Agri-food clusters: Does French policy match with real spatial dynamics?

In this paper, we attempt to ascertain to what extent the clusters identified in the agricultural and agri-food space rely on a spatial dynamic involving real agricultural and agri-food activities in the relevant geographic area. We use explanatory spatial data analysis (ESDA) to detect the spatial structure and dynamics of agri-food activities and to connect them to the competitiveness clusters’ locations. Results show that the six clusters specifically studied have different profiles because of their proximity to dynamic areas of agricultural and agri-food production and because of their collaborations with other clusters. Keywords: French Competitiveness Clusters, spatial analysis, inter cluster collaboration.

也有輪著寫的：張家山漢簡《筭數書》寫手與篇序初探

International audienceThis paper examines the bamboo manuscript Suan shu shu 筭數術 (Writings on Mathematical Procedures) from Zhangjiashan 張家山 tomb 247 (sealed ≥ 186 BCE) for evidence of multiple scribal hands. The Suan shu shu presents a particularly interesting case study in this regard in that it is one of the few manuscripts from this period to feature the signatures of 'checkers' (chou 讎), the three of which were presumably responsible for the quality of textual (re)production. Presenting our methodology, we explain how we distinguished two separate hands operative in the body and section headings of the manuscript. From there, we present the peculiar case of the section 'Shao guang' 少廣 (Reduced Width), where we see the two hands alternate back and forth between question and answer, leading us, in the conclusion, to suggest the possibility that this manuscript is a teaching document reflecting a master–disciple exchange

Trends in fertility by parity in Europe

In this work we review and assess current trends and differences in fertility in European countries, and also the USA and Canada, with a particular emphasis on birth by order. Fertility levels are estimated for 11 countries using FFS data. We use indicators known as the Period Parity Progression Ratios (P-PPRs). These offer a more detailed view of the family formation process than the traditional Total Fertility Rate (TFR). They also yield better estimates of period total fertility intensity, because these ratios are free of the effects of changes in mean age at childbearing and in the distribution of births by order that affect the TFR

The GOLD project - Drilling in the Western Mediterranean Sea

ECORD NEWSLETTER 16The "GOLD" IODP Project aims to recover the complete history of the Gulf of Lion (25-30 Ma) with a specific focus on Global Climate and Sea-level Changes, Extreme Events, Margin formation, Natural Resources and the Deep Biosphere using dedicated drilling Platform (MSP, Joides and Chikyu). It should be emphasized that no academic drillings dealing with pre-5million years exist in the Mediterranean Sea

Field validation of listings of food stores and commercial physical activity establishments from secondary data

Background: Food- and activity-related establishments are increasingly viewed as neighbourhood resources that potentially condition health-related behaviour. The primary objective of the current study was to establish, using ground truthing (on-site verification), the validity of measures of availability of food stores and physical activity establishments that were obtained from commercial database and Internet searches. A secondary objective was to examine differences in validity results according to neighbourhood characteristics and commercial establishment categories. Methods: Lists of food stores and physical activity-related establishments in 12 census tracts within the Montreal metropolitan region were compiled using a commercial database (n = 171 establishments) and Internet search engines (n = 123 establishments). Ground truthing through field observations was performed to assess the presence of listed establishments and identify those absent. Percentage agreement, sensitivity (proportion of establishments found in the field that were listed), and positive predictive value (proportion of listed establishments found in the field) were calculated and contrasted according to data sources, census tracts characteristics, and establishment categories. Results: Agreement with field observations was good (0.73) for the commercial list, and moderate (0.60) for the Internet-based list. The commercial list was superior to the Internet-based list for correctly listing establishments present in the field (sensitivity), but slightly inferior in terms of the likelihood that a listed establishment was present in the field (positive predictive value). Agreement was higher for food stores than for activity-related establishments. Conclusion: Commercial data sources may provide a valid alternative to field observations and could prove a valuable tool in the evaluation of commercial environments relevant to eating behaviour. In contrast, this study did not find strong evidence in support of commercial and Internet data sources to represent neighbourhood opportunities for active lifestyle.</p

VectorBase: improvements to a bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vector genomics.

VectorBase (http://www.vectorbase.org) is a NIAID-supported bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens. It hosts data for nine genomes: mosquitoes (three Anopheles gambiae genomes, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus), tick (Ixodes scapularis), body louse (Pediculus humanus), kissing bug (Rhodnius prolixus) and tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans). Hosted data range from genomic features and expression data to population genetics and ontologies. We describe improvements and integration of new data that expand our taxonomic coverage. Releases are bi-monthly and include the delivery of preliminary data for emerging genomes. Frequent updates of the genome browser provide VectorBase users with increasing options for visualizing their own high-throughput data. One major development is a new population biology resource for storing genomic variations, insecticide resistance data and their associated metadata. It takes advantage of improved ontologies and controlled vocabularies. Combined, these new features ensure timely release of multiple types of data in the public domain while helping overcome the bottlenecks of bioinformatics and annotation by engaging with our user community

Towards an Ecologically Intensive Agriculture From Concept to Implementation by an Agricultural Cooperative

French agriculture is now facing a double challenge, environmental and productive. Following the Grenelle environment forum (organized by French government in 2007), ecologically intensive agriculture (EIA) has emerged as a new concept to reach this dual challenge. The large Agricultural Cooperative TERRENA in western France chose to refer to the EIA as a structural element of its business strategy. The aim of this paper is to present an economic approach of the emerging concept of EIA, and its implementation by the cooperative and its members

Feira de ciências: Difundindo ciência e tecnologia na Região do Pampa

Trabalho apresentado no 31º SEURS - Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 04 a 07 de agosto de 2013 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.Ciências, Feira de Ciências, Divulgação da Ciência, Formação de professores