Characteristics and challenges of the modern Belgian veal industry

In this paper, the modern Belgian veal industry is situated in a European context, and an overview is provided of the major past, present and future challenges for veal production. The production of white veal requires a specific diet and housing conditions to assure a controlled iron anemic state resulting in pale carcasses. In response to the increasing public concern about animal welfare, legal limits for hemoglobin (in 1990), the provision of a minimum quality of solid feed to assure ruminal health and group housing from the age of eight weeks on (in 2007), have been implemented sector-wide. The integrated structure of the sector likely made it possible to realize these radical changes at relatively short notice. Despite the pioneers role the veal industry played in the development of quality labels for food safety and all efforts made towards improved nutrition and housing, the veal production remains highly liable to public criticism on welfare issues. Nowadays, especially the intensive antimicrobial use in relation to high levels of antimicrobial resistance in commensal, pathogenic and zoonotic bacteria in veal calves is strongly criticized. The future challenge lies in the development of veal production systems, which require only few antibiotics, but safeguard animal welfare and revenue

Raman imaging as a new analytical tool for the quality control of the monitoring of osteogenic differentiation in forming 3D bone tissue

Tissue engineering and stem cells technology are emerging fields in modern medicine, aiming to produce living tissues in vitro to replace, regenerate or repair in vivo damaged tissues or organs. In this study, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are used to produce 3D bone tissue grafts [1,2]. The safety and the feasibility of use of these grafts has been demonstrated by several clinical applications as it is largely described by Vériter et al. [2]. Here, Raman imaging is investigated as a non-destructive and non-invasive method to monitor the synthesis of extracellular matrix by the cells and its progressive mineralization during formation of an osteogenic tissue. Raman imaging is a vibrational technique allowing to acquire spectral fingerprints of molecules while visualizing their spatial distribution within the sample. The fast data acquisition time of this technique further allows time-resolved analyses. Here, Raman imaging is used for the first time to monitor extracellular matrix formation and mineralization by human cells in a live 3D structure. Our attention was focused on Raman bands related to this matrix, namely phosphate, phenylalanine and hydroxyproline, which are very distinctive and intense [3]. Several batches of ASCs were cultured in a bone tissue differentiation medium then sampled and analyzed using Raman imaging at different time points. From the Raman spectra, mineral to organic matrix ratios (MTMR) were calculated from phosphate and hydroxyproline signal intensities to evaluate the formation of mineral deposits accompanying extra-cellular matrix synthesis which is indicative of an ongoing osteogenic differentiation process [3]. Is was observed that these ratios peaked between day 35 and 49 but also the spatial distribution of individual signal intensities vary in the forming 3D structures whilst maintaining a same MTMR ratios at the end of the culture process. A study was conducted to evaluate the influence of the position of the analyzed samples in the forming tissue in vitro to define a protocol to acquire the Raman data for future analyses. Finally, the repeatability and the specificity of this Raman imaging method were evaluated. To conclude, Raman imaging allows a time-resolved and non-invasive monitoring in vitro of the mineralization of extracellular matrix during osteogenic differentiation

Raman imaging as a new analytical tool for the quality control of the monitoring of osteogenic differentiation in forming 3D bone tissue

In this study, adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are used to produce 3D bone grafts. The safety and the feasibility of using these bone grafts have been already showed and quality controls are already implemented. However, a cheaper, fast and non-destructive technique is required to monitor the osteogenic differentiation process. Here, the use of Raman imaging to monitor the synthesis of the extracellular matrix and its progressive mineralization occurring during the osteogenic differentiation process is investigated for the first time on a 3D in forming bone tissue. The attention was focused on Raman bands related to this matrix belonging to phosphate, phenylalanine and hydroxyproline, which are very distinctive and intense. The kinetic of the osteogenic differentiation process was first compared between a 2D and a 3D forming bone tissue. It was observed that the kinetics of the osteogenic differentiation process is slower in 3D in forming bone tissue. In a second step, an evaluation of the reliability of the Raman imaging method was performed including a study of the influence of the harvest biopsies position on the forming 3D bone tissue. The repeatability and the specificity of this method were also demonstrated. In a last step, several batches of ASCs were cultured and analyzed in 3D at different time points using Raman imaging. From the mean Raman spectra, mineral to matrix ratios (MTMR) were determined and used to evaluate the formation of mineral deposits accompanying the extracellular matrix synthesis which is indicative of an ongoing osteogenic differentiation process. These ratios peaked between the day 35 and 49. This observation was very interesting since it corresponds to the time at which the 3D bone grafts are used for the patient surgery. To conclude, Raman imaging allowed fast acquisition and time-resolved monitoring in vitro of the mineralization of extracellular matrix during osteogenic differentiation

Development and verification of SCIAMACHY operational ESA Level 2 version 6/7 products

The SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) aboard Envisat observed the Earth’s atmosphere in nadir, limb and solar/lunar occultation geometries covering the UV-Visible to NIR (240-2380 nm) spectral range with a moderate spectral resolution of 0.2-1.5nm. The instrument provided decade long coverage (2002-2012) of various atmospheric parameters from the troposphere up to the mesosphere. These decadal datasets are important building blocks for long term assessments of climate relevance. The SCIAMACHY Quality Working Group (SQWG), formed in 2007, aims at improving the quality of the operational data products. University of Bremen (IUP), BIRA, DLR-IMF, SRON and KNMI are the members providing expertise in this group. Since the establishment of SQWG, the ESA operational Level 2 processor was significantly improved w.r.t. data quality and the product list was substantially enhanced with new parameters. The current project builds on the heritage of previous SQWG projects and has the following objectives: update the Level 0-2 processing chain, deliver the processor baseline enabling the generation of a quality controlled Level 1b and Level 2 dataset for the whole mission and to ensure long-term usability of the data. The SQWG Level 2 team is working on the improvement and implementation of processor Version 6 and the future Version 7. Under the SQWG framework, the main focus is on the following products: in nadir mode, total columns of O3, NO2, CO, IO and the tropospheric columns of NO2, and O3 (from limb-nadir matching) and the tropospheric columns of BrO and HCHO and, in limb, the aerosol and water vapour profiles and cloud flagging improvement and implementation. Here we present the key results of SCIAMACHY Level 2 Version 6 and Version 7 implementation and verification activities

Pensando sobre el riesgo alimentario y su aceptabilidad: el caso de los alimentos transgénicos Thoughts on eating risk and its acceptability: the case of transgenic food

En la última década se han llevado a cabo numerosos trabajos con el objetivo de analizar la percepción social de la seguridad alimentaria y, en particular, las representaciones sociales del riesgo. La mayoría de estos estudios tratan de dar respuesta a por qué ha ido aumentando la percepción negativa que la población tiene sobre determinadas aplicaciones tecnológicas en los alimentos y, en general, sobre la alimentación industrial justo en el momento en que la comida es muy abundante, la cadena alimentaria está más controlada que nunca, la esperanza de vida de las personas ha alcanzado los niveles más altos o los problemas de salud relacionados con la alimentación, aún persistiendo, tienen unas dimensiones menos dramáticas que en épocas anteriores. Se insiste, sin embargo, en la idea de que hoy sabemos menos o poco acerca de lo que comemos. Si bien es cierto que una parte de esta valoración negativa se puede atribuir a los cambios habidos en las nuevas formas de vida y a la separación que se ha producido entre las actividades de la población y la producción o preparación de sus alimentos, otra parte se debe a la sucesión de las diferentes alertas y crisis alimentarias que a lo largo de este periodo se han producido en el contexto europeo y de las importantes consecuencias que han tenido en términos políticos, económicos y sociales. En este sentido, el debate público surgido en torno a los organismos modificados genéticamente y, en particular, los alimentos transgénicos constituyen un caso paradigmático para ilustrar desde una perspectiva antropológica la variabilidad cultural respecto a su aceptación o rechazo.<br>In the last decade, numerous studies have analysed society's perception of eating safety and, in particular, the social representations of risk. Most of these studies attempt to explain why the negative perception that people have of certain technological applications in food and, in general, of industrial food has increased just when food is abundant, the food chain is under greater control than ever before, life expectancy is at an all time high and food-related health problems, although they still exist, have less dramatic consequences than in previous ages. It is stressed, however, that today we know less or little about what we eat. Although it is true that this negative assessment is partly due to the changes in the new ways of life and the fact that the activities of the population have become separated from food production or preparation, it is also partly due to the succession of food-related incidents and crises that have taken place in the European context and the important political, economic and social consequences that they have had. In this respect, the public debate that has arisen around genetically modified organisms and, particularly, transgenic food is a paradigmatic case that illustrates the cultural diversity in relation to their acceptability or repulse from the anthropological perspective

The Operational Sentinel-5 Precursor Geophysical Products and Perspectives for Sentinel-4

The Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) mission, launched in October 2017, started the operational atmospheric composition measurements from space as part of the European Copernicus programme. The payload of the S5P mission is the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) that provides key information on air quality, climate and the ozone layer with high spatial resolution and daily global coverage. In this presentation we provide an overview of the operational TROPOMI geophysical products including O3, NO2, SO2, HCHO, CO, CH4, as well as UV, cloud and aerosol properties. The European teams responsible for the operational products are organized in three groups covering: (i) retrieval algorithms, (ii) data processors being used in the S5P ground-segment for the generation of the operational TROPOMI products, and (iii) routine validation of S5P products using fiducial reference measurements. It is planned to maintain this project organization during the complete mission in order to ensure the timely provision of state-of-science data products that are continuously improved and validated. Initial versions of the TROPOMI products were already available a few weeks after launch and were presented at the first light event that took place in December 2017. The retrieval algorithms and data processors were optimized during the commissioning phase that lasted until April 2018 and the results of the preliminary validation were presented in June 2018. Finally the first set of operational S5P products was released to the public in July 2018. The release of the remaining S5P products is organized in a staggered approach and will take place during the second part of 2018 and early 2019. The work on TROPOMI/S5P geophysical products is funded by EU Copernicus, ESA and national contributions from The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Finland

Développement durable et territoire

Face aux problèmes globaux qui affectent la planète et ses habitants (dérèglements climatiques, épuisement de la biodiversité, niveau élevé des inégalités Nord/Sud…), le développement durable est généralement présenté comme une réponse globale. Une telle caractérisation n’empêche nullement que ce nouveau modèle de développement soit aussi appréhendé sous l’angle de ses possibles déclinaisons territoriales. De fait, depuis le début des années 90, la fécondité de cette nouvelle référence a été expérimentée (ou simplement envisagée) à quantité de types de territoires et à des domaines, dont la dimension territoriale est avérée. Les contributions (discursives ou en termes d’actions) se sont ainsi multipliées depuis une quinzaine d’années sur : la ville durable, l’agriculture durable, le tourisme durable, la gestion durable des zones côtières, la mobilité durable, et bien d’autres encore. Sous la forme d’un « handbook » de 40 (courts) chapitres, avec près de 50 contributeurs, l’ouvrage traite de ces enjeux en privilégiant plusieurs entrées successives : concepts et méthodes (interdisciplinarité, évaluation, indicateurs…), problématiques générales (équité, conflits, ressources, patrimoine…), types de territoires (ville, territoire rural, territoire de montagne, zone côtière…), aspects sectoriels (pollutions atmosphériques, eau, déchets, changement climatique…), démarches d’acteurs (politiques d’aménagement du territoire, mobilisation sociale, gouvernance…). Ce livre constitue une nouvelle édition, mais entièrement différente, d’un précédent ouvrage portant le même titre, paru en 2000. L’évolution des enjeux et des réponses apportées entre-temps a rendu inadéquate une simple actualisation de cet ouvrage et c’est un projet complètement original qui est proposé

MULTI-LEVEL POLICY COALITIONS AN INTERPRETATIVE MODEL OF WATER CONFLICTS IN THE AMERICAS

ABSTRACT This article proposes an analytical approach to conflicts and policy-making related to urban water management based on multi-level policy coalitions. This is necessary to articulate four main issues. First, the repositioning of social and political struggles for access to water, along with policy variables. Second, the analysis of the effects of ecological transition, including climate change. Third, the reincorporation of these struggles and challenges in a multi-level approach. Finally, the enquiry into the apparent contradiction, in contemporary policymaking. The article proposes a definition of multi-level coalitions as collective preference systems that influence the content of policies (ideas/advocacy, decisions, policy tools) and their implementation, groups of actors that arise from engagement in policy issues. In the first section, the article presents the objectives of research on urban water management in the Americas, within the framework of which this analytical approach by multi-level coalitions is fashioned. In the second section, the article details four analytical issues. In the third section, it gives a definition of multi-level coalitions