightness and softness, which is ideal for summer nights.

The natural down also makes it possible to have the swelling effect of duvets that sleepers appreciate so much. Another advantage you have by favoring a duvet filled with natural down, is its lifespan. This is two to three times higher than that of a synthetic duvet trim.

To garnish duvets, the most used natural down are of two types, duck down and goose down. Both have about the same characteristics and benefits, but goose down, having larger feathers, allows for an effective filling with fewer grams per square meter. As a result, goose-down duvets are lighter and more breathable than duck-down duvets.

Lightness of the duvet: it all depends on the weight

The lightness of your duvet depends largely on the weight of its down. The higher it is, the heavier the duvet. Thus, for the summer, a duvet with a weight ranging from 130 to 180 grams per square meter is ideal. But you can go slightly higher if you are really chilly and looking for a somewhat warm duvet, even for the summer. You will then have an intermediate-weight duvet that can also be used in spring and autumn but may be too hot on some summer nights when temperature peaks are observed.

Are you having moisture problems in the basement of your home? Has your basement become impractical due to water seeping through its walls? If nothing is done to reinforce the sealing of these, your home can suffer from the capillary rise and structural damage.






Several solutions have been developed in the field of construction to prevent or remedy this often dangerous problem. The casing is one of the most used techniques against the influence of humidity on the basement of a dwelling. Discover here all the reasons to carry out a casing in the cellar of your house.

What is casing?

How to identify a humidity problem in your cellar?

• Degradation of the coating of your walls and the floor of the room,
• The presence of water droplets on the ceiling or walls,
• The gradual appearance of saltpeter at the base of the walls,
• The presence of mold on the walls or furniture of the room,
• A persistent musty smell, despite all your attempts at deodorization,
• The appearance of halos on the walls and ceiling of the room.

What are the different types of casing?

The exterior casing

The inner casing

For living rooms

For non-habitable rooms

What are the steps of a casing?

• strip the cladding of the walls and floor of the room,
• fill holes and cracks with cement,
• lay the first layer of coating, known as hanging and whose role is to allow good adhesion of the following layers,
• apply 24 hours later, the second layer of coating to achieve continuity between the floor and the walls of the room,

 Today, the economy has become globalized. This has allowed the profession of an economist to develop and be highlighted, especially because of the economic crisis. An economist, therefore, specializes in economic issues and works for companies: he helps them make strategic decisions for the development of the company. How do you become an economist? What studies do you need to do and what are the necessary qualities?

Why become an economist?

An economist is charged with quite varied tasks. He must know how to analyze the economic situation and make diagnoses to help his employers make the best decisions. The economist has a great influence on the strategy of the company or the bank for which he works.

It makes a diagnosis in the form of an economic model that includes short- and medium-term forecasts. The study it proposes may concern trends in the global economy or its components.

An economic researcher looks at the evolution of money and interest rates as well as tax policy or household consumption.

An economist can also work within a ministry or certain institutes, such as INSEE. Some international institutions such as the IMF may also call on economists.

It is also possible to work in the private sector (bank, company, insurance company).

This will actually depend on the specialization of the economist (statistics, monetary policy, labor market, etc.).

How to become an economist?

To be able to become an economist, you have to plan for long studies. Above all, it is necessary to pass an economic and social baccalaureate and then integrate a Grande Ecole or a Faculty of Economics.

BTS or DUT

After the Bac, you can consider a BTS or a DUT. Both degrees are recognized by the State and oriented toward the study of subjects related to management, finance, and commerce.

To become an economist, you can turn to a BTS:

 support for managerial action;

• accounting and management;
• in SME management;
• in international trade;
• Sales;
• operational sales management;
• Digitalization of the relationship.

If you prefer DUTs, you can choose from the following:

• administrative and commercial management of organizations;
• marketing techniques;
• management of companies and administrations with options accounting and financial management;
• management and management of organizations;
• human resources management.

Contents

Both in BTS and DUT, you will have to deepen your knowledge and acquire skills in different areas such as:

• environmental economics;
• organizational management tools and techniques;
• labour, commercial and tax law;
• statistical analysis;
• business strategy and project management;
• operational marketing;
• human resources management and logistics management;
• production and database management;
• management control and planning;
• administrative and competition law;
• purchasing and sales management;
• marketing strategy and international trade;
• IT;
• the international economy;
• macroeconomics and microeconomics;
• the social and solidarity economy;
• business management;
• industrial economics and econometrics.

During a BTS or DUT, you will be asked to do an internship in a company.

 You can do it both in France and abroad. You can also choose a study-work path, under an apprenticeship contract or a professional contract in a host institution. This is a good way to use all the skills and knowledge acquired during your studies.

Bachelor's and Master's degrees

If you have a Bac + 2 in economics, you have the possibility to go to a Bac + 3 or a Bac + 5. If you want to do a bachelor's degree, you can opt for a bachelor's degree in economics-management, professional or not, or a diploma in a specialized school such as a business school, a management school, a school of human resources, a school of finance, an accounting school or a school of economics.

 The master's is possible after the bachelor's degree. You can obtain it in both a private and public institution, in France or abroad.

COUNSEL:

If you decide to go abroad, the courses will be given to you in English and will bring more weight to your course.

Doctorate

After a master's degree, you can opt for a Bac+8 and embark on a doctorate in a specific field of economics, finance, management, or even commerce.

 Going through a Ph.D. Will allow you to sharpen your knowledge and do in-depth research work. A doctorate lasts between 3 and 4 years.

You will be under the supervision of a thesis supervisor who should help you find a thesis topic. He will also preside over the jury for the evaluation of your research with a view to obtaining your degree. You will then become a doctor of economics.

What are the missions of an economist?

An economist plans, implements, and evaluates economic performance in a specific area. He studies economic problems for the organization in which he works.

One of its main tasks is the observation, recording, and interpretation of economic data in order to assess and anticipate trends. He also has the opportunity to make his own theories in the economic field and to have his research published in specialized journals.

 An economist may also:

• collect and acquire data;
• analyze and interpret collected data;
• study economic trends (current or past) to anticipate trends;
• analyze the effectiveness of the political and economic actions in place;
• plan and develop specific lines of action in a specific economic sector;
• provide economic advice;
• research and publish;
• teaching economics at university;
• organize seminars and participate in symposia.

The salary of a teacher-researcher will depend in part on the publications he will perform. If the economist sees his work published internationally, he will have a greater reputation than if he publishes only in France, for example. He will also earn a better living.

The renovation of a home takes into account several technical aspects such as the layout of the rooms, the choice of materials, and the planning of the work. To obtain a neat, aesthetic, and functional finish, the intervention of an interior designer is strongly recommended. This specialist in decoration and landscaping offers the best renovation solutions based on the expectations of its customers. How can this professional accompany you in your renovation project?

What does an interior designer do?

Needs assessment and realization of 3D plans

Carrying out administrative procedures

• · plans and elevations,
• · technical specifications,
• · the description of the site by trade,
• · the provisional timetable for the work.

Selection of craftsmen and follow-up of the renovation site

How to find an interior designer who meets your needs?

• · ability to estimate the cost of the work,
• · ability to manage a group or team of craftsmen,
• · sense of creativity.

The importance of communication between you and your interior designer

Work with an interior designer within your budget