Report of the JRC’s Descriptor 2 workshop in support to the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status for NIS

The MSFD workshop on non-indigenous species (NIS, MSFD D2), held in Ispra JRC (10th-11th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D2 review manual (May 2015 consultation version: D2 review manual: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/cd4bbd6a-454a-40db-b805-52fb195d4e56/COMDEC_Review_D2_V6.pdf) in the broader context of support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96884) and presents the result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 2. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The main issues addressed and tackled in this workshop’s report are: - Proposed changes in D2 assessment criteria; - Indicators and methodological standards; - GES threshold values and reference points; - Way forward.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Ostreid herpesvirus 1 detection and relationship with Crassostrea gigas spat mortality in France between 1998 and 2006

Since its molecular characterisation, Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) has been regularly detected in Crassostrea gigas in France. Although its pathogenicity was demonstrated on larval stages, its involvement during mortality outbreaks at the juvenile stage was highly suspected but not evidenced. To investigate mortality outbreaks, the French National Network for Surveillance and Monitoring of Mollusc Health (REPAMO) carried out two surveys in juvenile C. gigas. The first survey lasted from 1998 to 2006 and was an epidemiological inquiry occurring when oyster farmers reported mortality outbreaks. The second survey, a longitudinal one, was set up in 1998 to complete the network observations on OsHV-1. Data analysis showed a specific pattern of mortality outbreaks associated with OsHV-1 detection. Ostreid herpesvirus 1 detection mainly appeared during the summer, suggesting the influence of the seawater temperature on its occurrence. It mostly presented a patchy distribution in the field in contrast to the nursery. Significant relationship between OsHV-1 detection and spat mortality was found, preferentially in sheltered and closed environments. The longitudinal survey confirmed most of the network observations. Although subsequent works particularly epidemiological surveys would be useful to confirm the causal link between the detection of OsHV-1 and the mortality outbreaks in juvenile C. gigas, the role of OsHV-1 in oyster mortality is progressing

Report of the JRC’s Descriptor 2 workshop in support to the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status for NIS

The MSFD workshop on non-indigenous species (NIS, MSFD D2), held in Ispra JRC (10th-11th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D2 review manual (May 2015 consultation version: D2 review manual: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/cd4bbd6a-454a-40db-b805-52fb195d4e56/COMDEC_Review_D2_V6.pdf) in the broader context of support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96884) and presents the result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 2. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The main issues addressed and tackled in this workshop’s report are: - Proposed changes in D2 assessment criteria; - Indicators and methodological standards; - GES threshold values and reference points; - Way forwar

Report of the JRC’s Descriptor 1 workshop to support the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status

The MSFD workshop on biodiversity (MSFD D1), held in Ispra JRC (7th-9th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D1 review manual (May 2015 consultation version: https://circabc.europa.eu/w/browse/46d2b7ba-d2fd-4b3c-9eaf-18c7cb702b53) in the broader context of support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96521) and presents the result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 1. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The main issues addressed and tackled in this workshop’s report are: - Common lists of elements for the biodiversity assessments (species & habitats) o Review of the “Biological Features” in Table 1 in the MSFD Annex III in relation to D1 requirements o Review of the “Habitat Types” entries in Table 1 in the MSFD Annex III in relation to D1 requirements - Selection/deselection criteria for the inclusion of species and habitats in a group - Updated criteria and indicators for D1 - Habitat/Bird Directives, WFD, Common Fisheries Policy and D1 o Use of species and habitats for the MSFD needs that are already included in other legislation and agreements o Links between status classification approaches (FCS vs GES, GEcS vs GES) - Streamlining of assessments, including scales of assessments - Cross-cutting issues related to D1 implementation o Aggregation rules within D1 criteria/indicators o Final GES integration across descriptors assessments Steps forward and technical needs for D1.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Reversing SKI-SMAD4-mediated suppression is essential for TH17 cell differentiation

T helper 17 (TH17) cells are critically involved in host defence, inflammation, and autoimmunity. Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is instrumental in TH17 cell differentiation by cooperating with interleukin-6 (refs 6, 7). Yet, the mechanism by which TGFβ enables TH17 cell differentiation remains elusive. Here we reveal that TGFβ enables TH17 cell differentiation by reversing SKI-SMAD4-mediated suppression of the expression of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt). We found that, unlike wild-type T cells, SMAD4-deficient T cells differentiate into TH17 cells in the absence of TGFβ signalling in a RORγt-dependent manner. Ectopic SMAD4 expression suppresses RORγt expression and TH17 cell differentiation of SMAD4-deficient T cells. However, TGFβ neutralizes SMAD4-mediated suppression without affecting SMAD4 binding to the Rorc locus. Proteomic analysis revealed that SMAD4 interacts with SKI, a transcriptional repressor that is degraded upon TGFβ stimulation. SKI controls histone acetylation and deacetylation of the Rorc locus and TH17 cell differentiation via SMAD4: ectopic SKI expression inhibits H3K9 acetylation of the Rorc locus, Rorc expression, and TH17 cell differentiation in a SMAD4-dependent manner. Therefore, TGFβ-induced disruption of SKI reverses SKI-SMAD4-mediated suppression of RORγt to enable TH17 cell differentiation. This study reveals a critical mechanism by which TGFβ controls TH17 cell differentiation and uncovers the SKI-SMAD4 axis as a potential therapeutic target for treating TH17-related diseases

Agrégation des sous-éléments de qualité de l’élément de qualité « Flore autre que phytoplancton »

The Water Framework Directive uses the “One-out, all-out” (OAOO) principle in assessing water bodies (i.e. the worst status of the elements used in the assessment determines the final status of the water body). Combination of multiple parameters within a biological quality element (BQEs) can be done in different ways. This study analysed several aggregation conditions within the BQE "Flora other than phytoplankton" (intertidal macroalgae, subtidal macroalgae, eelgrass beds and opportunistic blooms) using monitoring data collected along the Channel and Atlantic coastline. Four aggregation criteria were tested on two sets of data collected between 2004 and 2014: OOAO, average, intermediate method between OOAO and average and a method taking into account an uncertainty value at the threshold "Good/Moderate." Based on available data, the intermediate method appears the most qualified method using first an averaging approach between the natural habitat elements and then applying the OAOO between this mean and the opportunistic blooms, characteristic of an eutrophic environment. Expert judment might be used to ensure in the overall interpretation of results at waterbody level and in the classification outcomes.La règle d’agrégation des éléments de qualité, pour établir l’état écologique dans le cadre de la DCE, est celle de l’élément le plus déclassant (OAOO). Par contre, les paramètres d’un élément de qualité peuvent être combinés de façon différente. Nous avons étudié plusieurs conditions d’agrégation sur les paramètres de l’élément de qualité « Flore autre que phytoplancton » (macroalgues intertidales, subtidales, les herbiers de zostères et les blooms opportunistes) en utilisant des données de la surveillance collectées sur le littorale Manche Atlantique. Quatre critères d’agrégation ont été testés sur 2 séries de données collectées entre 2004 et 2014 : OOAO, moyenne, méthode mixte entre OAOO et moyenne et une méthode prenant en compte une valeur d’incertitude au niveau du seuil « Bon-Moyen ». Sur la base des données utilisées, la méthode mixte apparaît la méthode la plus nuancée, car elle moyenne les éléments d’habitat naturel, puis applique la méthode plus stricte de l’OAOO sur un paramètre caractéristique d’un milieu eutrophisé. Ce travail ne peut être considéré comme un exercice finalisé. Il permet de discuter différentes pistes qu’il conviendra de soumettre de nouveau au jugement des experts thématiques

Le REMI, réseau de surveillance de la qualité bactériologique des coquillages du littoral français: premiers résultats

Le REMI, réseau microbiologique, a un double objectif. II cherche à évaluer les niveaux et les tendances de la contamination bactériologique des eaux littorales françaises. II vise, également, à garantir la salubrité des coquillages destinés à la commercialisation. Ce réseau est organisé en fonction de chacun de ces objectifs: le réseau de Surveillance correspond à l'objectif environnemental (niveaux et tendances), le réseau d'lntervention vise la protection du consommateur. II a été réorganisé en 1989; les premiers résultats de son fonctionnement, sur des exemples choisis, sont présentés et discutés

Réseau de surveillance microbiologique - REMI. Cartographie des points de surveillance et d'intervention

Ce rapport précise les stations de prélèvements échantillonnées dans le cadre du réseau de surveillance microbiologique. Il fournit la position géographique des points de surveillance et d'intervention. Cette cartographie est établie suivant le découpage du littoral en bassins hydrologiques de Dunkerque à la Bidassoa, puis de Port Vendres à la frontière italienne, Corse incluse

Structural link optimization of an echography robot

International audienceIt is an interesting goal to obtain robots lighter, more precise or to minimize other criteria. Among robot optimization problems, optimizing the structure of robot links considering all its conditions of use can be a very computationally intensive problem, due to the dimension of the configuration space. Maybe for this reason, such problems has never been solved thoroughly. We considered the case of a 3-degrees-of-freedom echography robot. We optimize the shape of two links to minimize the weight and deformation under an end-effector force condition, and whatever the robot configuration. In order to obtain a rapid optimization, we use a non-uniform beam model for links with sensitivity computations. We proposed an easy-to-solve compromise formulation between two criteria. We showed that some substantial weight decrease could be obtained while keeping small deformations, with reasonable computation times, and that several configurations must be considered simultaneously