Context

For centuries, the Scheldt and its tributaries have ensured a wellwatered country bursting with dynamism. But tidal rivers may also bring a great deal of water-based misery. Protecting Flanders more effectively against flooding by the Scheldt and its tributaries is the main objective of the Sigma Plan. All at once, the wonderful nature of the Scheldt will be restored in numerous places. Thousands of walkers and cyclists can then enjoy it to the fullest. The Sigma Plan also has an eye on the economic role of the Scheldt as one of Europe’s busiest rivers.In this chapter, you will find out all about the work in Bergenmeersen, a subsector of the Kalkense Meersen Cluster Sigma Project. You will discover how the Sigma Plan originated and how that progressive plan evolved into a smart project for the future that goes far beyond flood management

New crustacean invaders in the Schelde estuary (Belgium)

This paper reports on the first records of three non-indigenous crustacean species in the Zeeschelde estuary (Belgium). All three species are native to the Western Pacific Ocean and are probably transported in ballast water or hull fouling. The isopod Synidotea laevidorsalis has been recorded earlier in Europe from two locations, in the south of France and in Spain. The present records constitute a range extension of more than 1000 kilometres to the north. The crab Hemigrapsus takanoi and the prawn Palaemon macrodactylus were found for the first time in the brackish reaches of the Schelde estuary. The finding of these species demonstrates the vulnerability of the estuarine system to the invasion of exotic species

Mammary-carcinoma cells in mouse liver: infiltration of liver tissue and interaction with Kupffer cells.

Interactions between TA3 mammary-carcinoma cells and liver cells were studied with the electron microscope in mouse livers that had been perfused with a defined medium containing the tumour cells. Infiltration of liver tissue by the TA3 cells proceeded in the following steps. First, numerous small protrusions were extended through endothelial cells and into hepatocytes. Next, some cells had larger processes deeply indenting hepatocytes. Finally a few tumour cells became located outside the blood vessels. Two variant cell lines, TA3/Ha and TA3/St, differing in cell coat and surface charge, did not differ in the extent of infiltration. TA3/Ha cells were often encircled by thin processes of liver macrophages (Kupffer cells). Encircled cells were initially intact, but later some of them degenerated. These observations suggest that TA3/Ha cells were phagocytized by the Kupffer cells. Encirclement appeared to be inhibited after only 30 min, when many cells were still partly surrounded. Encirclement of TA3/St was much less frequent. After injection of tumour cells intra-portally in vivo, similar results were obtained, which demonstrated the validity of the perfused liver model. TA3/Ha cells formed much fewer tumour nodules in the liver than TA3/St cells

Shape Isomerism at N = 40: Discovery of a Proton Intruder in 67Co

The nuclear structure of 67Co has been investigated through 67Fe beta-decay. The 67Fe isotopes were produced at the LISOL facility in proton-induced fission of 238U and selected using resonant laser ionization combined with mass separation. The application of a new correlation technique unambiguously revealed a 496(33) ms isomeric state in 67Co at an unexpected low energy of 492 keV. A 67Co level scheme has been deduced. Proposed spin and parities suggest a spherical (7/2-) 67Co ground state and a deformed first excited (1/2-) state at 492 keV, interpreted as a proton 1p-2h prolate intruder state.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, preprint submitted to Physical Review Letter