Spread of Avian Influenza Viruses by Common Teal (Anas crecca) in Europe

Since the recent spread of highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 subtypes, avian influenza virus (AIV) dispersal has become an increasing focus of research. As for any other bird-borne pathogen, dispersal of these viruses is related to local and migratory movements of their hosts. In this study, we investigated potential AIV spread by Common Teal (Anas crecca) from the Camargue area, in the South of France, across Europe. Based on bird-ring recoveries, local duck population sizes and prevalence of infection with these viruses, we built an individual-based spatially explicit model describing bird movements, both locally (between wintering areas) and at the flyway scale. We investigated the effects of viral excretion duration and inactivation rate in water by simulating AIV spread with varying values for these two parameters. The results indicate that an efficient AIV dispersal in space is possible only for excretion durations longer than 7 days. Virus inactivation rate in the environment appears as a key parameter in the model because it allows local persistence of AIV over several months, the interval between two migratory periods. Virus persistence in water thus represents an important component of contamination risk as ducks migrate along their flyway. Based on the present modelling exercise, we also argue that HP H5N1 AIV is unlikely to be efficiently spread by Common Teal dispersal only

Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV-10 TeV range and the extension to energies well below 100 GeV and above 100 TeV. CTA will consist of two arrays (one in the north, one in the south) for full sky coverage and will be operated as open observatory. The design of CTA is based on currently available technology. This document reports on the status and presents the major design concepts of CTA

Antimicrobial resistance in wildlife

The spread of antimicrobial resistance is of major concern for human health and leads to growing economic costs. While it is increasingly hypothesized that wildlife could play an important role in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria dynamics, empirical data remain scarce. The present work builds on a systematic review of the available data in order to highlight the main information we have and to suggest research pathways that should be followed if we aim to fill the gaps in our current knowledge. To achieve this goal, we address four questions: (i) Which resistant bacteria are the most frequently observed in wildlife? (ii) How are resistant bacteria exchanged between wildlife and the other hosts involved? (iii) In which habitats are those resistant bacteria found? (iv) Are resistances associated with certain ecological traits of the host?Synthesis and applications. We highlight the strong link existing between the impact of human activities on natural habitats and the carriage of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria by wildlife. Furthermore, we underline that omnivorous, anthropophilic and carnivorous species are at high risk of being carriers and potentially spreaders of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Identifying among those groups key sentinel species may be of particular interest to implement ecosystem contamination surveillance. Finally, we discuss possible exchange routes for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between humans and wildlife. Considering that water is of major importance in those exchanges, a critical way to control antimicrobial resistance spread may be to limit aquatic environment contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antibiotics. We highlight the strong link existing between the impact of human activities on natural habitats and the carriage of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria by wildlife. Furthermore, we underline that omnivorous, anthropophilic and carnivorous species are at high risk of being carriers and potentially spreaders of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Identifying among those groups key sentinel species may be of particular interest to implement ecosystem contamination surveillance. Finally, we discuss possible exchange routes for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between humans and wildlife. Considering that water is of major importance in those exchanges, a critical way to control antimicrobial resistance spread may be to limit aquatic environment contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and antibiotics

Déplétion de l'ADN mitochondrial et mutations du gène de la déoxyguanosine kinase

National audienc

Study on the CRD IV remuneration provisions

Final Report, January 2016. Prepared by the institute for financial services for European Commission’s DG JUST.Variable remuneration in credit institutions and investment firms can encourage excessive risk-taking behaviour. The present research investigates the impact of the Capital Requirement Directive and Regulation (CRD IV package) on this type of behaviour. The research shows that the Directive has had a significant effect on risk management. Deferral of variable pay, malus arrangements and a maximum ratio for the variable pay of risk-taking personnel are seen to be effective incentives even at this early stage. Competitive disadvantages with regard to attracting and retaining staff from unregulated sectors could not be verified. Problems have been found with regard to clawback clauses in the context of national employment law. Other problems concern the need for rules that are better adapted to the business scale. The rules work well in the case of big and significant institutions. For small and non-complex institutions, which are less engaged in risky activities and which pay out low amounts of variable remuneration, the relatively high implementation cost of deferral and pay-out in instrument are of concern. Member States have made wide use of exclusions. Regulating the extent, process and identification of such exclusions at the EU-level would further harmonise remuneration policies in the member states.Résumé La rémunération variable des établissements de crédit et des entreprises d'investissement peut encourager des prises de risques excessives. Cette étude examine l’impact de la mise en œuvre de la directive et du règlement relatifs aux exigences de fonds propres (CRD IV et CRR). Elle démontre leurs effets significatifs sur une meilleur gestion des risques. Les règles de report de la rémunération variable, de dispositifs de malus ainsi que du ratio maximal entre les composantes fixes et variables de la rémunération totale des preneurs de risques sont considérés comme des incitations efficaces, même à ce stade précoce. Sans pouvoir vérifier la pertinence des désavantages concurrentiels par rapport aux entreprises des secteurs non réglementés dans leurs capacités à attirer et à retenir le personnel, des problèmes ont été identifiés dans l’application des dispositifs de récupération (‘clawback’) au sein des codes du travail nationaux. Des règles mieux adaptées à l'échelle de l'entreprise paraissent nécessaires car si elles font preuve d’efficacité de fonctionnement quand elles s’appliquent aux gros établissements de portée significative, elles le sont de façon moindre pour celles de plus petite taille ou de moindre complexité. Les coûts relativement plus élevés pour elles du report de la rémunération variable et du paiement en instruments ne correspondent souvent ni avec les risques de leurs activités ni avec leurs politiques de rémunérations avec peu de variable. Les États membres font fort usage d’exclusions, mais la réglementation de la portée du processus et de l'identification de celles-ci au niveau européen permettrait une meilleur harmonisation des politiques de rémunération dans les Etats membres

Absence of detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 in migratory waterfowl in southern France in 2005-2006

During fall 2005, the rapid and wide spread of highly pathogenic (HP) H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) outside Asia alerted European health authorities. Because of abnormal and recurrent field mortality, wild migratory birds were considered to be the main dispersing agent of the virus at an intercontinental scale. European wintering wetlands, such as the Camargue (Rhone delta, France), are identified as potential hot spots for the risk of introduction and transmission of bird-borne diseases. In this study, we investigated the role of migratory waterbirds (mainly ducks) in the spread of HP 145N1 viruses. We combined molecular analysis of living and freshly killed birds with population surveillance (aerial censuses and death surveillance). We sampled 1345 birds belonging to 17 waterbird species Q orders) in the Camargue between September 2005 and March 2006. The prevalence of ATV was 1.8%. We did not detect HP H5N1 virus. Population censuses did not reveal any population decreases nor abnormal mortalities. We discuss, in the light of these results, the implication of wild migratory ducks in the arrival of HP H5N1 AIV in Europe

Genre et rapports sociaux

Lusotopie é uma revista comparatista internacional cujo objectivo é o desenvolvimento da investigação política sobre os espaços contemporâneos provenientes da história e da colonização portuguesas. Propõe-se abordar os problemas gerais da análise política (nacionalismo, etnicidade, neoliberalismo, reforma do Estado, federalismo, relações de género, guerras civis, media, eleições, etc.) : a originalidade da revista é a de tratar aqueles problemas no seio do espaço pós-colonial e plural, presente em quatro continentes e em numerosas diásporas. Sa indo desde 1994 Lusotopie publicou trabalhos de autores de mais de trinta nacionalidades, muitos dos quais naturais de países do Sul, e instituiu um espaço de diálogo egalitário graça s ao uso sistemático de três línguas internacionais (francês, inglês e português). Lusotopie is an international comparatist journal devoted to political analysis of contemporary spaces stemming from Portuguese history and colonization. It deals with general issues in political analysis (nationalism, ethnicity, neo-liberalism, State reform, federalism, gender, civil war, media, civil society, election, etc.): it provides an original approach within this heterogeneous postcolonial space on the four continents and in numerous Diasporas. Founded in 1994, Lusotopie has published a wide range of contributions from researchers of over 30 different nationalities, often from Southern countries. It has brought up an egalitarian dialogue space thanks to use of three international languages (French, Portuguese and English). Lusotopie est une revue comparatiste internationale, dont le but est le développement de la recherche politique sur les espaces contemporains issus de l’histoire et de la colonisation portugaises. Elle entend poser tous les problèmes généraux de l’analyse politique (nationalisme, ethnicité, néolibéralisme, réforme de l’État, fédéralisme, relations de genre, guerres civiles, médias, société civile, élections, etc.) : son originalité est de les “traiter” au sein de cet espace postcolonial et composite, présent sur quatre continents et dans de nombreuses diasporas. Paraissant depuis 1994, Lusotopie a publié des travaux d’auteurs de plus de trente nationalités, souvent originaires de pays du Sud et institué un espace de dialogue égalitaire grâce à son usage systématique de trois langues internationales (français, portugais et anglais)