What EU policy framework do we need to sustain High Nature Value (HNV) farming and biodiversity? Policy Paper prepared in the framework of HNV-Link (project funded by the H2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no 696391)

This policy paper builds upon the work carried out in the framework of HNV-Link (H2020 Project, 2016-2019, www.hnvlink.eu), a thematic multi-actor network on High Nature Value (HNV) Farming involving 13 partners from 10 European countries. The goal of this network is to support HNV farming systems by inspiring and sharing innovations/practices that improve their socio-economic viability while preserving their ecological value and the public services they provide. HNV-Link informs policymakers and authorities at the European and national levels of the main policy stakes around HNV farming, and to recommend adjustments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other policies in order to adequately support HNV farming, the territories in which they are embedded, and the communities that depend on them. In Europe, farmers operate within a complex and constraining environment and policy/regulatory framework, including income support and rural development measures of the CAP, but also the numerous regulations related to agriculture, food hygiene/safety, animal health/welfare, environment protection, and climate change. This framework can provide farms with incentives or on the contrary, hinder their development, and it has consequently a major influence on their economic viability and the survival of the communities depending on farming. This institutional framework was designed to deal mainly with the problems that intensive farms face. Far less weight has been placed on designing and implementing policies adapted to the needs of HNV farms, i.e. those low-intensity farms which rely on and safeguard a rich biodiversity and associated ecosystem services made up of a variety of habitats and landscapes elements. Hence, there is a need for a creative yet thoughtful design and implementation of adapted policy measures

Infrared frequency selective surfaces fabricated using optical lithography and phase-shift masks

A frequency selective surface (FSS) structure has been fabricated for use in a thermophotovoltaic system. The FSS provides a means for reflecting the unusable light below the bandgap of the thermophotovoltaic cell while transmitting the usable light above the bandgap. This behavior is relatively independent of the light's incident angle. The fabrication of the FSS was done using optical lithography and a phase-shift mask. The FSS cell consisted of circular slits spaced by 1100 nm. The diameters and widths of the circular slits were 870 nm and 120 nm, respectively. The FSS was predicted to pass wavelengths near 7 {micro}m and reflect wavelengths outside of this pass-band. The FSSs fabricated performed as expected with a pass-band centered near 5 {micro}m

Long‐term clinical, imaging and cognitive outcomes association with MS immunopathology

Abstract Objective In this observational study on a cohort of biopsy‐proven central nervous system demyelinating disease consistent with MS, we examined the relationship between early‐active demyelinating lesion immunopattern (IP) with subsequent clinical course, radiographic progression, and cognitive function. Methods Seventy‐five patients had at least one early‐active lesion on biopsy and were pathologically classified into three immunopatterns based on published criteria. The median time from biopsy at follow‐up was 11 years, median age at biopsy ‐ 41, EDSS ‐ 4.0. At last follow‐up, the median age was 50, EDSS ‐ 3.0. Clinical examination, cognitive assessment (CogState battery), and 3‐Tesla‐MRI (MPRAGE/FLAIR/T2/DIR/PSIR/DTI) were obtained. Results IP‐I was identified in 14/75 (19%), IP‐II was identified in 41/75 (56%), and IP‐III was identified in 18/75 (25%) patients. Patients did not differ significantly by immunopattern in clinical measures at onset or last follow‐up. The proportions of disease courses after a median of 11 years were similar across immunopatterns, relapsing–remitting being most common (63%), followed by monophasic (32%). No differences in volumetric or DTI measures were found. CogState performance was similar for most tasks. A slight yet statistically significant difference was identified for episodic memory scores, with IP‐III patients recalling one word less on average. Interpretation In this study, immunopathological heterogeneity of early‐active MS lesions identified at biopsy does not correlate with different long‐term clinical, neuroimaging or cognitive outcomes. This could be explained by the fact that while active white matter lesions are pathological substrates for relapses, MS progression is driven by mechanisms converging across immunopatterns, regardless of pathogenic mechanisms driving the acute demyelinated plaque

AND TABAT Theory and Experimental Results of a New Diamond Surface-Emission Cathode nikolay n. efremow, jr. is an assistant staff member in the Submicrometer Technology group, where he fabricates and characterizes diamond emitters for flat-panel displays.

■ A new electron-emission mechanism combines the enhanced electric field of a triple junction at the intersection of metal and diamond interfaces in vacuum with the negative electron affinity (NEA) of the diamond surface. This new surface-emission mechanism is compared to two common cathode mechanisms—geometric electric-field enhancement and Schottky-diode electricfield enhancement with an NEA semiconductor. Unlike these two mechanisms, in which electrons tunnel from metal into vacuum or into the conduction band of an NEA semiconductor, in our mechanism electrons tunnel from metal into surface states at the interface of an NEA semiconductor and a vacuum. Once in these states, the electrons are accelerated to sufficient energies to be emitted from the surface into vacuum. New cathodes designed to maximize the surface-emission mechanism exhibit improved consistency and reduced operating voltage when compared to cathodes that use other mechanisms. Gated surface-emission cathodes emit measurable current densities greater than 10 –6 A m –2 at gate voltages of 3 to 4 V