On-farm contamination of animals with chemical contaminants

in Revue Scientifique et Technique (International Office of Epizootics) (2006), 25(2), 655-673

Food products should not contain unsafe levels of chemical contaminants. However, it is not possible to monitor each and every one of the many thousands of chemicals that are used in our advanced ... [more ▼]

Food products should not contain unsafe levels of chemical contaminants. However, it is not possible to monitor each and every one of the many thousands of chemicals that are used in our advanced societies. Chemical contaminants in foodstuffs of animal origin may be classified into three categories: natural contaminants (e.g. mycotoxins), environmental contaminants linked to industrialisation and/or urbanisation (e.g. dioxins and dioxin-like compounds) and authorised chemical products (e.g. residues of veterinary medical products). Chemical hazards may contaminate foodstuffs of animal origin all the way from farm to fork. Contamination may occur in any of the different production systems, and it is difficult to make comparisons between production systems (e.g. extensive versus intensive farming systems) with regard to food safety. Even when we take into account the latest analytical methods, which can detect ever-smaller quantities of residues, the relative importance of chemical contaminants seems to have declined during recent decades due to improvements in information and prevention. Nonetheless, individual incidents can never be ruled out and may have serious economic, health or social repercussions. Particular attention must be paid to chemical hazards, in order to reduce as much as possible the risks to livestock and to the consumer. Continued monitoring and periodic reassessment of risks posed by these contaminants (at the national level) are needed to detect or anticipate new problems, so that appropriate actions can be taken in the interest of public health. More attention should be paid to the production of detailed information, especially with regard to background data (e.g. the objectives of the monitoring, sampling methods, chemicals to be analysed, analytical methods, detection limits, raw data and specified units), in order to obtain a better basis for risk assessment. Such risk assessment provides control authorities with an effective tool for the exchange of information and measures to be taken to ensure food safety. [less ▲]

Preparation of YBa2Cu3O7-x superconducting thick films by the electrophoretic deposition method

in Journal of Materials Science (2006), 41(24), 8109-8114

YBa2Cu3O7-x thick films have been realised by the Electrophoretic Deposition method (EPD). The influence of several parameters (powder and iodine concentrations in the suspension, applied voltage and ... [more ▼]

YBa2Cu3O7-x thick films have been realised by the Electrophoretic Deposition method (EPD). The influence of several parameters (powder and iodine concentrations in the suspension, applied voltage and deposition time) on the EPD process has been studied by measuring the conductivity of the suspension and the amount of YBa2Cu3O7-x particles deposited on the electrode. Superconducting coatings onto silver substrates have been produced by a multilayer process during different deposition times. The highest critical current density value of these coatings measured by the four-point probe method is about 10^3 A/cm^2 (77 K), in a suitable range for magnetic shielding applications. [less ▲]

Epidémiosurveillance des événements rares chez les bovins en Belgique

in Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire (2006), 150(S), 4-9

Epidémiosurveillance des événements rares chez les bovins en Belgique. Thèse de doctorat en sciences vétérinaires défendue le 29 septembre 2004.

Examination of non-genetic factors affecting the growth performance of Djallonke sheep in soudanian zone at the Okpara Breeding farm of Benin

in Tropical Animal Health and Production (2006), 38

Dancing droplets onto liquid surfaces

in Physics of Fluids (2006), 18

Evolution of paleoclimatic conditions and vegetation change in Himalaya from compound specific hydrogen and carbon analyses

in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (2006), 70(18), 468-468

Supplied by the Ganga–Brahmaputra fluvial system, the Bengal Fan provides an integrated record of the Himalayan basin history through time. The active channel-levee system of the middle fan documents the ... [more ▼]

Supplied by the Ganga–Brahmaputra fluvial system, the Bengal Fan provides an integrated record of the Himalayan basin history through time. The active channel-levee system of the middle fan documents the last glacial/interglacial cycle. Organic geochemistry studies have shown that the organic matter contained in the Bengal Fan sediments is mainly of terrestrial origin. We analysed terrestrial n-alkanes (C27–C33) from Bengal Fan sediments and modern Ganga–Brahmaputra sediments. Comparison of compound specific hydrogen and carbon isotopic ratios in these samples allow us to follow the evolution of paleoenvironmental conditions since the Last Glacial Maximum. Carbon molecular isotopic data on the odd-HMW n-alkanes show a shift of 4&, corresponding to an evolution in the Himalayan system from a C4-dominated vegetation at LGM to a C3- dominated vegetation during the Holocene. It is now well known that C4 plants are more adapted than C3 plants to low atmospheric CO2 concentrations and to relatively hot and dry climate. In the same time, molecular D/H isotopic ratios measured on the same samples show an increase of the deuterium content of about 20& during the Holocene, which is consistent with lower temperature at the end of the LGM in the Himalaya. As low temperature should favored C3 plants, the predominance of a C4 vegetation have to be linked with dryer conditions at the end of the LGM. Afterwards, the increase of the C3/C4 ratio in the Himalayan system is related to a concomitant increase of humidity and pCO2 during the Holocene. [less ▲]

Que peut dire la littérature en Belgique ? Autonomie de la littérature et procès d'écrivains, de Camille Lemonnier à Pierre Mertens

in Durand, Pascal; Hébert, Pierre-Philippe; Mollier, Jean-Yves (Eds.) et al La Censure de l’imprimé. Belgique, France, Québec et Suisse romande. XIXe-XXe siècles (2006)

Droit international privé européen

in Journal des Tribunaux Droit Européen (2006)

Acute neutrophil activation in direct stenting: comparison of stable and unstable angina patients.

in International Journal of Cardiology (2006), 112(1), 59-65

BACKGROUND: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils have been implicated in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. A substantial body of evidence has emerged to implicate the role of specific leucocyte derived ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils have been implicated in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. A substantial body of evidence has emerged to implicate the role of specific leucocyte derived enzyme myeloperoxidase in atherogenesis, since its initiation through progression until destabilization. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils activation after coronary stenting, to compare this activation between stable and unstable setting and to evaluate the kinetic relation of this activation with inflammatory response following atherosclerotic plaque rupture. METHODS: Myeloperoxidase, lactoferrin, elastase, C-reactive protein and cytokine plasma levels were assessed in 15 patients undergoing direct coronary stenting for unstable angina (Group A) and compared to 11 patients undergoing this procedure for stable angina (Group B). Serial sampling starting before arteriography and continued for 24 h was carried out in all patients. RESULTS: A significant elevation in myeloperoxidase and lactoferrin levels was observed after stenting in both group A (p<0.0001) and group B (p<0.0001), but was higher in group A. Interleukin-8, interleukin-12 and interleukin-6 levels increased temporarily after stenting in the 2 groups. Baseline values of C-reactive protein were similar in the 2 groups and a progressive increase was observed after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Direct coronary artery stenting is associated with an early polymorphonuclear neutrophils activation followed by release of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-12) and C-reactive protein elevation in both stable and unstable patients. We conclude that stenting by itself is associated with myeloperoxidase liberation with a significantly enhanced response in unstable patients. [less ▲]

Decision making numerical tools for the rehabilitation of hydraulic structures - Application to the Nisramont dam in Belgium

in Proceedings of the ICOLD 22th Congress (2006)

In the global framework of climate change, hydraulic structures rehabilitation is an up-to-date subject requiring appropriate design and impact studies. In this scope, upgrading the release facilities of ... [more ▼]

In the global framework of climate change, hydraulic structures rehabilitation is an up-to-date subject requiring appropriate design and impact studies. In this scope, upgrading the release facilities of dams is an important point since any badly controlled rise of water level in the reservoir leads usually to both up and downstream consequences, often irreversible. Suitable numerical models, coupled with contemporary computational possibilities, allow today engineers to forecast the complex situations induced on real structures by extreme events with increasing representativeness and accuracy. In this field, WOLF software, a process oriented free surface flows computation package completely set up by the HACH team, has proved its efficiency and reliability for years through numerous theoretical, experimental as well as on real structures applications. In this paper, the rehabilitation study of the Nisramont dam (Belgium) is presented. Located on the Ourthe River, a few kilometers upstream of the town of La Roche, this 21-meter high dam came into service in 1958 and was, in a first time, dedicated to be used as a cofferdam during the construction of a downstream larger reservoir of 250 hm³. But this second dam was never built and Nisramont became a definitive reservoir of 3 hm³ assuming the drinking water supply of a large part of the population of the south of Belgium and producing hydro-electricity. Due to its temporary primary tasks, the stilling basin downstream of the three 12.5 m large notches of the crest spillway has been designed for a short time use. Similarly, the 3 bottom outlets have never been equipped with valves and are thus unusable for the reservoir management. In order to secure the structure and to make it comply with its definitive working objectives, while taking into account climate change observations, the Ministère wallon de l’Equipement et des Transport (MET) - Direction des barrages de l’Est (D. 241) entrusted the HACH with evaluating up to date critical flood discharges and with designing a system in accord with these new values for the rehabilitation of the bottom outlets and the evacuation of the floods to the downstream river. This study has mainly been carried out using software of the WOLF package, successively applied to model really observed extreme events on the structure, to define new peak flow discharge and to design the stilling basin. [less ▲]