Tenants' campaigns for tenure neutrality and a general needs model of social housing: making universal claims

The policy of tenure neutrality championed by the International Union of Tenants as essential to a right to adequate housing advances a model of general needs or, in other words, universal social rented housing provision unrestricted by income limits or needs-based rationing. Support for this model has been severely undermined by recent European Commission rulings that have restricted access to social housing to those least capable of coping in a competitive market place. As general needs demand for affordable housing continues to swell, the challenge for adherents of tenure neutrality is to demonstrate that universal social housing can meet both the needs of the most vulnerable and the demands of those excluded from homeownership by price inflation and credit limits. This paper examines the promotion of universal social housing by tenants’ organisations and challenges the extent to which this model is intended ‘for all’. In a case study of the defence of municipal housing by English tenants’ movements, it identifies the exclusionary narratives that render the particular housing needs of advantaged social groups as universal. The paper concludes by reviewing strategies to resolve the tensions between the universal and the particular to reinvigorate support for tenure neutrality in arguments for widening access and supply of social housing

Cardiovasc Diabetol

Lower-extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a major endemic disease with an alarming increased prevalence worldwide. It is a common and severe condition with excess risk of major cardiovascular events and death. It also leads to a high rate of lower-limb adverse events and non-traumatic amputation. The American Diabetes Association recommends a widespread medical history and clinical examination to screen for LEAD. The ankle brachial index (ABI) is the first non-invasive tool recommended to diagnose LEAD although its variable performance in patients with diabetes. The performance of ABI is particularly affected by the presence of peripheral neuropathy, medial arterial calcification, and incompressible arteries. There is no strong evidence today to support an alternative test for LEAD diagnosis in these conditions. The management of LEAD requires a strict control of cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. The benefit of intensive versus standard glucose control on the risk of LEAD has not been clearly established. Antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet agents are obviously worthfull to reduce major cardiovascular adverse events, but few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the benefits of these treatments in terms of LEAD and its related adverse events. Smoking cessation, physical activity, supervised walking rehabilitation and healthy diet are also crucial in LEAD management. Several advances have been achieved in endovascular and surgical revascularization procedures, with obvious improvement in LEAD management. The revascularization strategy should take into account several factors including anatomical localizations of lesions, medical history of each patients and operator experience. Further studies, especially RCTs, are needed to evaluate the interest of different therapeutic strategies on the occurrence and progression of LEAD and its related adverse events in patients with diabetes

Near-field measurement of microwave active devices

A completely new near field mapping system based on micro monopole antenna has been developed in order to determine the electric near-field at the surface of MMIC. The possibilities of this innovative experimental setup are shown by 2D mapping of a bend 5 line deposited on GaAs substrate and a coupled-line filter on Duroid 6002. These are supported by 3D electromagnetic simulations. We finally give some results obtained on a real MMIC with a medium resolution of 50µm. The industrial applications are clearly the reliability issues of microwave power devices but also a new tool for MMIC designers. The knowledge of radiated near field will also contribute to optimize the packaging of microwave functions

Dispositif de diffusion de techniques anti-érosives innovantes dans les Hauts de l'Ouest. Accompagnement de l'innovation, références locales et aide à la décision. Rapport d'activité de l'année 1997

Les objectifs du "dispositif de diffusion de techniques anti-érosives innovantes dans les Hauts de l'Ouest" se regroupent autour de quatre points : - faire progresser les connaissances sur la façon dont les agriculteurs gèrent les processus de production au sein des exploitations (analyse des processus de décision), et approfondir la connaissance du fonctionnement des exploitations, en intégrant les problèmes liés à la fertilité des sols, - établir une méthode d'aide à la décision et au conseil stratégique pour répondre aux problèmes et à la demande des agriculteurs à partir d'études de cas diversifiées, ceci dans un objectif de durabilité économique et écologique des exploitations, - aboutir à des références techniques et économiques propres à chaque grande classe typologique des exploitations..., - améliorer les relations de collaboration entre partenaires de recherche et de développement. Le rapport présente le bilan des actions menées en 1997 sur notamment : - le conseil stratégique, - l'acquisition de références locales, - la caractérisation des pratiques des élevages de boeuf-fumier et de cabris, - l'utilisation d'outils d'aide à la décision (exemple de la gestion de l'eau des retenues collinaires), - l'appropriation des innovations (cas des couvertures vives sur culture de géranium). Les travaux de l'année 97 ont montré la nécessité de partir de la demande des agriculteurs, de s'appuyer sur une méthodologie basée sur le fonctionnement de l'exploitation agricole et sur le projet de l'exploitant, de prendre en compte la diversité des exploitation

Fabrication de sondes de champ proche optique de type levier en matériau hybride organo-minéral

International audienc