Inspection method for spray rate controllers in Flanders (Belgium)

In Belgium, the inspection of sprayers is performed by official and mobile teams ruled by two inspection authorities. The management of the inspection is done by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment (FAVV). In the Flemish region the inspection is delegated to the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO). In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of sprayers was started up in 1996 and the 6th inspection cycle (2011-2012-2013) is currently running. In the past decade the number of sprayers equipped with a spray rate controller, increased significantly. In the first inspection cycle (1996-1997-1998), only 4.58% of the sprayers were equipped with a spray rate controller in Flanders. In the fifth inspection cycle (2008-2009-2010), this percentage increased significantly to 20.37%.As the original inspection method for spray rate controllers showed some lacks and was time consuming, ILVO developed a simple and reliable method for testing rate controllers used on field and orchard sprayers

Doing justice to the richness of personality : introduction to the Special Issue 'New Approaches to the Measurement of Personality: Translational Thoughts to Applied, Educational, and Clinical Settings'

Personality and its assessment are growth areas in the psychological literature and are important in applied practice. In the decades since personality reemerged as a viable scientific construct following the person-situation debate, we have learned much about the nature and full breadth of personality traits as well as refined methods for the assessment of personality characteristics. Indeed, the personality assessment literature currently is vibrant and now intersects with numerous other disciplines, including traditional psychometrics, developmental psychology and psychopathology, clinical psychology, neuroscience, industrial-organizational psychology, and educational and social psychology. This growth in the personality assessment literature inspired us to organize an expert meeting on personality assessment. This 2-day event-which was held in Oostduinkerke (Belgium) in September 2016-brought together junior and senior personality assessment researchers as well as a number of methodologists from around the world and focused on sharing modern viewpoints on personality assessment from a wide diversity of perspectives. Following the meeting, we envisioned this special issue, including papers from meeting attendees addressing topics that emerged from the discussion sessions and are the result of fruitful and often new collaborations. Although the papers were invited, all were subjected to critical peer review and underwent revisions prior to their publication here. In what follows, the overall rationale for the present special issue and the connection between the different papers will be outlined from an integrative perspective

An overview of the defects on tested field sprayers in Belgium

contribution to session 5 Member States shall establish certificate systems for mutual recognition of the certificates (according article 8/6

An overview of the compulsory inspection of sprayers in Belgium

Poste

An overview of the defects on tested orchard sprayers in Belgium

In Belgium, the inspection of sprayers is performed by official and mobile teams ruled by two regional inspection authorities, ILVO and CRA-W. The management of the inspection is done by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment (FAVV). Inspection authorities need to have an ISO 17020 certification, consequently the Belgian inspection is completely independent and objective. FAVV delegates the inspection to one inspection service per region (one for the Walloon part and one for the Flemish part). In this way inspection results are centralized and easily consultable. The inspection results are a very useful tool to have an overview of the general condition of the Belgian sprayers. Those results can be helpful when advising on changes in legislation. They can also be used as an instrument to advise fruit growers and farmers how to improve their spraying machines, r what points they have to pay attention to when buying a new or second-hand machine. Therefore, a detailed overview is made of the inspection results on orchard sprayers for the 5th inspection cyclus (3 years: 2008-2009-2010)

Methodology of the biological risk classification of animal pathogens in Belgium

The biological hazards posed by micro-organisms have lead to their categorisation into risk groups and the elaboration of classification lists. Current classification systems rely on criteria defined by the World Health Organization, which cover the severity of the disease the micro-organism might cause, its ability to spread and the availability of prophylaxis or efficient treatment. Animal pathogens are classified according to the definitions of the World Organization of Animal Health, which also consider economic aspects of disease. In Europe, classification is often directly linked to containment measures. The Belgian classification system however, only considers the inherent characteristics of the micro-organism, not its use, making the risk classification independent of containment measures. A common classification list for human and animal pathogens has been developed in Belgium using as comprehensive an approach as possible. Evolution of scientific knowledge will demand regular updating of classification lists. This paper describes the Belgian risk classification system and the methodology that was used for its peer-reviewed revision (with a focus on animal pathogens)

The inspection of soil-disinfection equipment in Belgium.

In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of field and orchard sprayers was already started up in 1995. At that time, there were only inspection protocols available for those two types of sprayers. From 2008 on, two new inspection protocols were developed: one for greenhouse sprayers and one for soil-disinfection machines. Those inspection protocols were added to the Belgian legislation and implemented since 2011. The inspection protocol for greenhouse sprayers was mainly based on the two existing protocols (field and orchard sprayers) as the working principle of those machines was similar.Soil disinfection machines used on Belgian territory needed another approach because of the differences in pressurising and application technique compared to classical spraying machines. Soil disinfection machines use a closed tank containing the vaporous disinfectant. The tank is pressurised by a compressor or a diving cylinder. As concerns the injector side of those machines there are different possibilities. Some are using a manifold with restrictor plates or a small tap per injector, others use narrow tubes towards the injectors, and sometimes nozzles are used. As one can see, there are no standard inspection methods available for those types of machines. Neither a standard spray pattern measurement, nor a separate pressure and nozzle testing is possible on most of those machines. On top there are some important safety aspects that need special attention due to the hazardous products used. The Belgian inspection protocol was almost completely developed in-house and makes it possible to inspect soil-disinfection machines in an accurate, safe and economical way

Scholte-Stoneley waves on corrugated surfaces and on phononic crystal gratings

International audienc

Wireless flow-sensor to inspect spray rate controllers

In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of sprayers was already started up in 1996 and the 8th inspection cycle (2017-2018-2019) is currently running. The inspection of sprayers is performed by official and mobile teams ruled by two inspection authorities and the management is done by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment (FAVV). In the Flemish region the inspection is delegated to the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO). In the past decade the number of field crop sprayers equipped with a spray rate controller increased significantly. In the first inspection cycle (1996-1998), only 4.58% of the field crop sprayers were equipped with a spray rate controller in Flanders. In the 7th inspection cycle (2014-2016), this percentage increased significantly to 26.92%. As the original inspection method for spray rate controllers showed some lacks and was time consuming, ILVO developed a simple and reliable method to test rate controllers on field crop and orchard sprayers.In Belgium, the mandatory inspection of sprayers was already started up in 1996 and the 8th inspection cycle (2017-2018-2019) is currently running. The inspection of sprayers is performed by official and mobile teams ruled by two inspection authorities and the management is done by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment (FAVV). In the Flemish region the inspection is delegated to the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO). In the past decade the number of field crop sprayers equipped with a spray rate controller increased significantly. In the first inspection cycle (1996-1998), only 4.58% of the field crop sprayers were equipped with a spray rate controller in Flanders. In the 7th inspection cycle (2014-2016), this percentage increased significantly to 26.92%. As the original inspection method for spray rate controllers showed some lacks and was time consuming, ILVO developed a simple and reliable method to test rate controllers on field crop and orchard sprayers

Fe-dolomite(teruelite) from the Keuper of the southern sector of the Iberian Mountain Range, Spain

En la parte meridional del Keuper de la Cordillera Ibérica una variedad de dolomita ferrosa es de interés como curiosidad mineralogica (teruelita). Los analisis quimicos y el estudio cristalografico por medio de las tecnicas de difraccion de rayos X de monocristales confirman que se trata de una variedad de la dolomita y no de la ankerita. Solo ligeras diferencias morfologicas han sido apreciadas entre dolomita y temelita. Asi, la teruelita cristaliza en la forma(4041) mientras que la dolomita cristaliza preferentemente en la forma (l0l 1)