Unconventional Gas in the Benelux: Cautious Attitudes and Regional Interplay

The three countries of the Benelux are often overlooked in Europe’s current unconventional gas debate. But the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg all possess considerable shale gas resources, and major energy companies have already taken an interest. So far no serious drilling has taken place. This article puts the discoveries and recent action in the perspective of regional breakdown of public policy and government authority. Analyzing business prospects, economic policy and regulatory action of the different governments in the Benelux, the article yields insight into the relevant power structure inside the policy domain. The influence of different members of the Benelux on the other members is discussed. All three countries have adopted a rather cautious attitude towards the exploration and production of unconventional gas

Een matematisch model van de grondwaterstromingen in het kwartaire reservoir ten oosten van De Haan

A mathematical model has been developed to simulate groundwater flow in the Quaternary aquifer system east of De Haan (Belgium). The estimated lateral variations of the hydraulic parameters have repeatedly been adjusted by comparing the calculated hydraulic-head configuration to the observed one. After this calibration of the model was achieved, the influence of groundwater extraction has been examined. Even at pumping rates as low as 250.000 m³/year, artificial replenishment of the aquifer system will be necessary in order to avoid flow of salt water towards the wells

The role of geomorphic controls on the development of defensive networks along the Western Front during the Great War: case study of Champagne and Argonne (france)

The Great War was marked on the western front mainly by a war of position (for 40 out of the 51 months of the conflict) along the 750 km of the front area from Flanders to Alsace. The objective of this article is to understand the spatial organisation of defence networks in the eastern part of the Champagne region (Champagne sèche), the Vallage d’Aisne and in the Argonne region in 1918 by means of an analysis of geographical information system (GIS)-processed trench maps. This article presents a methodology, involving the transfer of fire trenches, communication trenches and vegetation, integrated into a geodatabase, and then cross-referenced with the digital terrain model (DTM). This comparison of three distinct regions with a chalky plateau (Champagne sèche), a wet plain (Vallage d’Aisne) and a sandy plateau covered with forests (Argonne), not only makes it possible to qualify the role of geographical conditions on the Great War but also to quantify the defence networks.Keywords: WW1, trench map, GIS, spatial analysis, Champagne sèche, Vallage d’Aisne, Argonn

Trends in Acromioplasty Utilization During Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: An Epidemiological Study of 139,586 Patients

INTRODUCTION: Acromioplasty remains very common during rotator cuff repair (RCR) despite limited evidence of clinical efficacy. This study observed the incidence of acromioplasty from 2010 to 2018 in Texas using a publicly available database. METHODS: A total of 139,586 records were analyzed from the Texas Healthcare Information Collection database ranging from 2010 to 2018. These cases were divided into those with and without acromioplasty (N = 107,427 and N = 32,159, respectively). Acromioplasty use was standardized as the number of acromioplasties per RCR (acromioplasty rate). Two subgroup analyses were conducted: surgical institution type and payor status. RESULTS: In 2010, acromioplasty occurred in 84% of all RCR cases with nearly continuous decline to 74% by 2018 (P \u3c 0.001). All subgroups followed this pattern except teaching hospitals which displayed insignificant change from 2010 to 2018 (P = 0.99). The odds of receiving acromioplasty in patients with neither Medicare nor Medicaid was higher than those with Medicare or Medicaid coverage (odds ratio = 1.36, P \u3c 0.001). DISCUSSION: Overall acromioplasty rates decreased modestly, but markedly, beginning in 2012. Despite this small decrease in acromioplasty rate, it remains a commonly performed procedure in conjunction with RCR. Both the academic status of the surgical facility and the payor status of the patient affect the acromioplasty rate