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Recent years have shown a shift in the focus of sustainable development from eco-efficiency (minimizing negative impacts) towards eco-effectiveness (optimizing positive impacts). Currently, a focus on circular models can be identified; Cradle to Cradle and circular economy are main examples of such models. However, the current number and variety of models and tools focusing on circular systems are limited with regard to packaging development. This paper explores packaging development models and tools in relation to circular systems, in order to identify the current status of the circularity focus. A range of identified models and tools is structured into two categories (generative and evaluative tools) which cover three types (protocols, diagrams and evaluations). This is in line with the distinction between early and later phases of development and the cumulative nature of environmental lock-in. Protocol-type models and tools come in different forms, such as principles, guidelines and checklists (e.g. Cradle to Cradle and DfE). Aside from these, eight diagram-type models are analysed, focusing on packaging development, sustainable development and sustainable packaging development. In contrast to generative design tools, evaluation-type models and tools (e.g. LCA) are most useful in the later stages of development processes. Resulting from the analysis of the models and tools, three types of integration – integrated product-packaging development, the cross-functional integration of actors and the front-end integration of sustainability considerations – are appropriate for the development of product-packaging combinations for circular systems. This leads to an agenda which shapes research directions towards achieving this development

The value of forensic results crucially depends on the propositions and the information under which they are evaluated. For example, if a full single DNA profile for a contemporary marker system matching the profile of Mr A is assessed, given the propositions that the DNA came from Mr A and given it came from an unknown person, the strength of evidence can be overwhelming (e.g., in the order of a billion). In contrast, if we assess the same result given that the DNA came from Mr A and given it came from his twin brother (i.e., a person with the same DNA profile), the strength of evidence will be 1, and therefore neutral, unhelpful and irrelevant(1) to the case at hand. While this understanding is probably uncontroversial and obvious to most, if not all practitioners dealing with DNA evidence, the practical precept of not specifying an alternative source with the same characteristics as the one considered under the first proposition may be much less clear in other circumstances. During discussions with colleagues and trainees, cases have come to our attention where forensic scientists have difficulty with the formulation of propositions. It is particularly common to observe that results (e.g., observations) are included in the propositions, whereas-as argued throughout this note-they should not be. A typical example could be a case where a shoe-mark with a logo and the general pattern characteristics of a Nike Air Jordan shoe is found at the scene of a crime. A Nike Air Jordan shoe is then seized at Mr A's house and control prints of this shoe compared to the mark. The results (e.g., a trace with this general pattern and acquired characteristics corresponding to the sole of Mr A's shoe) are then evaluated given the propositions 'The mark was left by Mr A's Nike Air Jordan shoe-sole' and 'The mark was left by an unknown Nike Air Jordan shoe'. As a consequence, the footwear examiner will not evaluate part of the observations (i.e., the mark presents the general pattern of a Nike Air Jordan) whereas they can be highly informative. Such examples can be found in all forensic disciplines. In this article, we present a few such examples and discuss aspects that will help forensic scientists with the formulation of propositions. In particular, we emphasise on the usefulness of notation to distinguish results that forensic scientists should evaluate from case information that the Court will evaluate.

Consumers open, on average, more than seven packages a day which are usually thrown away directly after use. Consequently, packaging waste has become a symbol of the throwaway society, unavoidably adding to our environmental impact. Existing studies have shown that the visual appearance of a package has great influence on consumer behaviour during (1) the processes of making conscious sustainable purchasing decisions and (2) sorting packaging waste after usage. However, it is not clarified how these aspects influence their behaviour and how packaging designers should use this knowledge. Consequently, this paper aims to bridge the gap between packaging design and consumer behaviour during purchase and recycling of sustainable packaging by focusing more on specific elements of the design. A theoretical analysis provides an overview of current literature combining behavioural sciences with design research. Based on (the gaps in) the literature, combinations of design elements are analysed with a conjoint analysis which provides more in-depth research into combinations of specific elements of the design. The most effective elements are integrated into packaging designs which are tested by consumers in a realistic setting, providing insight in more realistic purchasing and recycling behaviour. A comparable test setup has not yet been conducted among existing studies on this subject.

This study aims to address the structured implementation of sustainability considerations in packaging design processes by proposing a teaching framework for design students. The framework builds upon a four-year research program which aims to deliver insights regarding the environmental burden caused by product-packaging chains in the Netherlands and cumulates in an educational program for Universities of Applied Sciences. The teaching framework addresses five perspectives of product-packaging sustainability: (1) managerial decision making, (2) life cycle assessment (LCA), (3) consumer behavior, (4) recycling efficiency and effectiveness, and (5) redesign of the plastic waste chain. The research’s main contribution is the setup and the applicability and efficacy of the proposed teaching framework. The application of this framework in packaging design education must lead to a better alignment of insights on sustainability in the early stages of packaging design processes executed by ‘designers of the future’.

The objective of this project was to implement best practice in an outpatient clinical setting in order to increase both nursing staff and patients' knowledge and awareness on the importance of blood sugar management during chemotherapy and to show that through compliance with best practice, the incidence of dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia during chemotherapy can be minimized.Steroid-induced hyperglycemia is a commonly neglected symptom in cancer treatment, contributing to poor patient prognosis and extended hospital stay. Evidence shows that controlled blood sugar during chemotherapy is associated with improved patient outcomes and better tolerance to cancer treatment. For the purpose of this paper steroid-induced hyperglycemia will be referred to as dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia.This project utilized the Joanna Briggs Institute Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI-PACES) and Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) audit tools to promote compliance in the clinical setting. Thirty patients participated in the audit, which was executed by nursing staff in the Medical Oncology Outpatient Unit at the Cancer Ambulatory and Community Health Support Department at the Canberra Hospital.The baseline audit revealed large gaps between best practice and current practice. This underlined the need for more education for both nursing staff and patients. Other barriers such as the absence of assessment and documentation by the clinicians and the minimum number of potential referrals to the diabetes educator were addressed by encouraging patients to speak about their diabetes, and also in the development of a simplified referral process in order to have patients reviewed by the Diabetes Educator in a timely manner. There were significant improvements after more information sessions were held and more resources made available to both nursing staff and patients, but there were also minimal to zero compliance drop on parts of the follow-up audit.In an attempt to improve patient outcome during chemotherapy, the project has succeeded in changing the attitude towards blood sugar control, and in increasing knowledge and awareness of dexamethasone-induced hyperglycemia among nursing staff and patients. However, there is room for improvement, based on the results of the implementation project. Future audits are planned to ensure sustainability.

International audience; Ticks are one of the principal arthropod vectors of human and animal infectious diseases. Whereas the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks in Europe is well studied, there is less information available on the prevalence of the other tick-borne viruses (TBVs) existing worldwide. The aim of this study was to improve the epidemiological survey tools of TBVs by the development of an efficient high-throughput test to screen a wide range of viruses in ticks. In this study, we developed a new high-throughput virus-detection assay based on parallel real-time PCRs on a microfluidic system, and used it to perform a large scale epidemiological survey screening for the presence of 21 TBVs in 18 135 nymphs of Ixodes ricinus collected from five European countries. This extensive investigation has (i) evaluated the prevalence of four viruses present in the collected ticks, (ii) allowed the identification of viruses in regions where they were previously undetected. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the capabilities of this new screening method that allows the detection of numerous TBVs in a large number of ticks. This tool represents a powerful and rapid system for TBVs surveillance in Europe and could be easily customized to assess viral emergence.

In the context of the development towards nature-inclusive agriculture, the relationship between the costs and benefits of management of natural areas by Staatsbosbeheer (national forest service) in conjunction with nature-inclusive measures on individual farmland areas was investigated. The analysis was completed for two representative dairy farms and a sample farm for suckler cows. The analysis reveals that, when the proportion of nature-inclusive agriculture increases, it becomes economically attractive for beef farmers to lease a larger area of natural grassland in order to compensate for the decrease of individual roughage production as a result of the nature-inclusive agricultural measures. Additionally, the factors of success or failure in the management of a profitable business were outlined in a qualitative analysis. Interviews support the insights gained from the model analysis in that the lease costs, the agricultural utility value, and the absent need for investment play an important role from a business economy standpoint in the optimum size of leased natural grassland in conjunction with nature-inclusive agriculture. In het kader van de ontwikkeling naar natuurinclusieve landbouw is onderzoek uitgevoerd naar de relatie tussen de kosten en baten van het beheer van natuurgronden van Staatsbosbeheer in combinatie met natuurinclusieve maatregelen op het eigen bedrijfsareaal. De analyse is uitgevoerd voor twee representatieve melkveebedrijven en een voorbeeldbedrijf voor de zoogkoeienhouderij. Uit de analyse blijkt dat bij een toename van het aandeel natuurinclusieve landbouw het voor rundveebedrijven economisch aantrekkelijk is om meer areaal natuurgrasland te pachten om zo de afname van de eigen ruwvoerproductie als gevolg van de natuurinclusieve landbouwmaatregelen te compenseren. Aanvullend zijn in een kwalitatieve analyse de succes- en faalfactoren voor een rendabele bedrijfsvoering in beeld gebracht. De interviews ondersteunen de vanuit de modelanalyse verkregen inzichten dat vooral de pachtkosten, de landbouwkundige gebruikswaarde en de afwezige noodzaak tot investeren een belangrijke rol spelen voor de bedrijfseconomisch optimale omvang van gepacht natuurgrasland in combinatie met natuurinclusieve landbouw.

In Spain, despite years of efforts to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB), the disease is still endemic, with some areas of high prevalence. In this context, the surveillance and control plans may need to be re-evaluated, and understanding the dynamics of bTB spread within Spanish herds may help to develop new strategies for reducing the time for detection of infected herds and for the elimination of bTB from the herds already infected. Here, we developed a compartmental stochastic model to simulate bTB within-herd transmission, fed it with epidemiological data from 22 herds (obtained from a previous work) and carried out parameter inference using Approximate Bayesian Computing methods We also estimated the "Within-herd transmission potential Number" (Rh), i.e. the average number of secondary cases generated by a single animal infected introduced into a totally susceptible herd, considering different scenarios depending on the frequency of controls. The median global values obtained for the transmission parameters were: for the transmission coefficient (beta), 0.014 newly infected animals per infectious individual per day (i.e. 5.2 per year), for the rate at which infected individuals become infectious (alpha), 0.01 per day (equivalent to a latent period of 97days), and for the rate at which infected individuals become reactive to the skin test (alpha1), 0.08 per day (equivalent to a period of 12days for an infected animal to become reactive). However, the results also evidenced a great variability in the estimates of those parameters (in particular beta and alpha) among the 22 herds. Considering a 6-month interval between tests, the mean Rh was 0.23, increasing to 0.82 with an interval of 1year, and to 2.01 and 3.47 with testing intervals of 2 and 4 years, respectively.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is looking for action strategies to reduce the risk of fraud in the manure market. This can be done by means of lower manure disposal costs and by introducing a competing interest for exports. The high costs of manure disposal can be tackled by reducing supply or increasing demand. Processing a larger amount of manure, with adequate corresponding enforcement, is the most realistic of the options. The presence of competing interests between the manure supplier and the buyer as regards the amount of minerals serves to inhibit fraud. This is lacking in the case of exports because no mineral accounting needs to be approved abroad. Here too, co-ordination with other countries could create competing interests and thus reduce the incentive to defraud. Het ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit zoekt naar handelingsperspectieven om de kans op fraude op de mestmarkt te verkleinen. Dat kan door lagere mestafzetkosten en door het invoeren van tegengesteld belang bij export. Het aanpakken van de hoge mestafzetkosten, kan gerealiseerd worden door het aanbod te verkleinen of de vraag te vergroten. Uit de opties is vooral de verwerking van een grotere hoeveelheid mest met bijbehorende adequate handhaving realistisch. De aanwezigheid van tegengestelde belangen tussen de aanbieder van mest en de afnemer ten aanzien van de hoeveelheid mineralen is een remmende factor voor fraude. Deze ontbreekt bij de export doordat in het buitenland geen mineralenboekhouding hoeft te worden verantwoord. Afstemming met buitenland hierover zou ook hier tegengestelde belangen kunnen creëren en zo de fraudeprikkel verkleinen.

The COSHER joint industry project involved the conduct of large scale experiments to provide release and dispersion data under well-defined conditions, studying the full bore rupture of a CO2 dense phase high pressure underground pipeline at large scale. The data generated are useful for model development and validation as well as for better understanding of the risks due to large scale underground CO2 pipeline ruptures. In order to simulate the depressurization of a pipeline, a 219.1 mm diameter pipeline loop was fed from both ends by a 148 m3 reservoir of CO2. The rig was designed to promote outflow in the liquid phase for as long as possible. About 136 ton of CO2 were released in 204 s. During the experiments, measurements of the fluid pressure, fluid temperature and wall temperature of the test facility were made together with measurements of the CO2 concentration contours and temperature within the dispersing gas cloud.

This study aims to demonstrate processes by which Going Glocal, a Global Citizenship educational program based on Postcolonial Theory, can challenge social representation of the African Other among participating students. Postcolonial Theory argues that the colonial history of countries directly affects the current state of previously colonized countries and contemporary relations between people from Europe and Africa. Critical Whiteness Theory is concerned with the privileged position of a white self, for whom these privileges usually do not become tangible. 15 university college students traveled to Namibia as part of 2012 Going Glocal project and semi-structured interviews were conducted with them directly after they came back, as well as focus groups at the very beginning and end of the program. Two students with opposite socio-economic and ethnical backgrounds were selected for this case study. Their responses were interpreted using Social Representations Theory as a theoretical framework, to reveal the divergent positioning the interviewees took, and were analyzed according to Postcolonial and Critical Whiteness Theory.

Cradle to Cradle is a development paradigm with a focus on eco-effectiveness; improving the ‘positive footprint’ in contrast to the more conventional eco-efficient approaches; reducing the ‘negative footprint’. Industry is supported in their Cradle to Cradle efforts by an elaborate five level certification framework. The accredited institutes necessary for certification focus in practice mainly on material health, underexposing other aspects. The aim of this paper is to explain why the eco-effective Cradle to Cradle vision in practice results in a mere eco-efficient approach by discussing several conflicts between theory and practice. This is illustrated with a case study resulting in a development method for Cradle to Cradle compliant packaging.

The alignment of the strategic and the operational level of packaging development in relation to the integration of sustainability is not addressed extensively in current research. This paper aims to address this, by focusing on the decision-making interrelations of key actors (marketing and packaging development) within multidisciplinary product-packaging development teams. The research is conducted by means of a qualitative approach, consisting of semi-structured interviews with individual packaging development team members, complemented with a newly developed visualization tool. The research builds upon eight cases within brand owners, packaging material suppliers and packaging development consultants. The main findings of the study include the decision-making trade-offs between sustainability considerations and other project indicators, such as costs, time-to-market and technical challenges. These trade-offs are linked to the strategic and operational roles of key actors, and to internal and external factors influencing sustainable development processes. This research’s contribution is to address the alignment of the strategic and the operational levels of sustainable packaging development, in relation to (1) decision making and interrelations within multidisciplinary development teams; and (2) the relevance of development-influencing factors. This provides opportunities for further development of sustainable packaging models and tools, in order to align the strategic and operational level of development. Funding agencies: Dutch Top Institute Food and Nutrition (TIFN); Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) [SD002]

Introduction The CE-labelled Colli-Pee device efficiently captures first-void urine without interruption of the urine stream and is suited for postal delivery. We aimed to evaluate the use of Colli-Pee collected urine mailed by regular post for sexually transmitted infection (STI) detection. Methods A Belgian study cohort of men who have sex with men were asked to collect first-void urine using the Colli-Pee at home the day after the study visit. At the visit, a first-void urine sample was collected in a regular recipient to detect Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) using commercial and in house Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques (NAATs). The Colli-Pee collector tube was sent back to the laboratory by regular post and the same NAATs were performed. A survey was completed by the participants on the usability and willingness to use the Colli-Pee device. Results To date, 265 results were taken into account. Using Colli-Pee, one additional CT was detected and one CT was missed (5/5) compared to the regular recipient. Two additional NG (7/5) and 2 additional MG were detected but one MG was missed using the Colli-Pee (16/15). TV was not detected in any of the urine samples. The Kappa agreement was 79,6%, 83% and 89,7% for CT, NG and MG, respectively. On average, Colli-Pee samples were taken 1.7 days (0–22 days) after the regular samples and were on route for an average of 4,3 days (0–17 days). 89% found the Colli-Pee easy to use, but 16% remarked that the Colli-Pee is not recyclable. Conclusion The two STIs (CT/MG) that were missed using the Colli-Pee were only weak positive in the regular sample. More STIs were detected in the Colli-Pee samples: 1 CT, 2 NG and 2 MG. However, the Colli-Pee samples were collected 1, 2, 3, 8, and unknown days later than the regular urines, we cannot exclude that participants became positive or infected during that time frame. In conclusion, we showed that the Colli-Pee can be used for home collection of first-void urine and postal delivery for STI testing.

Sustainability has become well-established in many companies’ strategic postures. However, executing sustainability-related goals often lags at the operational level. This study analyzes how decision-making processes in packaging development at different hierarchical levels are characterized in achieving a sustainability consensus. For data analysis, we use a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) – a set-theoretic method – with empirical data derived from packaging expert surveys. Involvement and decision making by internal actors, involvement of external actors, and strategic and operational sustainability target setting act as attributes causing the outcome of interest: the levels of sustainability implementation on both the strategic and the operational level of packaging development. Most of the configurations that lead to high levels of sustainability integration differ between the strategic and the operational level. The insights on the sustainability-related configurations of internal and external actors provide guidance for managing projects across the strategic and operational levels in improving sustainable packaging development.

Dit artikel beschrijft een kwalitatief exploratief onderzoek naar de toepassing van Value Based Healthcare (VBHC) in de Nederlandse zorgpraktijk. Daarbij focussen we op randvoorwaarden van VBHC en het effect van de methodiek op de rol van zorgprofessionals (N = 22 interviews). De resultaten laten zien dat de definitie en de toepassing van VBHC verschilt per specifieke zorgcontext en dat vier randvoorwaarden cruciaal zijn voor een bredere en succesvolle implementatie van VBHC: een patient die in staat is om mee te beslissen over zijn of haar zorg, beschikbare en betrouwbare data, vertrouwen, en financiering op basis van uitkomsten (waarde). Daarnaast verandert de rol van de zorgprofessional. Ten eerste besluit de patient explicieter samen met de zorgprofessional, op basis van medische en patient gerapporteerde uitkomsten, over het behandeltraject. Ten tweede, samenwerken in een team rondom een aandoening met gemeenschappelijke integrale verantwoordelijkheid voor elkaars functioneren is nieuw voor artsen. Om zorgprofessionals duurzaam te equiperen voor deze verandering is onze aanbeveling om de VBHC-aanpak te verbreden met zowel een specifieke set van Human Resource-praktijken, als een duidelijk op VBHC gericht organisatieklimaat. Met als gevolg dat VBHC duurzaam wordt geimplementeerd en leidt tot positieve uitkomsten voor zowel patienten als zorgprofessionals.

Many companies consider the reduction of packaging material as a relevant development direction, either required by cost savings, supply chain efficiency, sustainability or substantiated by regulations (directive 94/62/EC). This aligns with an eco-efficient redundancy perspective on packaging. Research shows that material efficiency requirements in packaging design briefs are often only justified by aims towards cost reduction; commercial viability is regularly prioritized over sustainability aims. Insights collected from current material quantification analyses like product-packaging life cycle assessment (LCA) and costing (LCC) are not directly applicable during generative development processes. Packaging material key figures can be useful for that, as the middle ground between design guidelines and rules-of-thumb but research in this area is limited. Key figures are established in other sectors like electrical appliances’ energy use, automobile fuel economy, or housing energy efficiency. Based on existing studies about eating patterns of Dutch consumers the research determined typical fast moving consumer goods consumption patterns that are grouped according to product type and use scenario, which lead to daily product consumption patterns. Key figures of used amount of packaging material per product type are determined by looking at packaging solutions present in the market. These figures are linked to the consumer patterns. The outcome is compared with annual packaging waste figures as validation. The research shows for example that packaging material use for food products is currently over 6 times higher than material use for non-food products, and that beverages and products required for dinner require the highest amount of packaging. The research contribution is a collection of packaging material key figures, grouped per product type and use scenario. The range of key figures (minimal and maximum material amounts) is useful as starting point for efficient material use in packaging design.

De Nederlandse landbouw is wereldwijd gezien een zeer productieve en efficiënte sector. Het gebruik van mest is noodzakelijk voor de efficiënte productie van gewassen. Mestgebruik heeft echter ook ongewenste (milieu)effecten. Het Nederlandse mestbeleid tracht schadelijke milieueffecten te beperken; monitoring is hierbij een essentieel onderdeel. Dit sluit aan bij internationale afspraken over het mestgebruik en over het volgen van het effect van beleidsmaatregelen. De Europese Nitraatrichtlijn schrijft lidstaten voor om het gebruik van dierlijke mest te beperken tot 170 kg stikstof per hectare. Landbouwbedrijven in Nederland met ten minste 80 procent grasland mochten in 2014 onder bepaalde voorwaarden van deze norm afwijken en meer mest, afkomstig van graasdieren zoals koeien en schapen, gebruiken (derogatie). LEI Wageningen UR en het RIVM volgen op 300 derogatiebedrijven de bedrijfsvoering en de effecten op de waterkwaliteit en rapporteren de resultaten hiervan jaarlijks aan de EU. In deze rapportage zijn de situatie in 2014 beschreven en de trends tussen 2006 en 2015. De nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater is in deze periode, afhankelijk van de regio, gedaald of gelijk gebleven. Bedrijfsvoering Gemiddeld hebben derogatiebedrijven in 2014 237 kilogram stikstof uit dierlijke mest per hectare gebruikt. De hoeveelheid stikstof die als nitraat kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater wordt onder andere bepaald door het stikstofbodemoverschot. Dit is het verschil tussen de aanvoer van stikstof (zoals meststoffen) en de afvoer ervan (waaronder via gras en maïs). Het gemiddelde Nederlandse stikstofbodemoverschot is gedurende de onderzochte periode niet significant veranderd, maar vertoonde in 2014 wel een sterke daling als gevolg van het goede groeiseizoen voor gras en maïs. Grondwaterkwaliteit In 2014 was de gemiddelde nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater in de Zandregio 40 milligram per liter (mg/l). Dit was 10 mg/l onder de nitraatnorm van 50 mg/l. Bedrijven in de Kleiregio en de Veenregio hadden gemiddeld een lagere nitraatconcentratie (respectievelijk 15 en 9,5 mg/l). De nitraatconcentratie op de derogatiebedrijven in de Lössregio was gemiddeld 51 mg/l. Het verschil tussen de regio's wordt vooral veroorzaakt door een hoger percentage uitspoelingsgevoelige gronden in de Zand- en Lössregio; dit zijn gronden waar nitraat in mindere mate in de bodem wordt afgebroken en daardoor meer kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater.

De Nederlandse landbouw is wereldwijd gezien een zeer productieve en efficiënte sector. Het gebruik van mest is noodzakelijk voor de efficiënte productie van gewassen. Mestgebruik heeft echter ook ongewenste (milieu)effecten. Het Nederlandse mestbeleid tracht schadelijke milieueffecten te beperken; monitoring is hierbij een essentieel onderdeel. Dit sluit aan bij internationale afspraken over het mestgebruik en over het volgen van het effect van beleidsmaatregelen. De Europese Nitraatrichtlijn schrijft lidstaten voor om het gebruik van dierlijke mest te beperken tot 170 kg stikstof per hectare. Landbouwbedrijven in Nederland met ten minste 80 procent grasland mochten in 2014 onder bepaalde voorwaarden van deze norm afwijken en meer mest, afkomstig van graasdieren zoals koeien en schapen, gebruiken (derogatie). LEI Wageningen UR en het RIVM volgen op 300 derogatiebedrijven de bedrijfsvoering en de effecten op de waterkwaliteit en rapporteren de resultaten hiervan jaarlijks aan de EU. In deze rapportage zijn de situatie in 2014 beschreven en de trends tussen 2006 en 2015. De nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater is in deze periode, afhankelijk van de regio, gedaald of gelijk gebleven. Bedrijfsvoering Gemiddeld hebben derogatiebedrijven in 2014 237 kilogram stikstof uit dierlijke mest per hectare gebruikt. De hoeveelheid stikstof die als nitraat kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater wordt onder andere bepaald door het stikstofbodemoverschot. Dit is het verschil tussen de aanvoer van stikstof (zoals meststoffen) en de afvoer ervan (waaronder via gras en maïs). Het gemiddelde Nederlandse stikstofbodemoverschot is gedurende de onderzochte periode niet significant veranderd, maar vertoonde in 2014 wel een sterke daling als gevolg van het goede groeiseizoen voor gras en maïs. Grondwaterkwaliteit In 2014 was de gemiddelde nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater in de Zandregio 40 milligram per liter (mg/l). Dit was 10 mg/l onder de nitraatnorm van 50 mg/l. Bedrijven in de Kleiregio en de Veenregio hadden gemiddeld een lagere nitraatconcentratie (respectievelijk 15 en 9,5 mg/l). De nitraatconcentratie op de derogatiebedrijven in de Lössregio was gemiddeld 51 mg/l. Het verschil tussen de regio's wordt vooral veroorzaakt door een hoger percentage uitspoelingsgevoelige gronden in de Zand- en Lössregio; dit zijn gronden waar nitraat in mindere mate in de bodem wordt afgebroken en daardoor meer kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater.

De Europese Nitraatrichtlijn verplicht lidstaten om het gebruik van dierlijke mest te beperken tot 170 kg stikstof per hectare. Landbouwbedrijven in Nederland met ten minste 70 procent grasland mochten onder bepaalde voorwaarden van deze norm afwijken en in 2013 250 kilogram per hectare gebruiken (derogatie). Nederland is verplicht om op 300 bedrijven die derogatie inzetten de bedrijfsvoering en waterkwaliteit te meten en deze resultaten jaarlijks aan de EU te rapporteren. LEI Wageningen UR en het RIVM stellen jaarlijks deze rapportage op. Dit rapport beschrijft de situatie in 2013 en de trends voor de periode tussen 2006 en 2014. Uit de resultaten blijkt dat de nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater in deze periode, afhankelijk van de regio, is gedaald of gelijk is gebleven. Bedrijfsvoering Ook blijkt dat het stikstofgebruik uit dierlijke mest op de derogatiebedrijven in 2013 gemiddeld circa 4 kilogram per hectare lager was dan de maximaal toegestane 250 kilogram stikstof per hectare. De hoeveelheid stikstof die als nitraat kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater wordt onder andere bepaald door het stikstofbodemoverschot. Dit is het verschil tussen de aanvoer van stikstof (zoals meststoffen) en de afvoer ervan (waaronder via melk). Het gemiddelde Nederlandse stikstofbodemoverschot is gedurende de onderzochte periode niet significant veranderd. Grondwaterkwaliteit In 2013 lag de nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater in de Zandregio (gemiddeld 37 milligram per liter (mg/l)) onder de nitraatnorm van 50 mg/l. Bedrijven in de Kleiregio en de Veenregio hadden gemiddeld een lagere nitraatconcentratie (respectievelijk 11 en 6 mg/l). Alleen de derogatiebedrijven in de Lössregio lagen gemiddeld boven de norm (56 mg/l). Het verschil tussen de regio's wordt vooral veroorzaakt door een hoger percentage uitspoelingsgevoelige gronden in de Zand- en Lössregio; dit zijn gronden waar nitraat in mindere mate in de bodem wordt afgebroken en daardoor meer kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater.

De Europese Nitraatrichtlijn verplicht lidstaten om het gebruik van dierlijke mest te beperken tot 170 kg stikstof per hectare. Landbouwbedrijven in Nederland met ten minste 70 procent grasland mochten onder bepaalde voorwaarden van deze norm afwijken en in 2013 250 kilogram per hectare gebruiken (derogatie). Nederland is verplicht om op 300 bedrijven die derogatie inzetten de bedrijfsvoering en waterkwaliteit te meten en deze resultaten jaarlijks aan de EU te rapporteren. LEI Wageningen UR en het RIVM stellen jaarlijks deze rapportage op. Dit rapport beschrijft de situatie in 2013 en de trends voor de periode tussen 2006 en 2014. Uit de resultaten blijkt dat de nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater in deze periode, afhankelijk van de regio, is gedaald of gelijk is gebleven. Bedrijfsvoering Ook blijkt dat het stikstofgebruik uit dierlijke mest op de derogatiebedrijven in 2013 gemiddeld circa 4 kilogram per hectare lager was dan de maximaal toegestane 250 kilogram stikstof per hectare. De hoeveelheid stikstof die als nitraat kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater wordt onder andere bepaald door het stikstofbodemoverschot. Dit is het verschil tussen de aanvoer van stikstof (zoals meststoffen) en de afvoer ervan (waaronder via melk). Het gemiddelde Nederlandse stikstofbodemoverschot is gedurende de onderzochte periode niet significant veranderd. Grondwaterkwaliteit In 2013 lag de nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater in de Zandregio (gemiddeld 37 milligram per liter (mg/l)) onder de nitraatnorm van 50 mg/l. Bedrijven in de Kleiregio en de Veenregio hadden gemiddeld een lagere nitraatconcentratie (respectievelijk 11 en 6 mg/l). Alleen de derogatiebedrijven in de Lössregio lagen gemiddeld boven de norm (56 mg/l). Het verschil tussen de regio's wordt vooral veroorzaakt door een hoger percentage uitspoelingsgevoelige gronden in de Zand- en Lössregio; dit zijn gronden waar nitraat in mindere mate in de bodem wordt afgebroken en daardoor meer kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater.

African horse sickness (AHS) and equine encephalosis (EE) are Culicoides-borne viral diseases that could have the potential to spread across Europe if introduced, thus being potential threats for the European equine industry. Both share similar epidemiology, transmission patterns and geographical distribution. Using stochastic spatiotemporal models of virus entry, we assessed and compared the probabilities of both viruses entering France via two pathways: importation of live-infected animals or importation of infected vectors. Analyses were performed for three consecutive years (2010-2012). Seasonal and regional differences in virus entry probabilities were the same for both diseases. However, the probability of EE entry was much higher than the probability of AHS entry. Interestingly, the most likely entry route differed between AHS and EE: AHS has a higher probability to enter through an infected vector and EE has a higher probability to enter through an infectious host. Consequently, different effective protective measures were identified by 'what-if' scenarios for the two diseases. The implementation of vector protection on all animals (equine and bovine) coming from low-risk regions before their importation was the most effective in reducing the probability of AHS entry. On the other hand, the most significant reduction in the probability of EE entry was obtained by the implementation of quarantine before import for horses coming from both EU and non-EU countries. The developed models can be useful to implement risk-based surveillance.