Suchergebnisse

The use of drugs to improve animal growth is banned in the European Union. Nevertheless, illegal use has been demonstrated in several countries and Member States have to run extensive control programs to ensure that the ban is respected. The aim of this work was to explore the possibility of using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors to develop fast and robust screening assays for hormones and ß-agonists. Modified standard procedures for hapten synthesis were employed to immobilise stable analyte specific sensor chip surfaces used for analysis. Sensor chips for clenbuterol, ethinylestradiol and trenbolone gave assays with IC50 values in the region of 0.5 ng/ml. Sample matrix interference from urine and serum with the antibody-antigen interaction and non-specific binding from samples to the sensor surface was systematically studied. Strategies to minimise these effects were investigated and described. Biosensor assays for clenbuterol in bovine hair and urine, suitable for routine use, were developed and validated. For hair, a sandwich assay format was used. A rapid and simple extraction using 100 mM NaOH was developed, and the assay was validated by analysis of hair samples from animals treated with clenbuterol. The critical factor for assay sensitivity was non-specific binding to the sensor chip surface from hair extracts, which was controlled by ultrafiltration of samples and by the use of a secondary antibody. The limit of detection (LOD) of the hair assay was 10 ng/ml. In the urine assay, the cross-reaction for several ß-agonists, including salbutamol, mabuterol and brombuterol was high, enabling detection of concentrations below 1 ng/ml. Analysis of these low analyte concentrations in urine without sample pre-treatment was limited by high sample-to-sample variation, inhibition of antibody binding to the surface and occasional non-specific binding. A rapid and simple sample clean-up using integrated immunofiltration was developed to minimise these sample matrix effects. With this method, at least 48 samples could be processed and analysed by one person in one working day.

Coproduction brings together a diverse range of state and non-state actors to create and deliver public services. These processes, which occur across the Global South, have been widely studied. However, insufficient critical attention has been paid to their politics. We address this gap in the literature by analysing the politics of coproduction in Latin America during the 'pink tide' of the early twenty-first century. Drawing on original qualitative research, this article explores the coproduction of three distinct public services—water, housing, and waste—in three countries where left-leaning presidents and governments were elected into office—Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uruguay. We argue that coproduction is intrinsically political in these three cases; that is, the 'political' is internal to, and inherent in, coproduction. Our comparative analysis centres on two political dimensions—subject-making and collective autonomy—and shows that tensions around these two issues were central to coproduction in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uruguay . The article demonstrates the importance of not treating politics as a mere contextual concern in coproduction analysis and shows that coproduction has the capacity to reshape political relationships and subjectivities. Taking politics into account is essential to understanding the dynamics and potential of coproduction in the Global South. Our comparative analysis also provides new insights into Latin American politics, especially concerning 'pink tide' governments and the provisioning of public services.

Abstract: Over the past two decades, substantial reductions in the deposition of acidifying substances (primarily sulphur) have occurred in most parts of Europe and, following recent agreements, this trend is likely to continue. The question arises as to how have sensitive ecosystems reacted, and will react in the future, to these reduced inputs of acidity? In this paper, the SMART dynamic acidification model predicts the possible recovery of 36 acid-sensitive Finnish headwater lakes, for which both catchment soil and water quality measurements were available. The model was calibrated to measurements by adjusting poorly known parameters; it was then used to simulate soil and water chemistry until 2030 under the 'current legislation scenario' resulting from implementing current European emission reduction agreements. Whereas most of the catchment soils show very little change in base saturation, the positive trends in lake ANC and the negative trends in lake sulphate concentrations, observed over the past decade, continue into the future, albeit at a slower pace. The model predicts that, during 2010–30, all lakes will have reached a positive ANC, a pre-requisite for the recovery of fish populations. Keywords: acidification, lake, catchment, recovery, SMART model, Finland

International audience ; Abstract: Over the past two decades, substantial reductions in the deposition of acidifying substances (primarily sulphur) have occurred in most parts of Europe and, following recent agreements, this trend is likely to continue. The question arises as to how have sensitive ecosystems reacted, and will react in the future, to these reduced inputs of acidity? In this paper, the SMART dynamic acidification model predicts the possible recovery of 36 acid-sensitive Finnish headwater lakes, for which both catchment soil and water quality measurements were available. The model was calibrated to measurements by adjusting poorly known parameters; it was then used to simulate soil and water chemistry until 2030 under the ?current legislation scenario' resulting from implementing current European emission reduction agreements. Whereas most of the catchment soils show very little change in base saturation, the positive trends in lake ANC and the negative trends in lake sulphate concentrations, observed over the past decade, continue into the future, albeit at a slower pace. The model predicts that, during 2010?30, all lakes will have reached a positive ANC, a pre-requisite for the recovery of fish populations. Keywords: acidification, lake, catchment, recovery, SMART model, Finland

Abstract: Over the past two decades, substantial reductions in the deposition of acidifying substances (primarily sulphur) have occurred in most parts of Europe and, following recent agreements, this trend is likely to continue. The question arises as to how have sensitive ecosystems reacted, and will react in the future, to these reduced inputs of acidity? In this paper, the SMART dynamic acidification model predicts the possible recovery of 36 acid-sensitive Finnish headwater lakes, for which both catchment soil and water quality measurements were available. The model was calibrated to measurements by adjusting poorly known parameters; it was then used to simulate soil and water chemistry until 2030 under the 'current legislation scenario' resulting from implementing current European emission reduction agreements. Whereas most of the catchment soils show very little change in base saturation, the positive trends in lake ANC and the negative trends in lake sulphate concentrations, observed over the past decade, continue into the future, albeit at a slower pace. The model predicts that, during 2010–30, all lakes will have reached a positive ANC, a pre-requisite for the recovery of fish populations. Keywords: acidification, lake, catchment, recovery, SMART model, Finland

Finding effective ways of conserving large carnivores is widely recognised as a priority in conservation. However, there is disagreement about the most effective way to do this, with some favouring top-down "command and control" approaches and others favouring collaboration. Arguments for coercive top-down approaches have been presented elsewhere; here we present arguments for collaboration. In many parts of developed world, flexibility of approach is built into the legislation, so that conservation objectives are balanced with other legitimate goals. In the developing world, limited resources, poverty and weak governance mean that collaborative approaches are likely to play a particularly important part in carnivore conservation. In general, coercive policies may lead to the deterioration of political legitimacy and potentially non-compliance issues such as illegal killing, whereas collaborative approaches may lead to psychological ownership, enhanced trust, learning, and better social outcomes. Sustainable hunting/trapping plays a crucial part in the conservation and management of many large carnivores. There are many different models for how to effectively conserve carnivores across the world, research is now required to reduce uncertainty and examine the effectiveness of these approaches in different contexts.