The strategic turn of Organic Farming in Europe : a resource based approach of Organic Marketing Initiatives

International audienceThis paper explores the Organic farming " s development potential in Europe by analysing the enterprises capacities to reach a workable structure of the supply chains, in order to market good products at reasonable prices. This study has been carried out in the framework of the OMIaRD project, which aimed to assess the impact of the Organic Marketing Initiatives on Rural Development. The results show that, after a growing phase, most of the OMIs meet strategic problems linked to their ability to face an increasing of collected, processed and marketed volumes. This strategic turn point leads them to take decisions together with their stakeholders, so as the economical and ethical goals are not questioned by the changes to be implemented

Storage and retrieval of microwave fields at the single-photon level in a spin ensemble

We report the storage of microwave pulses at the single-photon level in a spin-ensemble memory consisting of $10^{10}$ NV centers in a diamond crystal coupled to a superconducting LC resonator. The energy of the signal, retrieved $100\, \mu \mathrm{s}$ later by spin-echo techniques, reaches $0.3\%$ of the energy absorbed by the spins, and this storage efficiency is quantitatively accounted for by simulations. This figure of merit is sufficient to envision first implementations of a quantum memory for superconducting qubits.Comment: 6 page

Diagnostic et perspectives de développement de la filière viande bovine biologique des Pays de la Loire

La filière viande bovine biologique des Pays de la Loire présente les particularités suivantes : - de nombreux acteurs n’interviennent qu’en prestation de service . C’est le cas des organisations de producteurs pour la collecte, l’estimation, le transport et la facturation des animaux, c’est le cas aussi de certains abattoirs et ateliers de découpe agréés sollicités pour l’approvisionnement des bouchers, des magasins spécialisés ou des producteurs – vendeurs. Dans l’état actuel de l’organisation de la filière et quelles que soient les compétences de ces intervenants, ils n’ont pas le pouvoir d’intervenir dans la dynamique de filière. - Pour chaque maillon de la filière (production, collecte, transformation, distribution) nous observons une réelle hétérogénéité des acteurs. Des relations privilégiées se sont nouées entre certains transformateurs et certains distributeurs, dessinant ainsi deux voies de transformation-distribution : la voie « industrielle » et la voie « spécialisée ». Cependant nous ne pouvons pas parler de segmentation en sous-filières dans la mesure où le maillon production n’est pas segmenté. Ainsi, malgré la diversité des sensibilités des producteurs, ils ne sont pas impliqués dans le choix des débouchés de leurs animaux. Ainsi il n’existe pas de segmentation de la production en fonction de sous-filières différenciées. - E-Bio constitue un acteur spécifique dans la mesure où les animaux ne transitent pas physiquement par cette structure mais il assure la centralisation de l’offre. Le rôle d’E-Bio est organisationnel. E-Bio sous-traite les fonctions techniques associées classiquement au regroupement de l’offre (estimation, collecte, transport) à des organisations de producteurs Cela permet de constater que les opérateurs vraiment actifs se situent - dans la filière artisanale par la dynamique des artisans bouchers, - dans la filière d’accès aux magasins spécialisés par la dynamique des producteurs surtout sous la coordination d’E-Bio, - dans la filière d’accès aux GMS par la dynamique des distributeurs et des industriels, avec l’appui d’E-Bio, - dans la filière vente directe par la dynamique des producteurs. L’organisation de la filière ainsi caractérisée, il s’agit maintenant de synthétiser le contexte d’expression des dynamiques des acteurs. La viande bovine bio est un des segments particuliers du marché de la viande bovine. Les producteurs biologiques et leurs organisations travaillent avec des acteurs majeurs de la filière viande bovine. Ainsi, les perspectives d’évolution du contexte et les stratégies de certains acteurs de la filière biologique ne peuvent s’appréhender indépendamment du contexte plus général de la filière viande bovine

Reaching the quantum limit of sensitivity in electron spin resonance

We report pulsed electron-spin resonance (ESR) measurements on an ensemble of Bismuth donors in Silicon cooled at 10mK in a dilution refrigerator. Using a Josephson parametric microwave amplifier combined with high-quality factor superconducting micro-resonators cooled at millikelvin temperatures, we improve the state-of-the-art sensitivity of inductive ESR detection by nearly 4 orders of magnitude. We demonstrate the detection of 1700 bismuth donor spins in silicon within a single Hahn echo with unit signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio, reduced to just 150 spins by averaging a single Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill sequence. This unprecedented sensitivity reaches the limit set by quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field instead of thermal or technical noise, which constitutes a novel regime for magnetic resonance.Comment: Main text : 10 pages, 4 figures. Supplementary text : 16 pages, 8 figure

Contributions of the Environmental Non Governmental Organisations and international law on climate change

This study aims at finding out how Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) perceive this issue and what roles they play in the fight against this phenomenon and in its formation in order to contribute to this domain and analyse contributions of Non Governmental Organisations to the International law on climate change. Results show that consequences of climate changeare visible and real. Thus, NGOs such as Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, World Wild Funds (WWF), World Watch Institute (WWI) and Sierra Club emerged in the mode of the International law, bringing an effective participation in International negotiations by cooperating with States and by sensitizing citizens and political decision-makers. For this purpose, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 as well as several other multilateral treaties during different Conventions of Parties (COP). However, this struggle is opposed by industrialists and other States that protect their short-term interests and support the idea that climate change mightnot exist or climatic change is not due to men, but rather to natural phenomena. That is why NGOs have to actively play their role of pressure to call out to decision makers and populations on consequences of the climate change so that we can attenuate this phenomenon because the more we are doing nothing today, the more difficult it will be to avoid the consequences tomorrow

Extensive propagation of a pancreatic pseudocyst along the lower limb through the sciatic foramen.

The extremely rare extensive propagation of a giant retroperitoneal pancreatic pseudocyst into the posterior compartment of the lower limb as far as the knee is reported. The extension was found producing through the sciatic foramen and the full diagnosis was made by MDCT. A complete healing was progressively obtained in the 78-year old female after a six months period of sequential multidisciplinary therapeutic approach comprising combined medical and surgical intra-abdominal and external drainage

Grouping or Grounding? Cultural District and Creative Cluster Management in Nantes, France

This study examines the genesis of a cultural and creative cluster (CCC) as a collection of small or very small companies. The authors use the results of a longitudinal case study of the trajectory of a CCC to reflect on the management mechanisms in CCCs based on an analysis of management tools and how they operate to encourage Grounding and/or Grouping dynamics. This six-year study of Quartier de la Creation in Nantes, France, confirms the prevailing view of a CCC as a dynamic organization. The CCC shows distinct stages, each with its own governance and managerial difficulties. It reveals challenges in shaping the role of the support organization and in identifying the competencies to be developed. The governance mechanisms and the cluster practices of some localized groupings of very small creative enterprises require a balancing of Grouping and Grounding approaches, as hybridizing is central to cluster dynamics

Risk factors for atherosclerotic and medial arterial calcification of the intracranial internal carotid artery

_Background and aims:_ Calcifications of the intracranial internal carotid artery (iICA) are an important risk factor for stroke. The calcifications can occur both in the intimal and medial layer of the vascular wall. The aim of this study is to assess whether medial calcification in the iICA is differently related to risk factors for cardiovascular disease, compared to intimal calcification. _Methods:_ Unenhanced thin slice computed tomography (CT) scans from 1132 patients from the Dutch acute stroke study cohort were assessed for dominant localization of calcification (medial or intimal) by one of three observers based on established methodology. Associations between known cardiovascular risk factors (age, gender, body mass index, pulse pressure, eGFR, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, previous vascular disease, and family history) and the dominant localization of calcifications were assessed via logistic regression analysis. _Results:_ In the 1132 patients (57% males, mean age 67.4 years [SD 13.8]), dominant intimal calcification was present in 30.9% and dominant medial calcification in 46.9%. In 10.5%, no calcification was seen. Age, pulse pressure and family history were risk factors for both types of calcification. Multivariably adjusted risk factors for dominant intimal calcification only were smoking (OR 2.09 [CI 1.27–3.44]) and hypertension (OR 2.09 [CI 1.29–3.40]) and for dominant medial calcification diabetes mellitus (OR 2.39 [CI 1.11–5.14]) and previous vascular disease (OR 2.20 [CI 1.30–3.75]). _Conclusions:_ Risk factors are differently related to the dominant localizations of calcifications, a finding that supports the hypothesis that the intimal and medial calcification represents a distinct etiology

Platelet transfusion versus standard care after acute stroke due to spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage associated with antiplatelet therapy (PATCH): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Platelet transfusion after acute spontaneous primary intracerebral haemorrhage in people taking antiplatelet therapy might reduce death or dependence by reducing the extent of the haemorrhage. We aimed to investigate whether platelet transfusion with standard care, compared with standard care alone, reduced death or dependence after intracerebral haemorrhage associated with antiplatelet therapy use. METHODS: We did this multicentre, open-label, masked-endpoint, randomised trial at 60 hospitals in the Netherlands, UK, and France. We enrolled adults within 6 h of supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage symptom onset if they had used antiplatelet therapy for at least 7 days beforehand and had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of at least 8. With use of a secure web-based system that concealed allocation and used biased coin randomisation, study collaborators randomly assigned participants (1:1; stratified by hospital and type of antiplatelet therapy) to receive either standard care or standard care with platelet transfusion within 90 min of diagnostic brain imaging. Participants and local investigators giving interventions were not masked to treatment allocation, but allocation was concealed from outcome assessors and investigators analysing data. The primary outcome was shift towards death or dependence rated on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months, and analysed by ordinal logistic regression, adjusted for stratification variables and the Intracerebral Haemorrhage Score. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population and safety analyses were done in the intention-to-treat and as-treated populations. This trial is registered with the Netherlands Trial Register, number NTR1303, and is now closed. FINDINGS: Between Feb 4, 2009, and Oct 8, 2015, 41 sites enrolled 190 participants. 97 participants were randomly assigned to platelet transfusion and 93 to standard care. The odds of death or dependence at 3 months were higher in the platelet transfusion group than in the standard care group (adjusted common odds ratio 2.05, 95% CI 1.18-3.56; p=0.0114). 40 (42%) participants who received platelet transfusion had a serious adverse event during their hospital stay, as did 28 (29%) who received standard care. 23 (24%) participants assigned to platelet transfusion and 16 (17%) assigned to standard care died during hospital stay. INTERPRETATION: Platelet transfusion seems inferior to standard care for people taking antiplatelet therapy before intracerebral haemorrhage. Platelet transfusion cannot be recommended for this indication in clinical practice. FUNDING: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, Sanquin Blood Supply, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, French Ministry of Health