A drop of rainwater against a drop of groundwater: does rainwater harvesting really allow us to spare Groundwater?

This paper is concerned with groundwater management issues in the presence of rainwater harvesting (RWH). Namely, we propose a two-state model in order to take into account the standard dynamics of the aquifer and the dynamics of the storage capacity since the collected rainwater reduces the natural recharge. We analyze the trade-off between these two water harvesting techniques in an optimal control model. We notably show that, when these techniques are pure substitutes, the development of RWH conducts in the long run to a depletion of the water table even if pumping is reduced.Rainwater Harvesting, Conjunctive Use, Groundwater Optimal Control Management, Dynamic Model

A drop of rainwater against a drop of groundwater: does rainwater harvesting really allow us to spare Groundwater?

This paper is concerned with groundwater management issues in the presence of rainwater harvesting (RWH). Namely, we propose a two-state model in order to take into account the standard dynamics of the aquifer and the dynamics of the storage capacity since the collected rainwater reduces the natural recharge. We analyze the trade-off between these two water harvesting techniques in an optimal control model. We notably show that, when these techniques are pure substitutes, the development of RWH conducts in the long run to a depletion of the water table even if pumping is reduced

Rainwater Harvesting under Endogenous Capacity of Storage : a solution to aquifer preservation?

This paper studies groundwater management in the presence of rainwater harvesting (RWH). We propose a two-state model that takes into account the standard dynamics of the aquifer and the dynamics of the storage capacity and we assume that the collection of rainwater reduces the natural recharge. We analyze the trade-off between these two water harvesting techniques in an optimal control model. In particular, we show that when these techniques are pure substitutes, the development of RWH leads in the long run to a depletion of the water table even if pumping is reduced

Twenty years of EU gender mainstreaming: rebirth out of the ashes?

Twenty Years of EU Gender Mainstreaming: Rebirth out of the Ashes? The article looks at the progressive development of gender mainstreaming as a strategy to achieve gender equality in the EU and the role played by policy makers to implement and/or instrumentalise this new concept. From the outset, bureaucracies seized it as an opportunity to dilute the focus on gender and cut resources, transforming its development into a permanent power struggle. The article starts with a brief overview of the major steps and research findings on GM during its launch in the early 1990s and discusses problems arising from related concepts. It then assesses the backlash directed against gender equality, and the demotion of gender mainstreaming, precipitated by the 2004 Eastern enlargement, and the sovereign-debt turned Euro-crisis after 2008. The article concludes by highlighting issues that suggest gender mainstreaming remains the only effective strategy for tackling gender inequalities in the EU, as long as it is understood and implemented in the “policy transformative way”. The article is based on the authors’ insider view stemming from extensive experience in gender equality policies at the European and national level. (author's abstract)Der Beitrag befasst sich mit der fortlaufenden Entwicklung von Gender Mainstreaming als gleichstellungspolitischer Strategie der EU und der Rolle die dabei politische Entscheidungsträger*innen haben, dieses neue Konzept zu implementieren und/oder zu instrumentalisieren. Von Beginn an wurde Gender Mainstreaming genutzt um den vorherigen Fokus auf Geschlecht auszudünnen und Ressourcen zu streichen, während zeitgleich die Entwicklung von GM sich in einem permanenten Machtkampf transformierte. Der Artikel fasst eingangs die zentralen Schritte und Forschungsergebnisse zur Einführung von Gender Mainstreaming in den frühen 1990er-Jahren zusammen und diskutiert entstehende Probleme durch verwandte Konzepte. Dann wird die Gegenreaktion zur EU Gleichstellungspolitik und die Herabstufung von Gender Mainstreaming bewertet, die sich im Zuge der 2004er Osterweiterung und der Finanz- und Staatsschuldenkrise seit 2008 entwickelte. Abschließend wird erläutert, warum Gender Mainstreaming dennoch die einzig effektive Strategie zum Abbau geschlechtsspezifischer Ungleichheiten in der EU bleibt – jedenfalls so lange die Strategie in ihrem ursprünglichen „transformativen Ideal“ verstanden und umgesetzt wird. Der Artikel basiert auf den Innenansichten der beiden Autorinnen als langjährige Gleichstellungsexpertinnen auf EU und nationaler Ebene. (Autorenreferat

Our favourite alternative splice site.

International audienceAlternative splicing is a widespread mechanism in mammals that generates several mRNAs from one gene, thereby creating genetic diversity of the genome. Variant splice patterns are often specific to different stages of development or particular tissues, and alternative splicing defects are being more frequently detected in genetic diseases and cancers. The increasingly important role of alternative splicing in the function and the regulation of cellular process makes it critical to have an easy-to-use data repository for the biological and medical research communities. We have compared web resources that give access to information on alternatively spliced genes, and the FAST DB (Friendly Alternative Splicing and Transcripts DataBase) site came out as our favourite

A model for requirements traceability in an heterogeneous model-based design process. Application to automotive embedded systems

Requirements traceability modeling is a key issue in real-time embedded design process. In such systems, requirements are of different nature (software-related, system-related, functional and non functional) and must be traced through a multi level design flow which integrates multiple and heterogeneous models. Validation and Verification (V&V) activities must be performed on models and on the final product to check if they are matching the initial require-ments. Results of a design and of V&V activities must impact the traceability information. We propose the DARWIN4REQ metamodel for requirement traceability based on three indepen-dent flows (requirement model, solution model and V&V model). The DARWIN4REQ metamodel establishes the link between these flows and allows a full traceability of requirements including the heterogeneous models. This paper presents the DARWIN4REQ metamodel and its use in the context of heterogeneous models for requirement modeling, design and V&V. An automotive application illustrates the approach with SYSML, EAST_ADL2 and MARTE for the design and SIMULINK, SyNDEx and TIMESQUARE for V&V activities

First report of Rice yellow mottle virus on rice in the Democratic Republic of Congo

International audienc