The new import regulation; More reliability for imported organic products? in The New EU Regulation for organic food and farming: (EC) No 834/2007

The European market for organic products is growing at a dynamic pace. Increasingly, processing and marketing companies are entering this market, which has a very promising future. However, organic farm production at the inter-European level has not increased at the same rate as the market for organic products

High-intracavity-power thin-disk laser for the alignment of molecules

We propose a novel approach for strong alignment of gas-phase molecules for experiments at arbitrary repetition rates. A high-intracavity-power continuous-wave laser will provide the necessary ac electric field of $\!10^{10}$- $10^{11}~\text{W}/\text{cm}^2$. We demonstrate thin-disk lasers based on Yb:YAG and Yb:Lu$_2$O$_3$ in a linear high-finesse resonator providing intracavity power levels in excess of 100~kW at pump power levels on the order of 50~W. The multi-longitudinal-mode operation of this laser avoids spatial-hole burning even in a linear standing-wave resonator. The system will be scaled up as in-vacuum system to allow for the generation of fields of $10^{11}~\text{W}/\text{cm}^2$. This system will be directly applicable for experiments at modern X-ray light sources, such as synchrotrons or free-electron lasers, which operate at various very high repetition rates. This would allow to record molecular movies through temporally resolved diffractive imaging of fixed-in-space molecules, as well as the spectroscopic investigation of combined X-ray-NIR strong-field effects of atomic and molecular systems

How to safeguard integrity within organic systems

Conclusions No more rules, but -Enforcement -- Focus on implementatin instead of documentation -- Transparency (e.g. flexibility rule, equivalency assessments) - Increase of effectiveness -- Provide incentives for detecting fraud - Risk orientation -- Not the 95 % compliant operators but the 5 % irregularities need to be targete

Adequacy of the overall control system

Adequacy of the overall control system

Assessment of irregularities in organic imports from Ukraine to the EU in 2016, notified in OFIS

The underlying study of this report set out to improve the understanding situation concerning residues found in organic food products exported from Ukraine, and to formulate guidelines for identifying and reducing risks for contamination through non-permitted substances based on the results of an in-depth analysis of those residue cases notified in the European Commission’s Organic Farming Information System (OFIS) in 2016. Not surprisingly, the combination of various factors such as (i) the additional sampling required by the new EU import guidelines, (ii) the growing number of exported organic lots from Ukraine, and (iii) the improved analysis technology, led to an increased total number of cases of irregularities notified in OFIS in comparison to previous years. Nevertheless, the number of irregularities in Ukraine in 2016, notified in OFIS, is moderate (affecting estimated < 1% of all exported consignments from Ukraine). Of the lots affected, two thirds were ultimately released as “organic” after additional investigations had been carried out by the respective export CB. Yet, if analysis results of samples taken by the CB’s prior the export, i.e. from crops during the growing season and from lots before they are released for export are included in the risk assessment, Ukraine and its neighbouring countries do need to be considered as relatively high risk countries in terms of contamination and irregularities. It is further interesting to note that the likeliness of residue findings vary a lot among different CBs. The reasons why some CB’s have a high share of residue findings whereas for others proportionally much less residues are found are unclear and should be the subject of further assessments. One assumption is that some CBs took risk-oriented samples whereas others did not. Sampling during the production process (field/leafs and dust) effectively supports organic integrity. Most CB nevertheless focus on residue free final products. The way a CB responds on detected irregularities, i.e. investigates a case and derives “lessons learnt” is very important. A majority of OFIS cases from Ukrainian exports seems to be linked to insufficient management of handling procedure during the storage processes and the transport. However, drift on the field or the intentional use of unauthorised substances are also potential sources of irregularities related to exports from Ukraine. Apart from those cases for which likely root causes have been identified, no clear explanation for discrepancies between lab results between export and import countries could be found for nearly one third of the Ukrainian OFIS cases. Further investigations should be carried out to help identify the reasons for the relatively large differences between the lab results of samples taken from the same trade lots. It is important to better understand these discrepancies in sample measurements because these may lead to significant negative economic impacts for everyone involved in the value chain, even though no rules may have been broken. Another recommendation resulting from this study is to focus more on detecting potential contaminations on the field during the period of crop cultivation. Special attention should be given here to the testing of leaf sample of crops in which contamination has been detected in the past: rapeseeds, sunflower seeds or high quality milling wheat. CB’s should have guidelines on how and when leaf samples should be best taken. Ukrainian organic operators often complain that all Ukrainian operators are put in the same basket and treated as high-risk suppliers. In response to the stricter regulations imposed on them, operators and experts participating in the International Conference “Improving Integrity of Organic Supply Chains” in Odesa 2017 called for an amendment of the inspection policy. Instead of labelling entire countries as high-risk, focus should rather be placed on risky value chains. Supply chains considered high-risk should be relieved from extra measures, once they have demonstrated consistent compliance

Effect of Growth Hormone (hGH) Replacement Therapy on Physical Work Capacity and Cardiac and Pulmonary Function in Patients with hGH Deficiency Acquired in Adulthood.

The effects of 6 months of replacement therapy with recombinant human GH (hGH) on physical work capacity and cardiac structure and function were investigated in 20 patients with hGH deficiency of adult onset in a double blind, placebo-controlled trial. The GH dose of 12.5 micrograms/kg BW was self-administered daily sc. Oxygen consumption (VO2), CO2 production, and ventilatory volumes were measured during exercise on a bicycle spiroergometer. M-Mode echocardiography was performed using standard techniques. The VO2 max data, expressed per kg BW (mL/min.kg BW) showed a significant increase from 23.2 +/- 2.4 to 30.0 +/- 2.3 (P < 0.01) in the hGH-treated group, whereas the VO2 max data, expressed per lean body mass (milliliters per min/kg lean body mass) did not change significantly in either group. Maximal O2 pulse (milliliters per beat) increased significantly from 15.2 +/- 5.6 to 19.6 +/- 3.3 mL/beat (P < 0.01), but remained constant in the placebo group. The maximal power output (watts +/- SE) increased significantly (P < 0.01) from 192.5 +/- 13.5 to 227.5 +/- 11.5 in the hGH-treated group, but remained constant in the placebo group. Cardiac structure (left ventricular posterior wall, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular mass, left ventricular end-systolic dimension, and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension) as well as echocardiographically assessed cardiac function did not change significantly after 6 months of treatment in either group. We conclude that hGH replacement in hGH-deficient adults improves oxygen uptake and exercise capacity. These improvements in pulmonary parameters might be due to an increase in respiratory muscle strength and partly to the changes in muscle volume per se observed during hGH replacement therapy. Furthermore, an increased cardiac output might contribute to the improvement in exercise performance during hGH treatment. According to our data, hGH replacement therapy leads to an improvement of exercise capacity and maximal oxygen uptake, but has no significant effect on cardiac structure

The importin-β binding domain of snurportin1 is responsible for the Ran- and energy-independent nuclear import of spliceosomal U snRNPs in vitro

The nuclear localization signal (NLS) of spliceosomal U snRNPs is composed of the U snRNA's 2,2,7-trimethyl-guanosine (m3G)-cap and the Sm core domain. The m3G-cap is specifically bound by snurportin1, which contains an NH2-terminal importin-β binding (IBB) domain and a COOH-terminal m3G-cap–binding region that bears no structural similarity to known import adaptors like importin-α (impα). Here, we show that recombinant snurportin1 and importin-β (impβ) are not only necessary, but also sufficient for U1 snRNP transport to the nuclei of digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells. In contrast to impα–dependent import, single rounds of U1 snRNP import, mediated by the nuclear import receptor complex snurportin1–impβ, did not require Ran and energy. The same Ran- and energy-independent import was even observed for U5 snRNP, which has a molecular weight of more than one million. Interestingly, in the presence of impβ and a snurportin1 mutant containing an impα IBB domain (IBBimpα), nuclear U1 snRNP import was Ran dependent. Furthermore, β-galactosidase (βGal) containing a snurportin1 IBB domain, but not IBBimpα-βGal, was imported into the nucleus in a Ran-independent manner. Our results suggest that the nature of the IBB domain modulates the strength and/or site of interaction of impβ with nucleoporins of the nuclear pore complex, and thus whether or not Ran is required to dissociate these interactions

Entwicklung eines Anforderungsprofils für Kontrolleure im Rahmen des Kontrollsystems nach der EU-Verordnung 2092/91

Ziel der Studie ist es, das Anforderungsprofil für Kontrolleure auf der Grundlage der EU-Öko-Verordnung 2092/91 für die unterschiedlichen Kontrollbereiche zu ermitteln. Grundlage dafür bilden die Analyse der Tätigkeiten von Kontrolleuren aufgegliedert nach Branchen in die verschiedenen Kontrollbereiche Landwirtschaft, Verarbeitung und Import aus Drittländern. Ergänzend wurde erfasst, welche Anforderungen in anderen Kontroll- und Qualitätssicherungsnormen und -verordnungen an das Kontroll- bzw. Auditpersonal gestellt werden. Ableitend von diesen Analysen wurde das Anforderungsprofil für die drei Kontrollbereiche erstellt. Das Anforderungsprofil gliedert sich in vier Teile: die persönliche Qualifikation (in Anlehnung an ISO 10011), die Basisqualifikation (mündliche und schriftliche Kommunikation, Kalkulation, Berufserfahrung), die fachliche Qualifikation, die sich je nach Kontrollbereich unterscheidet sowie die Kenntnisse der gesetzlichen Regelungen. Für jeden Baustein im Anforderungsprofil wurde abgeleitet, mit welcher Berufsausbildung, Trainingsmaßnahme o.ä. diese Qualifikation erreicht und wie sie nachgewiesen werden kann. In diesem Zusammenhang wurde auch das in Deutschland übliche Zulassungsverfahren für Kontrollpersonal diskutiert. Die Verordnung (EWG) 2092/91 sowie der ergänzend geltenden EN 45011 enthält keine Vorgaben, welche die Zulassung von Kontrolleuren durch Aufsichtsbehörden vor dem Einsatz erforderlich machen. Es muss allerdings im Rahmen der Überwachung der Kontrollstellen überprüft werden, ob die Kontrollstellen über sachgerechte Personalkriterien, ein angemessenes dokumentiertes Verfahren für die Auswahl des Personals sowie individuelle Leistungsbeurteilungen verfügen und das Personal angemessen aus- und fortbilden. Eine Umfrage bei den Kontrollstellen im deutschsprachigen Raum erfasste die derzeitigen Aus- und Fortbildungsmaßnahmen für Kontrollpersonal. Auf Grundlage der Auswertung der Tätigkeitsanalysen und der Rückmeldungen der Kontrollstellen wurde festgestellt, dass Bedarf an einem kontrollstellenüber-greifenden Fortbildungsangebot besteht, das sich vor allem auf die Spezialbereiche im Kontrollsystem konzentriert (z.B. Umgang mit schwierigen Kontrollsituationen, Aktuelle Änderungen der VO 2092/91, Hofverarbeitung, Rückstandsanalytik und Probenahmeverfahren, Importkontrolle)

Organic Agriculture and Legal Framework. Second Round Table of the Eastern European Countries

The Second Round Table of the Eastern European countries ‘Organic Agriculture and Legal Framework’ was conducted in Kyiv, Ukraine on November 5 and 6, 2008. Organic agriculture is gaining increasing importance in the Central and Eastern European countries; currently ca. 1.7 million hectares are under organic management. Participants of the public and private sector from eleven countries discussed the opportunities of organic agriculture. The Round Table was organized by FiBL and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the National Association of Agricultural Advisory Services of Ukraine. At the meeting participants shared their experiences with the organic farming development in their countries. Andrzej Dycha, Under-Sectretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Poland stressed the importance of organic agriculture which has given new prospects to Polish farmers. 12’000 farmers are farming organically in Poland, representing an increase of 500 % in five years. The farmers are encouraged by national support measures such as research, subsidies for control costs and the rural development activities. Since 2007 an Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming is further strengthening the organic development in the field of information, science, control, economy and promotion. Deputy Minister Jiri Urban from Czech Republic explained the national support measures contributing to the prosperous domestic market for organic products in Czech Republic. Such measures include the legal framework, an effective control and certification system, support for farmers, eduction of consumers, promotion activities and, since 2007, the support of processing companies. The second day the Ukraine participants discussed the current draft of the organic agriculture law which is expected to be passed by the Parliament in 2009. In a closed workshop representatives of the Ministries exchanged their experience in the implementation of legal frameworks and explored the potential for further cooperation. It was agreed that further exchange between authorities and certification bodies on the regional level should be supported. The participants and speakers represented the public and private sector from Ukraine, Albania, Czech Republic, Macedonia FYROM, Moldavia, Montenegro, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland and the EU

FingerReader: A Wearable Device to Explore Printed Text on the Go

Accessing printed text in a mobile context is a major challenge for the blind. A preliminary study with blind people reveals numerous difficulties with existing state-of-the-art technologies including problems with alignment, focus, accuracy, mobility and efficiency. In this paper, we present a finger-worn device, FingerReader, that assists blind users with reading printed text on the go. We introduce a novel computer vision algorithm for local-sequential text scanning that enables reading single lines, blocks of text or skimming the text with complementary, multimodal feedback. This system is implemented in a small finger-worn form factor, that enables a more manageable eyes-free operation with trivial setup. We offer findings from three studies performed to determine the usability of the FingerReader.SUTD-MIT International Design Centr