Coherent mapping for integrated water management in Brussels

Like many cities, Brussels faces increasing water issues like urbanization spreading and stresses on the water resources. Integrated Water Management (IWM) in urban planning tackles these problems focusing on the landscape features, but requires extensive cartographic data. Since 2010, different platforms offer cartographic data for the Brussels and Flemish regions, but these initiatives are independent and often not coherent. This article analyses the potentials and deficiencies of these cartographic data through two transboundary examples: the catchments of the Brussels area and the Molenbeek catchment. The article highlights how non-concordance and non-accessibility of the data constrain the application of IWM and other urban planning issues in transboundary areas.Comme bien d’autres villes, Bruxelles est confrontée à des difficultés croissantes liées à l’eau, en raison notamment de la progression de l’urbanisation et des pressions exercées sur les ressources hydriques. Associée à l’urbanisme, la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau (GIRE) permet de répondre à ces problèmes en s’intéressant aux particularités du paysage, mais requiert d’importants volumes de données cartographiques. Si depuis 2010, différentes plateformes offrent de telles données pour les régions bruxelloise et flamande, il s’agit d’initiatives isolées et souvent sans cohérence. Le présent article analyse les potentialités et les failles de ces données cartographiques à travers deux exemples transrégionaux : les bassins versants de Bruxelles et celui du Molenbeek. Il montre en quoi la non-concordance et l’inaccessibilité des données limitent la mise en œuvre de la GIRE et d’autres plans urbanistiques dans les zones transrégionales.Net als veel andere steden wordt Brussel in toenemende mate geconfronteerd met kwesties rond watermanagement, zoals een voortgaande urbanisatie en een druk op de watervoorraden. Door integraal watermanagement (IWM) in de stadsplanning op te nemen wordt geprobeerd deze problemen aan te pakken door te focussen op landschapskenmerken, maar dat vereist de beschikbaarheid van uitgebreide cartografische data. Sinds 2010 bieden verschillende platformen cartografische data over de Brusselse en Vlaamse regio’s aan, maar deze initiatieven staan los van elkaar en zijn vaak niet coherent. In dit artikel wordt een analyse gemaakt van de mogelijkheden en tekortkomingen van deze cartografische data door middel van twee grensoverschrijdende voorbeelden: de stroombekkens van het Brussels Gewest en het stroombekken van Molenbeek. In het artikel wordt belicht hoe het niet-overstemmen en het niet-toegankelijk zijn van data de toepassing van IWM en andere stedenbouwkundige vraagstukken in grensoverschrijdende gebieden beperken

Une cartographie cohérente pour une gestion intégrée de l’eau à Bruxelles

Comme bien d’autres villes, Bruxelles est confrontée à des difficultés croissantes liées à l’eau, en raison notamment de la progression de l’urbanisation et des pressions exercées sur les ressources hydriques. Associée à l’urbanisme, la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau (GIRE) permet de répondre à ces problèmes en s’intéressant aux particularités du paysage, mais requiert d’importants volumes de données cartographiques. Si depuis 2010, différentes plateformes offrent de telles données pour les régions bruxelloise et flamande, il s’agit d’initiatives isolées et souvent sans cohérence. Le présent article analyse les potentialités et les failles de ces données cartographiques à travers deux exemples transrégionaux : les bassins versants de Bruxelles et celui du Molenbeek. Il montre en quoi la non-concordance et l’inaccessibilité des données limitent la mise en œuvre de la GIRE et d’autres plans urbanistiques dans les zones transrégionales.Like many cities, Brussels faces increasing water issues like urbanization spreading and stresses on the water resources. Integrated Water Management (IWM) in urban planning tackles these problems focusing on the landscape features, but requires extensive cartographic data. Since 2010, different platforms offer cartographic data for the Brussels and Flemish regions, but these initiatives are independent and often not coherent. This article analyses the potentials and deficiencies of these cartographic data through two transboundary examples: the catchments of the Brussels area and the Molenbeek catchment. The article highlights how non-concordance and non-accessibility of the data constrain the application of IWM and other urban planning issues in transboundary areas.Net als veel andere steden wordt Brussel in toenemende mate geconfronteerd met kwesties rond watermanagement, zoals een voortgaande urbanisatie en een druk op de watervoorraden. Door integraal watermanagement (IWM) in de stadsplanning op te nemen wordt geprobeerd deze problemen aan te pakken door te focussen op landschapskenmerken, maar dat vereist de beschikbaarheid van uitgebreide cartografische data. Sinds 2010 bieden verschillende platformen cartografische data over de Brusselse en Vlaamse regio’s aan, maar deze initiatieven staan los van elkaar en zijn vaak niet coherent. In dit artikel wordt een analyse gemaakt van de mogelijkheden en tekortkomingen van deze cartografische data door middel van twee grensoverschrijdende voorbeelden: de stroombekkens van het Brussels Gewest en het stroombekken van Molenbeek. In het artikel wordt belicht hoe het niet-overstemmen en het niet-toegankelijk zijn van data de toepassing van IWM en andere stedenbouwkundige vraagstukken in grensoverschrijdende gebieden beperken

Een coherente cartografie voor een geïntegreerd waterbeleid in Brussel

Net als veel andere steden wordt Brussel in toenemende mate geconfronteerd met kwesties rond watermanagement, zoals een voortgaande urbanisatie en een druk op de watervoorraden. Door integraal watermanagement (IWM) in de stadsplanning op te nemen wordt geprobeerd deze problemen aan te pakken door te focussen op landschapskenmerken, maar dat vereist de beschikbaarheid van uitgebreide cartografische data. Sinds 2010 bieden verschillende platformen cartografische data over de Brusselse en Vlaamse regio’s aan, maar deze initiatieven staan los van elkaar en zijn vaak niet coherent. In dit artikel wordt een analyse gemaakt van de mogelijkheden en tekortkomingen van deze cartografische data door middel van twee grensoverschrijdende voorbeelden: de stroombekkens van het Brussels Gewest en het stroombekken van Molenbeek. In het artikel wordt belicht hoe het niet-overstemmen en het niet-toegankelijk zijn van data de toepassing van IWM en andere stedenbouwkundige vraagstukken in grensoverschrijdende gebieden beperken.Like many cities, Brussels faces increasing water issues like urbanization spreading and stresses on the water resources. Integrated Water Management (IWM) in urban planning tackles these problems focusing on the landscape features, but requires extensive cartographic data. Since 2010, different platforms offer cartographic data for the Brussels and Flemish regions, but these initiatives are independent and often not coherent. This article analyses the potentials and deficiencies of these cartographic data through two transboundary examples: the catchments of the Brussels area and the Molenbeek catchment. The article highlights how non-concordance and non-accessibility of the data constrain the application of IWM and other urban planning issues in transboundary areas.Comme bien d’autres villes, Bruxelles est confrontée à des difficultés croissantes liées à l’eau, en raison notamment de la progression de l’urbanisation et des pressions exercées sur les ressources hydriques. Associée à l’urbanisme, la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau (GIRE) permet de répondre à ces problèmes en s’intéressant aux particularités du paysage, mais requiert d’importants volumes de données cartographiques. Si depuis 2010, différentes plateformes offrent de telles données pour les régions bruxelloise et flamande, il s’agit d’initiatives isolées et souvent sans cohérence. Le présent article analyse les potentialités et les failles de ces données cartographiques à travers deux exemples transrégionaux : les bassins versants de Bruxelles et celui du Molenbeek. Il montre en quoi la non-concordance et l’inaccessibilité des données limitent la mise en œuvre de la GIRE et d’autres plans urbanistiques dans les zones transrégionales

An ensemble of eddy-permitting global ocean reanalyses from the MyOcean project

A set of four eddy-permitting global ocean reanalyses produced in the framework of the MyOcean project have been compared over the altimetry period 1993–2011. The main differences among the reanalyses used here come from the data assimilation scheme implemented to control the ocean state by inserting reprocessed observations of sea surface temperature (SST), in situ temperature and salinity profiles, sea level anomaly and sea-ice concentration. A first objective of this work includes assessing the interannual variability and trends for a series of parameters, usually considered in the community as essential ocean variables: SST, sea surface salinity, temperature and salinity averaged over meaningful layers of the water column, sea level, transports across pre-defined sections, and sea ice parameters. The eddy-permitting nature of the global reanalyses allows also to estimate eddy kinetic energy. The results show that in general there is a good consistency between the different reanalyses. An intercomparison against experiments without data assimilation was done during the MyOcean project and we conclude that data assimilation is crucial for correctly simulating some quantities such as regional trends of sea level as well as the eddy kinetic energy. A second objective is to show that the ensemble mean of reanalyses can be evaluated as one single system regarding its reliability in reproducing the climate signals, where both variability and uncertainties are assessed through the ensemble spread and signal-to-noise ratio. The main advantage of having access to several reanalyses differing in the way data assimilation is performed is that it becomes possible to assess part of the total uncertainty. Given the fact that we use very similar ocean models and atmospheric forcing, we can conclude that the spread of the ensemble of reanalyses is mainly representative of our ability to gauge uncertainty in the assimilation methods. This uncertainty changes a lot from one ocean parameter to another, especially in global indices. However, despite several caveats in the design of the multi-system ensemble, the main conclusion from this study is that an eddy-permitting multi-system ensemble approach has become mature and our results provide a first step towards a systematic comparison of eddy-permitting global ocean reanalyses aimed at providing robust conclusions on the recent evolution of the oceanic state

Beta cell vulnerability and regeneration in the adult progeny of low protein-fed mothers : prevention by taurine

Epidemiological studies related poor maternal nutrition and subsequent growth retardation in the progeny to the development of diabetes later in life. In the laboratory, a rat model was developed where maternal low protein diet [8% protein isocaloric diet vs 20% protein diet in controls (C)] led to offspring with low birth weight and with altered endocrine pancreas development. Moreover, islets of this progeny exhibited higher level of apoptosis when incubated with nitric oxide donor or with cytokines. These effects persisted until adulthood even if the 20% protein diet was given after weaning [Recovery (R) group, fed 8% protein diet during gestation and lactation followed by 20% protein diet until adulthood]. On the other hand, maternal low protein diet reduced the plasma level of taurine in mothers and foetuses. Supplementation with this amino acid restored the vulnerability of islet-cells in both foetuses and adults. This study was designed to understand why maternal low protein-diet led to increased vulnerability of the adult islets and how taurine could exert its protective role. In a first set of experiments, we demonstrated that inadequate feeding during development of the foetus and the neonate permanently modifies the expression of genes involved in ER stress and mitochondrial metabolism in islets of the adult progeny. Higher nitric oxide production may be one the key player in the subsequent cell death. Early taurine supplementation to these rats normalized apoptosis in the adult islets by restoring the expression of all the modified genes. We then developed a model of beta cell destruction in rat mediated by the injections of multiple low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) with the purpose to study the response of islets toward toxic agent in vivo. We observed that the increase in glycaemia was higher in R rats. Moreover, compared to C animals, R rats did not recover from beta cell destruction. Early taurine supplementation prevented from hyperglycaemia but was inefficient to improve beta cell regeneration. Thus, we showed in this study that maternal protein-deficiency increased islet-cell vulnerability and impaired STZ-induced beta cell regeneration in the adult offspring. Maternal taurine supplementation to low protein diet rescued beta cell apoptosis but provided limited protection after STZ destruction.Doctorat en sciences (sciences biologiques) (BIOL 3)--UCL, 200

Implication of nitric oxide in the increased islet-cells vulnerability of adult progeny from protein-restricted mothers and its prevention by taurine.

An increased vulnerability of adult beta-cell seems to be programmed in early life as adult islets from the progeny of dams fed a low protein diet exhibited an increased apoptotic rate after cytokines stimulation. This was prevented by maternal taurine supplementation. Here, we investigated the mechanisms implicated in such an increased vulnerability and how taurine exerts its protective role. Along gestation and lactation, Wistar rats were fed a 20% (Control [C group]) or an isocaloric 8% protein diet (Recovery [R group]) supplemented or not with taurine (CT and RT groups respectively). Offspring received a 20% protein diet after weaning. Islets from 3 month-old females were isolated and cultured for 48h before being incubated with or without cytokines for 24h. In unstimulated islets, apoptotic rate and NO. secretion were higher in R than in C. Both GADD153mRNA and protein were increased, whereas mRNA of mitochondrial gene ATPase6 was down-regulated in R group compared to C. In the RT group, taurine protected from apoptosis and restored a normal NO. production, GADD153 as well as ATPase6 mRNA expression. After cytokines-induction, apoptosis and NO. secretion were still increased in R compared to C but both parameters were normalized in RT group. In conclusion, maternal low protein diet programmes a different pattern of gene expression in islet-cells of adult progeny. Higher NO. production by these islets could be an important actor in the subsequent cell death. The prevention of these events by maternal taurine supplementation emphasises the importance of taurine during endocrine pancreas development

Increased susceptibility to streptozotocin and impeded regeneration capacity of beta-cells in adult offspring of malnourished rats.

Background: Epidemiological studies related poor maternal nutrition and subsequent growth retardation in the progeny to the development of diabetes later in life. Low-protein diet during gestation altered the beta-cell development of the rat progeny by decreasing beta-cell proliferation and increasing their sensitivity to nitric oxide and cytokines in the foetus. This disturbed maternal environment had long-lasting consequences because the higher beta-cell vulnerability was maintained at adulthood. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether early malnutrition influences the vulnerability and the regeneration capacity of beta-cells after streptozotocin (STZ) damage at adulthood. Methods: Gestating rats were fed either a control or a low-protein diet until weaning. Adult female offspring received injections of Freund's adjuvant weekly for 5 weeks followed 24 h later by STZ. Half of the cohort was killed at d34, whereas the other half was maintained until d48 to analyse the regeneration capacity of the beta-cells. Results: Although control and low-protein rats had equivalent pancreatic insulin content and beta-cell volume density at d34, hyperglycaemia appeared earlier and was more dramatic in low-protein rats than in control rats. STZ treatment increased beta-cell proliferation similarly in both groups. At d48, apoptotic rate was higher in the low-protein group. Regeneration appeared in control, but not in the low-protein rats, where beta-cell aggregates/surface area and Reg1-positive area were decreased compared to control. Conclusion: Maternal malnutrition programmes a more vulnerable endocrine pancreas in the progeny which is unable to regenerate after injury, therefore predisposing it to develop glucose intolerance and diabetes later in life

Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment: an Update.

ABSTRACT. We present an update of the ‘key points ’ from the Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) report that was published by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in 2009. We summarise subsequent advances in knowledge concerning how the climates of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean have changed in the past, how they might change in the future, and examine the associated impacts on the marine and terrestrial biota. We also incorporate relevant material presented by SCAR to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, and make us

Maternal malnutrition programs the endocrine pancreas in progeny.

Type 2 diabetes arises when the endocrine pancreas fails to secrete sufficient insulin to cope with metabolic demands resulting from β cell secretory dysfunction, decreased β cell mass, or both. Epidemiologic studies have shown strong relations between poor fetal and early postnatal nutrition and susceptibility to diabetes later in life. Animal models have been established, and studies have shown that a reduction in the availability of nutrients during fetal development programs the endocrine pancreas and insulin-sensitive tissues. We investigated several modes of early malnutrition in rats. Regardless of the type of diet investigated, whether there was a deficit in calories or protein in food or even in the presence of a high-fat diet, malnourished pups were born with a defect in their β cell population, with fewer β cells that did not secrete enough insulin and that were more vulnerable to oxidative stress; such populations of β cells will never completely recover. Despite the similar endpoint, the cellular and physiologic mechanisms that contribute to alterations in β cell mass differ depending on the nature of the nutritional insult. Hormones that are operative during fetal life, such as insulin, insulin-like growth factors, and glucocorticoids; specific molecules, such as taurine; and islet vascularization have been implicated as possible factors in amplifying this defect. The molecular mechanisms responsible for intrauterine programming of β cells are still elusive, but among them the programming of mitochondria may be a strong central candidate