ALMA observations of molecular clouds in three group centered elliptical galaxies: NGC 5846, NGC 4636, and NGC 5044

We present new ALMA CO(2--1) observations of two well studied group-centered elliptical galaxies: NGC~4636 and NGC~5846. In addition, we include a revised analysis of Cycle 0 ALMA observations of the central galaxy in the NGC~5044 group that has been previously published. We find evidence that molecular gas, in the form of off-center orbiting clouds, is a common presence in bright group-centered galaxies (BGG). CO line widths are $\gtrsim 10$ times broader than Galactic molecular clouds, and using the reference Milky Way $X_{CO}$, the total molecular mass ranges from as low as $2.6\times 10^5 M_\odot$ in NGC~4636 to $6.1\times 10^7 M_\odot$ in NGC~5044. With these parameters the virial parameters of the molecular structures is $\gg 1$. Complementary observations of NGC~5846 and NGC~4636 using the ALMA Compact Array (ACA) do not exhibit any detection of a CO diffuse component at the sensitivity level achieved by current exposures. The origin of the detected molecular features is still uncertain, but these ALMA observations suggest that they are the end product of the hot gas cooling process and not the result of merger events. Some of the molecular clouds are associated with dust features as revealed by HST dust extinction maps suggesting that these clouds formed from dust-enhanced cooling. The global nonlinear condensation may be triggered via the chaotic turbulent field or buoyant uplift. The large virial parameter of the molecular structures and correlation with the warm ($10^3 - 10^5 K$)/hot ($\ge10^6$) phase velocity dispersion provide evidence that they are unbound giant molecular associations drifting in the turbulent field, consistently with numerical predictions of the chaotic cold accretion process. Alternatively, the observed large CO line widths may be generated by molecular gas flowing out from cloud surfaces due to heating by the local hot gas atmosphere.Comment: Revised version to be published in ApJ, 16 pages, 10 figures, 4 table

Application of the Procedure for Institutional Compatibility Assessment (PICA) to the implementation of the EU Nitrate Directive in Midi-Pyrenees. Evaluation and suggestions for further improvement and integration into the final version of SEAMLESS-IF

Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Land Economics/Use,

Diagnosing the role of the state for local collective action: Types of action situations and policy instruments

This paper presents a diagnostic approach to the role and capacity of governments to facilitate local collective action and alleviate environmental problems. The paper adds to a nascent scholarship aiming to conciliate theories on “governance by government” and “governance by self-organization”. We adopt two premises for that purpose: (1) policy instruments shall be tailored to the strategic nature of local resource management decisions; and (2) such nature is not static and can be modified via governmental policies. We first build on the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to characterize the decision-making situations that local resource users face and the local rules that shape said situations. Then, based on common pool resource (CPR) and policy instrument choice theory, we identify four mechanisms through which different policy instruments can facilitate local collective action (change in payoffs and their perception, reduction of transaction costs, reduction of un- certainty, and normative consonance). This analytical approach is then applied to four illustrative cases of water management in Germany, France, Greece and Spain. As shown, local resource users are embedded in not one but many overlapping decision-making situations. In this context, the promotion of collective action is rarely ac- complished via a single policy instrument or mechanism but via bundles of them. Also, the paper illustrates the importance of understanding how governmental policies modify the structure of rules and incentives that affect local resource users, potentially facilitating local collective action and the solution of environmental problems

Diagnosing the role of the state for local collective action : types of action situations and policy instruments

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu MdM-2015-0552This paper presents a diagnostic approach to the role and capacity of governments to facilitate local collective action and alleviate environmental problems. The paper adds to a nascent scholarship aiming to conciliate theories on "governance by government" and "governance by self-organization". We adopt two premises for that purpose: (1) policy instruments shall be tailored to the strategic nature of local resource management decisions; and (2) such nature is not static and can be modified via governmental policies. We first build on the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to characterize the decision-making situations that local resource users face and the local rules that shape said situations. Then, based on common pool resource (CPR) and policy instrument choice theory, we identify four mechanisms through which different policy instruments can facilitate local collective action (change in payoffs and their perception, reduction of transaction costs, reduction of uncertainty, and normative consonance). This analytical approach is then applied to four illustrative cases of water management in Germany, France, Greece and Spain. As shown, local resource users are embedded in not one but many overlapping decision-making situations. In this context, the promotion of collective action is rarely accomplished via a single policy instrument or mechanism but via bundles of them. Also, the paper illustrates the importance of understanding how governmental policies modify the structure of rules and incentives that affect local resource users, potentially facilitating local collective action and the solution of environmental problems

The ANTENATAL multicentre study to predict postnatal renal outcome in fetuses with posterior urethral valves: objectives and design

Abstract Background Posterior urethral valves (PUV) account for 17% of paediatric end-stage renal disease. A major issue in the management of PUV is prenatal prediction of postnatal renal function. Fetal ultrasound and fetal urine biochemistry are currently employed for this prediction, but clearly lack precision. We previously developed a fetal urine peptide signature that predicted in utero with high precision postnatal renal function in fetuses with PUV. We describe here the objectives and design of the prospective international multicentre ANTENATAL (multicentre validation of a fetal urine peptidome-based classifier to predict postnatal renal function in posterior urethral valves) study, set up to validate this fetal urine peptide signature. Methods Participants will be PUV pregnancies enrolled from 2017 to 2021 and followed up until 2023 in >30 European centres endorsed and supported by European reference networks for rare urological disorders (ERN eUROGEN) and rare kidney diseases (ERN ERKNet). The endpoint will be renal/patient survival at 2 years postnatally. Assuming α = 0.05, 1–β = 0.8 and a mean prevalence of severe renal outcome in PUV individuals of 0.35, 400 patients need to be enrolled to validate the previously reported sensitivity and specificity of the peptide signature. Results In this largest multicentre study of antenatally detected PUV, we anticipate bringing a novel tool to the clinic. Based on urinary peptides and potentially amended in the future with additional omics traits, this tool will be able to precisely quantify postnatal renal survival in PUV pregnancies. The main limitation of the employed approach is the need for specialized equipment. Conclusions Accurate risk assessment in the prenatal period should strongly improve the management of fetuses with PUV

L'implication des acteurs dans la réduction des pollutions diffuses : un panorama des stratégies et outils dans le contexte français

International audienceDiffuse pollution is a major cause for the degradation of water quality also in the French context. Nitrates and pesticides, mostly from agricultural sources, are the main pollutants. To a lesser extent, diffuse pollution has domestic and collective sources. Nitrate rates remain high in surface waters, despite an improvement of water quality in areas where livestock farming is responsible for nitrate pollution. The contamination of groundwater by nitrates and pesticides has been worsening in the last years. The EU Nitrate Directive is the main regulatory tool for the control of nitrate diffuse pollution. Farmers in designated vulnerable zones have to comply with measures included in action programs. The implementation of the ND in France was evaluated as incomplete relating to insufficient designation of vulnerable zones and non-conformity of action programs. Two other constraints are a low awareness of requirements by farmers and difficulties in controlling and enforcing compliance. As a consequence, the implementation process of the ND was redefined in France, with an extension of vulnerable zones, now covering 55% of agricultural area. While action programs were mainly defined at the district level, now a core program defined at the national level is completed by regional programs established by State regional authorities on the basis of the work of regional technical groups. The development of action plans to protect drinking water catchments relies on cooperation between water suppliers and agricultural stakeholders. A first step is the definition of protection zone(s) in the water catchment. Then, agricultural and non-agricultural pressures are identified. Finally, an action plan is defined to be implemented voluntary by farmers. In the French context, the involvement of water suppliers is fostered by financial incentives provided by Water Agencies. Also the “Grenelle” regulation imposes the definition and implementation of action plans in priority water catchments. The participation of farmers is targeted by a number of tools: (1) mostly agri-environmental schemes funded by EU rural development policy, (2) environmental land leases, (3) the development of market outlets such as local organic supply chains. Research shows that the success of this approach depends on a number of factors. The main success factors identified are: The scale of collective action. With regard with the governance of collective action, the definition of the role of stakeholders involved the involvement of farm leaders and farm organizations and the involvement of agricultural cooperatives and agro-industries. Finally, technical support to local stakeholders (water suppliers, farmers) was identified as a crucial success factor

L'action collective comme outil de mise en œuvre des politiques agro-environnementales. Le cas du contrôle des pollutions diffuses dans les espaces ruraux en Europe.

International audienceIn the European Union (EU) context, regulatory instruments and incentive schemes targeting individual farmsremain the main policy instruments implemented to control diffuse pollution from agriculture. Yet, collectiveapproaches to policy implementation have been recently developing. This article aims at assessing the potentialfor hybrid policy instruments relying on collective action among farmers to limit diffuse nitrate pollution fromagriculture. Transaction cost economics are used to assess the potential advantages of collective action as acomplement to regulatory and incentive policy tools. The conditions under which such hybrid forms of governancemay be successful are identified using the Social-Ecological System (SES) framework. A review ofempirical studies documenting cases of collective action for policy implementation in the EU context serves as abasis for the identification of the factors likely to affect the potential of collective approaches for water qualitymanagement in agriculture. The analysis relies more particularly on two cases: the Environmental Cooperativesin the Netherlands and the “Ferti-Mieux” operations in France. The results suggest that collective action is arelevant tool to consider for improving the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of policies targeting diffusepollution from agriculture. In particular, relying on farmers’ cooperation for policy implementation may beassociated with advantages in terms of transaction costs. However, such advantages will be effective under anumber of conditions related to the characteristics of the water resource, the actors involved, the governance ofcooperation and the broader economic and institutional contexts

La coopération entre producteurs d'eau potable et acteurs agricoles dans les aires d'alimentation de captage

National audienceLa Directive Cadre sur l’Eau adoptée en 2000 pose comme objectif l’atteinte d’un bon état écologique de l’ensemble des masses d’eau en 2015. Parallèlement, le Grenelle de l’Environnement a identifié plus de 500 captages parmi les plus menacés par les pollutions diffuses. Dans ce cadre, sont définis des zones de protection des aires d’alimentation de captage et des programmes d’action. Les travaux présentés sont menés dans le cadre d’une action de recherche en cours « Emergence et pérennisation des arrangements coopératifs dans les aires d’alimentation de captage », financée par l’ONEMA. L’objectif est d’identifier les facteurs favorisant ou contraignant la coopération entre producteurs d’eau potable et acteurs agricoles pour le contrôle des pollutions diffuses d’origine agricole dans les aires d’alimentation de captage. Le cadre SES « Socio-Ecological Systems Framework » développé par E. Ostrom (2007 ; 2009) est mobilisé pour identifier les facteurs jouant sur les bénéfices et les coûts associés à l’action collective impliquant producteurs d’eau potable et agriculteurs. Sur la base d’une revue de la littérature et d’entretiens auprès de 12 acteurs-ressource à l’échelle nationale et des bassins versants, une première analyse a permis de caractériser quatre grands types d’arrangements coopératifs. Le premier type d’arrangement correspond à la coopération entre producteurs d’eau potable (collectivités et/ou entreprises privées) et organisations agricoles pour l’animation des démarches de protection des aires d’alimentation de captage. Ce type d’arrangement correspond au cas de coopération le plus fréquemment observé. Les autres types d’arrangements, (i) implication du producteur d’eau potable dans la mise en ½uvre du volet agricole des démarches de protection des aires d’alimentation de captage, (ii) baux ruraux environnementaux et (iii) appui des collectivités au développement de filières, sont relativement moins fréquents. Plus particulièrement, les contrats directs impliquant producteurs d’eau potable et agriculteurs, correspondant au cas « pur » d’arrangement coopératif (Brouwer et al., 2003), n’ont qu’une importance marginale dans le contexte français. L’analyse réalisée a également permis d’identifier un premier ensemble de facteurs susceptibles d’affecter l’émergence et la pérennisation de l’action collective impliquant les producteurs d’eau potable et les acteurs agricoles. Ces facteurs serviront d’hypothèses pour l’étude approfondie de cas d’arrangements coopératifs dans la deuxième phase de l’étude

Eclairage thématique : PSE et gestion de l’eau dans le contexte européen

International audienceCette présentation donne à voir un panorama des PSE en lien avec la gestion de l’eau en France et en Europe. Plus particulièrement, deux cas de PSE dans lesquels des associations de protection de la nature jouent un rôle crucial sont présentés : le programme UpStream Thinking (Royaume-Uni) et le projet « Pâturages de la vallée de l’Eider » (Allemagne). Des enseignements sont tirés de ces expériences pour l’implication possible des Conservatoires d’Espaces Naturels dans des dispositifs PSE

Une analyse de la gouvernance de l'eau en terme de réseaux. Le cas des Mesures Agro-Environnementales Territorialisées en France

International audienceWatershed governance typically relies on more or less formal inter-organizational networks whose structure is likely to influence the success of cooperation. An emerging body of literature seeks to analyze the role of networks in natural resource management. This paper aims at contributing to these developments by developing a research frame to assess the effects of the structure of inter-organizational networks on the outcomes of watershed governance. We focus on a specific type of watershed partnership developed in France in the frame of European agri-environmental policy with the aim of limiting nonpoint source pollution from agricultural sources: the Local Agri-Environmental Schemes. The paper reviews how the different network structural properties may affect the success of collective action for natural resource management, on the basis of the literature using the tools of social network analysis. The case of the Local Agri-Environmental Schemes in the French context is presented as well as some first empirical evidence about the role of networks in the success of these schemes. Finally, the conceptual insights provided by the social network literature are used to formulate some assumptions to be tested in future work