Flux-based Risk Assessement of the impact of Contaminants on Water resources and ECOsystems

Report (2012)

Present status of the development of mycoherbicides against water hyacinth: successes and challenges. A review

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2012), 16(3), 360-368

Recent trends in the implementation of bioherbicide use in the control of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Martius] Solms Laubach) have depended primarily on several strategies. The use of ... [more ▼]

Recent trends in the implementation of bioherbicide use in the control of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Martius] Solms Laubach) have depended primarily on several strategies. The use of bioherbicides has been stimulated as part of the search for alternatives to chemical control, as the use of these more environmentally-friendly formulations minimizes hazards resulting from herbicide residue to both human and animal health, and to the ecology. In addition, one of the major strategies in the concept of biological control is the attempt to incorporate biological weed control methods as a component of integrated weed management, in order to achieve satisfactory results while reducing herbicide application to a minimum. Several fungal pathogens with mycoherbicide potential (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Hyakill™ and Cercospora rodmanii, named ABG-5003) have been discovered on diseased water hyacinth plants, but none has become commercially available in the market. Biological, technological, and commercial constraints have hindered progress in this area. Many of these constraints are being addressed, but there is a critical need to better understand the biochemical and physiological data regarding the pathogenesis of these new bioherbicides. Oil emulsions are recognized as a way to increase both efficiency of application and efficacy of biocontrol agents. [less ▲]

Archeologia, logica, discorso. Sapere e linguaggio secondo Enzo Melandri

in Sapere e linguaggio nel 900 italiano (2012)

How to count elephants in West African savannahs? Synthesis and comparison of main gamecount methods

in Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement = Biotechnology, Agronomy, Society and Environment [=BASE] (2012), 16(1), 77-91

The comparison of some elephants count methods – aerial sampling count, aerial total count and direct foot count – has been presented through surveys’ study cases implemented in Benin, Burkina Faso and ... [more ▼]

The comparison of some elephants count methods – aerial sampling count, aerial total count and direct foot count – has been presented through surveys’ study cases implemented in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. We compare them in terms of effort and cost to survey an area (sampling efficiency), efficiency in data collection (detection efficiency) as well as accuracy and precision. Aerial sampling count returns low sampling and detection efficiency and very low precision and accuracy figures when counting elephants populations below 0.5 elephant.km-2. Precision can partly be improved by stratification. Direct foot count returns the best sampling and detection efficiency but insufficient data number to produce reliable estimates. Therefore some authors often produced no results for elephants. Aerial total count is a costly method in absolute value. It requires important logistic and no measure of error is possible. However it provides relatively good sampling and detection efficiency as well as relatively accurate figures appreciated by wildlife managers if technical requirements are respected. Aerial total count could be recommended to survey small population of West African elephants each 3 to 5 years to minimize yearly count costs. [less ▲]

La visite au zoo et l'apprentissage de la distinction humaine

in Revue d'Anthropologie des Connaissances (2012), 6(3), 157-184

The zoo might be regarded as a cultural device that structures the relationships between human beings and captive animals. In this study we searched to identify the patterns that connect visitors and ... [more ▼]

The zoo might be regarded as a cultural device that structures the relationships between human beings and captive animals. In this study we searched to identify the patterns that connect visitors and captive animals during the zoo visit experience. We recorded and analysed the speech and interactions of visitors in front of the cages of two primate species: Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and braza monkeys (Cercopithecus neglectus) with the aim of understanding how the human/non human boundary is practically accomplished. [less ▲]

Generation of the Cape Ghir upwelling filament: A numerical study

in Ocean Modelling (2012), 41

Filaments are narrow, shallow structures of cool water originating from the coast. They are typical features of the four main eastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUS). In spite of their significant ... [more ▼]

Filaments are narrow, shallow structures of cool water originating from the coast. They are typical features of the four main eastern boundary upwelling systems (EBUS). In spite of their significant biological and chemical roles, through the offshore exportation of nutrient-rich waters, the physical processes that generate them are still not completely understood. This paper is a process-oriented study of filament generation mechanisms. Our goal is twofold: firstly, to obtain a numerical solution able to well represent the characteristics of the filament off Cape Ghir (30°38'N, northwestern Africa) in the Canary EBUS and secondly, to explain its formation by a simple mechanism based on the balance of potential vorticity. The first goal is achieved by the use of the ROMS model (Regional Ocean Modeling System) in embedded domains around Cape Ghir, with a horizontal resolution going up to 1.5 km for the finest domain. The latter gets its initial and boundary conditions from a parent solution and is forced by climatological, high-resolution atmospheric fields. The modeled filaments display spatial, temporal and physical characteristics in agreement with the available in situ and satellite observations. This model solution is used as a reference to compare the results with a set of process-oriented experiments. These experiments allow us to reach the second objective. Their respective solution serves to highlight the contribution of various processes in the filament generation. Since the study is focused on general processes present under climatological forcing conditions, inter-annual forcing is not necessary. The underlying idea for the filament generation is the balance of potential vorticity in the Canary EBUS: the upwelling jet is characterized by negative relative vorticity and flows southward along a narrow band of uniform potential vorticity. In the vicinity of the cape, an injection of relative vorticity induced by the wind breaks the existing vorticity balance. The upwelling jet is prevented from continuing its way southward and has to turn offshore to follow lines of equal potential vorticity. The model results highlight the essential role of wind, associated with the particular topography (coastline and bottom) around the cape. The mechanism presented here is general and thus can be applied to other EBUS. [less ▲]

Pister et traiter les métastases du mélanome.

in Dermatologie Actualité (2012), 131

Perspectives

in Demidenko, Yuri; Otte, Marcel; Noiret, Pierre (Eds.) Siuren I Rock-Shelter. From Late Middle Paleolithic and Early Upper Paleolithic to Epi-Paleolithic in Crimea (2012)

La justice réparatrice en milieu carcéral. De l'idée aux pratiques

Book published by Presses universitaires de Louvain (2012)

This book is devoted to tracing both genetic and implementation processes of a restorative prison policy in Belgium. The first step of this work focusses on the translation process through which three ... [more ▼]

This book is devoted to tracing both genetic and implementation processes of a restorative prison policy in Belgium. The first step of this work focusses on the translation process through which three streams of ideas (restorative justice, victimology and prisoners’ rights) have been transported by some brokers through several social worlds (Mennonite communities, social and welfare workers, criminology scholars, militants, officials, politicians) and have been feeding the prison policy written in the ministerial circular of the 4th October 2000. Secondly, we will study the emergency of new professional actors within detention -the so-called “restorative justice advisers”- and their impact on prison staffs’ work. A third part of the book analyses the concrete forms of association in which the criminological concept of restorative justice is incorporated by various actors such as inmates, victims, wardens, NGO’s or prison governors. This account takes very seriously the concept of restorative justice even if it is often marginalized by prison staff who conceive it as a “Utopia”. Four case studies have been carried out in prison establishments (two in Flanders and two in Wallonia). Their analysis shows that the ministerial circular, although fuzzy and aiming at introducing a value -restoration- in bureaucratic institutions, is seen as a cognitive resource enabling new actors -the restorative justice advisers- to create activities through new partnerships with external NGOs. These partnerships lead to the creation of some social link within custodial organizations, whose dissocializing effects are well known. The conclusive purpose of the book is to give some account of the effects of amplification and reduction but also those of framing and overflow, consecutive to the implementation of the ministerial circular. [less ▲]

Representation in early stage design: an analysis of the influence of sketching and prototyping in design projects

in Proceedings of the ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference (2012)

Sketching and prototyping of design concepts have long been valued as tools to support productive early stage design. This study investigates previous findings about the use and timing of use of such ... [more ▼]

Sketching and prototyping of design concepts have long been valued as tools to support productive early stage design. This study investigates previous findings about the use and timing of use of such design tools. This study considers such tools in the context of team design projects. General trends and statistically significant results about “sketchstorming” and prototyping suggest that, in certain constrained contexts, the focus should be on the quality of information rather than on the quantity of information generated, and that prototyping should begin as soon as possible during the design process. Ramifications of these findings are discussed in the context of educating future designers on the efficient use of design tools. [less ▲]