The Fischler's Proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy: Paving the Way for the Future?

The Mid-Term Review proposals presented by the European Commission in July 2002 and January 2003 correspond no doubt to the most radical CAP reform since the latter was established in the early 1960's. This is not because these proposals include firm commitments on market access and export competition dossiers in the perspective of WTO talks. The proposals are silent on these points. This is because they finally achieve the shift from product to producer support by replacing all existing or newly introduced direct income payments, with a few exceptions, by a single decoupled payment per farm, based on historical references and conditional upon cross-compliance to environmental, animal welfare as well as food security and quality criteria. In addition, they expand the scope of rural development instruments to promote food quality, meet higher standards and foster animal welfare and they increase amounts available for rural development by transferring funds from the first to the second pillar via the introduction of an EU-wide system of degression and modulation. This paper discusses these proposals from both an external and internal point of view. We analyse to what extent the MTR proposals could facilitate the EU negotiation position in the WTO. From a domestic point of view, these proposals correspond to appropriate changes in the right direction with however some important qualifications. We analyse these qualifications. We also discuss to what extent the MTR proposals should be considered as the ultimate reform of the CAP or as the third step, after 1992 and 1999, in the long-term process where public intervention would be mainly reserved for correcting market failures, notably the promotion of positive externalities and public goods as well as the reduction in risk and instability faced by agricultural producers.Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), decoupling, cross-compliance, modulation, WorldTrade Organisation (WTO)

Seasonality in coastal macrobenthic biomass and its implications for estimating secondary production using empirical models

Macrobenthic secondary production is widely used to assess the trophic capacity, health, and functioning of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Annual production estimates are often calculated using empirical models and based on data collected during a single period of the year. Yet, many ecosystems show seasonal variations. Although ignoring seasonality may lead to biased and inaccurate estimates of annual secondary production, it has never been tested at the community level. Using time series of macrobenthic data collected seasonally at three temperate marine coastal soft-bottom sites, we assessed seasonal variations in biomass of macrobenthic invertebrates at both population and community levels. We then investigated how these seasonal variations affect the accuracy of annual benthic production when assessed using an empirical model and data from a single sampling event. Significant and consistent seasonal variations in biomass at the three study sites were highlighted. Macrobenthic biomass was significantly lower in late winter and higher in summer/early fall for 18 of the 30 populations analyzed and for all three communities studied. Seasonality led to inaccurate and often biased estimates of annual secondary production at the community level when based on data from a single sampling event. Bias varied by site and sampling period, but reached similar to 50% if biomass was sampled at its annual minimum or maximum. Since monthly sampling is rarely possible, we suggest that ecologists account for uncertainty in annual production estimates caused by seasonality.Agência financiadora EDF French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation French Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition through the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Agreement French Biodiversity Agency (Agence francaise pour la biodiversite) as part of the CAPANOUR projectinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hot Carrier Solar Cell: From Simulation to Devices

International audienceSingle junction III-V heterostructures based devices could overtake the Shockley-Queisser limit if thermalisation of photogenerated carriers can be strongly limited as in the hot carrier solar cell concept. Previous modelling and experiments have shown the interest of Multiple Quantum Wells heterostructures in the antimonide system and the importance of very thin structures. In this paper we report new data on the thermalisation rates in antimonide and phosphide heterostructures measured at ambient temperature. For the first time electrical control of hot carrier population is performed on hot carrier heterostructures device

Exome sequencing identifies germline variants in DIS3 in familial multiple myeloma

[Excerpt] Multiple myeloma (MM) is the third most common hematological malignancy, after Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Leukemia. MM is generally preceded by Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) [1], and epidemiological studies have identified older age, male gender, family history, and MGUS as risk factors for developing MM [2]. The somatic mutational landscape of sporadic MM has been increasingly investigated, aiming to identify recurrent genetic events involved in myelomagenesis. Whole exome and whole genome sequencing studies have shown that MM is a genetically heterogeneous disease that evolves through accumulation of both clonal and subclonal driver mutations [3] and identified recurrently somatically mutated genes, including KRAS, NRAS, FAM46C, TP53, DIS3, BRAF, TRAF3, CYLD, RB1 and PRDM1 [3,4,5]. Despite the fact that family-based studies have provided data consistent with an inherited genetic susceptibility to MM compatible with Mendelian transmission [6], the molecular basis of inherited MM predisposition is only partly understood. Genome-Wide Association (GWAS) studies have identified and validated 23 loci significantly associated with an increased risk of developing MM that explain ~16% of heritability [7] and only a subset of familial cases are thought to have a polygenic background [8]. Recent studies have identified rare germline variants predisposing to MM in KDM1A [9], ARID1A and USP45 [10], and the implementation of next-generation sequencing technology will allow the characterization of more such rare variants. [...]French National Cancer Institute (INCA) and the Fondation Française pour la Recherche contre le Myélome et les Gammapathies (FFMRG), the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM), NCI R01 NCI CA167824 and a generous donation from Matthew Bell. This work was supported in part through the computational resources and staff expertise provided by Scientific Computing at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Research reported in this paper was supported by the Office of Research Infrastructure of the National Institutes of Health under award number S10OD018522. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors thank the Association des Malades du Myélome Multiple (AF3M) for their continued support and participation. Where authors are identified as personnel of the International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization, the authors alone are responsible for the views expressed in this article and they do not necessarily represent the decisions, policy or views of the International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organizatio

Vaccine breakthrough hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs

Life-threatening `breakthrough' cases of critical COVID-19 are attributed to poor or waning antibody response to the SARS- CoV-2 vaccine in individuals already at risk. Pre-existing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs underlie at least 15% of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases in unvaccinated individuals; however, their contribution to hypoxemic breakthrough cases in vaccinated people remains unknown. Here, we studied a cohort of 48 individuals ( age 20-86 years) who received 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine and developed a breakthrough infection with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia 2 weeks to 4 months later. Antibody levels to the vaccine, neutralization of the virus, and auto- Abs to type I IFNs were measured in the plasma. Forty-two individuals had no known deficiency of B cell immunity and a normal antibody response to the vaccine. Among them, ten (24%) had auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs (aged 43-86 years). Eight of these ten patients had auto-Abs neutralizing both IFN-a2 and IFN-., while two neutralized IFN-omega only. No patient neutralized IFN-ss. Seven neutralized 10 ng/mL of type I IFNs, and three 100 pg/mL only. Seven patients neutralized SARS-CoV-2 D614G and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) efficiently, while one patient neutralized Delta slightly less efficiently. Two of the three patients neutralizing only 100 pg/mL of type I IFNs neutralized both D61G and Delta less efficiently. Despite two mRNA vaccine inoculations and the presence of circulating antibodies capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs may underlie a significant proportion of hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia cases, highlighting the importance of this particularly vulnerable population

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Multifunctionality, Agricultural Trade and WTO Negotiations: A Review of Interactions and Issues. ENARPRI Working Paper No. 4, December 2003

When the Doha Round was undertaken in November 2001, non-trade concerns (NTCs) were specifically recognised and integrated into the negotiation process, albeit to a limited extent. In a general way, multifunctionality opponents see arguments put forward by the multifunctionality proponents as an attempt by the corresponding countries to resist agricultural trade liberalisation and continue protecting and supporting agriculture. This paper contributes to the debate by considering the broad set of issues associated with the design and implementation of trade, support and multifunctionality policies in the hope providing policy-makers with a notion of the issues and the trade-offs involved

Les aéromonadaceae et leur utilisation en tant qu'indicateurs bactériens en pisciculture d'eau douce

Les aeromonas sont des bactéries ubiquistes ayant une prédilection pour le milieu aquatique, surtout continental. On les retrouve dans la colonne d'eau, les sédiments, la flore digestive des animaux. Leurs caractéristiques écologiques en font des indicateurs de pollution susceptibles d'être très pertinents pour contrôler la qualité de l'eau, particulièrement en aval des piscicultures. Leur utilisation pourrait également constituer un outil de taille pour étudier l'évolution des résistances bactériennes.NANTES-Ecole Nat.Vétérinaire (441092302) / SudocSudocFranceF

Impact génétique intra-spécifique de la pisciculture intensive sur les populations de poissons sauvages.

Les évasions de poissons des élevages intensifs sont fréquentes et impliquent souvent un grand nombre d'individus. Les poissons libérés ont des caractéristiques propres et peuvent interagir avec les populations naturelles de même espèce. L'auteur étudie alors l'impact génétique que ces poissons d'élevage, plus ou moins sélectionnés ou génétiquement modifiés, ont sur les poissons sauvages. Finalement, quelques pistes sont proposées pouvant conduire à des solutions techniques, scientifiques ou réglementaires du problème de la préservation du patrimoine génétique.NANTES-BU Médecine pharmacie (441092101) / SudocSudocFranceF

The Fischler's Proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy: Paving the Way for the Future?

The Mid-Term Review proposals presented by the European Commission in July 2002 and January 2003 correspond no doubt to the most radical CAP reform since the latter was established in the early 1960's. This is not because these proposals include firm commitments on market access and export competition dossiers in the perspective of WTO talks. The proposals are silent on these points. This is because they finally achieve the shift from product to producer support by replacing all existing or newly introduced direct income payments, with a few exceptions, by a single decoupled payment per farm, based on historical references and conditional upon cross-compliance to environmental, animal welfare as well as food security and quality criteria. In addition, they expand the scope of rural development instruments to promote food quality, meet higher standards and foster animal welfare and they increase amounts available for rural development by transferring funds from the first to the second pillar via the introduction of an EU-wide system of degression and modulation. This paper discusses these proposals from both an external and internal point of view. We analyse to what extent the MTR proposals could facilitate the EU negotiation position in the WTO. From a domestic point of view, these proposals correspond to appropriate changes in the right direction with however some important qualifications. We analyse these qualifications. We also discuss to what extent the MTR proposals should be considered as the ultimate reform of the CAP or as the third step, after 1992 and 1999, in the long-term process where public intervention would be mainly reserved for correcting market failures, notably the promotion of positive externalities and public goods as well as the reduction in risk and instability faced by agricultural producers.Les propositions de réforme de la Politique agricole commune présentées par la Commission européenne en juillet 2002 et en janvier 2003 peuvent être considérées comme une révolution. Non parce qu'elles contiennent des engagements à une plus grande ouverture du marché européen ou à une diminution des subventions à l'exportation dans la perspective des négociations agricoles multilatérales du cycle de Doha. Mais parce qu'elles achèvent le mouvement amorcé en 1992 d'un soutien interne aux produits vers un soutien aux producteurs, via le remplacement des aides directes actuelles par une paiement unique par exploitation déconnecté des choix de production, calculé sur une base historique. En outre, le versement de ce paiement serait conditionné au respect de normes en matière d'environnement, de bien-être animal, de sécurité et de qualité desproduits. Les propositions permettraient également d'augmenter les ressources disponibles pour financer les mesures dites du deuxième pilier, i.e., les mesures liées à la politique de développement rural. Cet article analyse les propositions d'un double point de vue, externe et interne. Sur le premier point, il s'agit notamment d'examiner dans quelle mesure leur adoption permettrait de faciliter la position de négociation de l'Union européenne à l'Organisation mondiale du commerce. Sur le deuxième point, nous montrons qu'il s'agit d'un nouveau pas, après ceux de 1992 et de 1999, dans la bonne direction même si certains problèmes ne sont que très partiellement résolus (par exemple, celui de l'inégale répartition du soutien entre productions, exploitations, etc.) et même si plusieurs interrogations méritent une analyse quantitative plus approfondie (par exemple, l'impact de ces propositions sur le prix du foncier, le nombre de producteurs, l'abandon éventuel de surfaces, etc.)