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Through a reflexive study, we performed a reality check of how Ecosystem Services valuation is performed compared to what could be referred to as a "theoretical ideal" of the BElgium Ecosystem Services (BEES) community of practice, reflecting the salient recent international literature on integrated valuation. By surveying the most recent case studies doing valuation, our results highlight that stakeholders are always included, a variety of values are generally accounted for using a diversity of methods, and increasingly transdisciplinary approaches. However, the main findings that (1) impacts on decision-making remain unclear, (2) real transdisciplinary studies, co-constructed by scientists and stakeholders are yet to be undertaken, and (3) sustainability issues (thresholds & fairness) are largely ignored, call for further research on how to conduct integrated and inclusive ES valuations. We argue that communities of practice such as BEES are appropriate arenas to foster such transdisciplinary studies, by facilitating the inclusion of a broad range of values and actors. We call for a broader review of best practices for ES integrated valuation, to identify factors of success, and guide further scientific research that aims at improving ES practice for decision-making. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Venous access device-related bloodstream infections (VAD-BSIs) with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are common complications after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). So far, the standard systemic antimicrobial therapy for uncomplicated VAD-BSIs with methicillin-resistant CoNS consisted of intravenous (IV) vancomycin (vanco). This approach requires hospitalization, necessitates new competent venous access, exposes patients to potential (mainly renal) toxicity and increases the risk of commensal flora dysbiosis with selection of vanco-resistant enterococci. Patients after alloHCT are particularly at risk of iatrogenic and nosocomial complications. In addition, repeated hospitalizations can impact autonomy and quality of life and are associated with significant costs. Minocycline (mino) is an oral antimicrobial agent that has strong in vitro effects on most Gram positive bacteria and potential anti-biofilm activity, and can be used in the clinic for some CoNS infections. Our infectious disease specialists proposed that systemic therapy with oral mino could be used for the management of uncomplicated VAD-BSIs, primarily when the reference treatment with IV vanco was not possible (renal failure or allergy) or when hospitalization was refused by patients. We retrospectively analyzed the results of this mino-based approach. From January 2012 to December 2020, we treated 24 uncomplicated VAD-BSIs with CoNS in 23 alloHCT patients aged 17-72y with oral mino. Uncomplicated VAD-BSIs were defined as 2 or more blood cultures positive for the same CoNS drawn consecutively peripherally and through the VAD, in patients without signs of sepsis, cellulitis or suppurative thrombophlebitis and without endovascular implant or orthopedic material. VAD were implantable ports (n=17), tunneled catheter (n=1) or PICC-lines (n=6). Pathogens were S. epidermidis (n= 21) or S. haemolyticus (n=3). CoNS were in vitro susceptible to mino according to EUCAST guidelines (with MIC Overall, clearance of bacteremia (as assessed by negativity of surveillance peripheral blood cultures with the same CoNS drawn between d+3 and +30 after initiation of systemic therapy) was achieved in all but 1 patient (with port, treated with mino alone) who had persistent bacteremia at day +9. No complication such as suppurative thrombophlebitis, endocarditis or metastatic foci of infection was observed in any patient during the 3-month period after initiation of treatment. Among the 17 patients for whom VAD salvage was attempted, VAD decontamination was successful in 10 cases while 4 patients experienced persistently positive VAD-derived blood cultures during the early (d+3 to +14) surveillance period and 3 patients experienced delayed relapse of VAD-BSIs with the same CoNS 1-3 months later (with 1 patient with cellulitis). All these events led to VAD removal. Treatment with mino was well tolerated with the exception of mild skin rash in one patient. Our results in this retrospective cohort suggest that oral mino can be a promising alternative to standard IV vanco for systemic therapy in VAD-BSIs with CoNS and that a strategy combining oral mino and antibiotic locks may salvage VAD in approximately half of the cases. This remains to be confirmed in prospective studies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

(1) Background: In the current context of the COVID-19 crisis, there is a need for fast, easy-to-use, and sensitive diagnostic tools in addition to molecular methods. We have therefore decided to evaluate the performance of newly available antigen detection kits in “real-life” laboratory conditions. (2) Methods: The sensitivity and specificity of two rapid diagnostic tests (RDT)—the COVID-19 Ag Respi-Strip from Coris Bioconcept, Belgium (CoRDT), and the coronavirus antigen rapid test cassette from Healgen Scientific, LLC, USA (HeRDT)—were evaluated on 193 nasopharyngeal samples using RT-PCR as the gold standard. (3) Results: The sensitivity obtained for HeRDT was 88% for all collected samples and 91.1% for samples with Ct ≤ 31. For the CoRDT test, the sensitivity obtained was 62% for all collected samples and 68.9% for samples with Ct ≤ 31. (4) Conclusions: Despite the excellent specificity obtained for both kits, the poor sensitivity of the CoRDT did not allow for its use in the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19. HeRDT satisfied the World Health Organization’s performance criteria for rapid antigen detection tests. Its high sensitivity, quick response, and ease of use allowed for the implementation of HeRDT at the laboratory of the University Hospital of Liège.

In this paper we present a method to analyse data from observed population statistics in order to create a stylised location typology based on household profiles (microgeographic level). The household profiles are used to inform the development of rules for an agent-based model of residential population mobility. The method is demonstrated with the 2001 Population Census data for East Anglia, UK. Household profiles are derived from a principal components analysis to reduce dimensionality in the census data combined with a cluster analysis to aggregate the observations. We test whether a range of household archetypes that link specific locations to specific profiles can be identified simultaneously at both mesogeographic and macrogeographic levels. Results reaffirm conventional archetypes: Single people concentrate in city centres, families mainly locate in the suburbs and periurban areas, and retirees are more prevalent in the suburbs and close to the coast. Surprisingly, however, there is a clear distinction between locations with cohabiting couples (located at the fringe of the periurban areas) and locations with married couples (located in the countryside). The observed spatial distributions reveal different location choices between different household profiles. Identification of these household profiles supports the development of residential mobility models that may be used to explore regional and local planning issues with respect to future population projections and environmental change.

Background Implementing ecosystem services (ES)-based planning and management processes in practice, and mainstreaming the results in decision-making, is limited. Literature suggests this can be explained by a limited overlap between the ES concept and stakeholders’ representations of nature. Aims We introduce social representations theory as an approach to discuss whether the theoretical ES concept is compatible with stakeholders’ social representations of nature. Methods Thirty-nine stakeholders actively involved in the use and management of a peri-urban study area in Belgium were interviewed about their representation of nature. Conclusions Like the ES concept, stakeholders’ representation of nature includes an anthropocentric view, but stakeholders also stress the role and responsibility of humans in sustaining ecosystems and regulating nature (which is a relational value). From the qualitative analysis we conclude that the theoretical ES concept and ES classifications are not sufficiently reflecting stakeholders’ representations of nature, mainly on the human-nature relationship. The social representations technique provides handles to design ES-based processes according to stakeholders’ representations. This can result in more effective ES-based planning and management processes and improved understanding among stakeholders and between stakeholders and process managers.

This paper contributes to the discussion on integrating societal considerations, stakeholders' perceptions and laymen knowledge into ecosystem services (ES) assessments. The paper illustrates how social mapping of perceived ES supply (or alternatively demand) can contribute to integrated ES assessment. Based on sketched locations of the, according to 38 respondents, most important ES at the local scale, we describe the perceived ES distribution with social landscape metrics (abundance, diversity, richness, risk, rarity) based on traditional landscape ecology indicators. We illustrate how social landscape metrics can inform ES management and planning and describe how synergies between ES as stated by the respondents differ from calculated synergies (the latter based on correlation coefficients between perceived ES abundance). We present indicators pointing to locations where (multiple) ES synergies are perceived by stakeholders (stated synergy index), and to conflicting ES and ES perceived to be at risk (risk index). Overlapping social ES hotspots based on the social landscape metrics with ES hotspots based on more traditional biophysical modelling (biophysical hotspots) and ecological inventories (ecological hotspots) results in social–ecological or social–biophysical hotspots, coldspots and warmspots relevant for nature and landscape planning, management and governance. Based on an analysis of the overlaps between social, biophysical and ecological hotspots on the one hand, and the contribution of ecological quality, land zoning categories and conservation statuses on the other hand, we discuss the added value of integrating social ES mapping in integrated ES assessment, above ES assessments based on biophysical or ecological attributes. Given the limited overlap between social hotspots and ecological or biophysical hotspots, we conclude that integrating stakeholders' mapping of perceived ES supply (or demand) into ES assessments is necessary to reflect the societal aspects of ES in ES assessments. However, with a limited sample of respondents, there is a risk of collectivisation of respondents' viewpoints as a common, societal stance. Moreover, the social landscape metrics are not suitable for describing the distribution of ES with low perceived abundance. Finally, we explain how social ES assessment can result in mainstreaming ES in planning, policy and practice.

The threat of sea-level rise and climate change means that coastal managers are being increasingly asked to make long-term assessments of potential coastal impacts and responses. In the UK, shoreline management planning (for flood and erosion hazards) and spatial planning now takes a 100 year perspective. An integrated framework across a wide range of physical and social issues is required for the assessment of coastal impacts and consequently for making sound management decisions. This paper provides an overview of the development of the ‘Tyndall Coastal Simulator’ including the underlying philosophy that is being followed. The Simulator is based on a series of linked climate models (CM) within a nested framework which recognises three spatial scales: (i) the global (GCM) scale; (ii) the regional scale and (iii) the Simulator Domain (a physiographic unit, such as a coastal sub-cell). Within the nesting, the larger scale provides the boundary conditions for the smaller scale. The models feed into each other and describe a range of relevant processes: sea level, tides, surges, waves, sediment transport and coastal morphology. Different climate scenarios, as well as the range of uncertainty, are being explored. Communication of results is a major issue and the Simulator includes a dedicated GIS-based user interface that allows a wide range of queries of model outputs. The paper demonstrates the possibility of developing an integrated framework that is multi-scale and capable of linking various models in order to simulate complex coastal processes and consequently allowing long-term assessments that are useful for setting future management plans.

This paper presents a framework to model future residential demand for housing in a polycentric region. The model, called HI-LIFE (Household Interactions through LIFE cycle stages), builds on Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) paradigms. In contrast to traditional equilibrium-based urban economics models that assume a homogenous population of rational actors, ABM focuses on the diversity of heterogeneous household agents and their behaviour in time and in space. The model simulates land-use patterns at the regional scale by integrating qualitative knowledge of agent location preferences with quantitative analysis of urban growth dynamics within a high resolution spatial modelling framework. The model was calibrated for the region of East Anglia in the UK using a semi-quantitative procedure. Simulation of urban dynamics for the future was undertaken for a 25 year period with the assumption of a continuation of baseline behavioural trends. The results demonstrated non-uniform, spatial patterns of urban sprawl with some locations experiencing greater urban development pressure than others. The town of Brundall, in particular, has a large potential demand for residential housing because of its proximity to the principle city, Norwich. As Brundall is also located close to a national park and a river, new housing development in this area would increase the risk of ecological impacts and flood damage. By modelling explicitly agent behaviour and interactions, ABM can simulate the response and adaptation strategies of a population to changing circumstances. This makes ABM especially well suited to the analysis of environmental change and landscape ecology pressures through scenario modelling.

This paper provides an overview of the development of the 'Regional Impact Simulator' - a user friendly software tool designed to allow stakeholders to perform integrated assessments of the effects of climate and/or socio-economic change on the important sectors and resources of two contrasting UK regions. This includes the assessment of agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and coastal and river flooding. The tool arose from the need to further develop the methods applied in the earlier RegIS project, which was the first local to regional integrated assessment in the UK. The limitations of RegIS included very long run times, a limited number of simulations, incomplete linkages between models and no allowance for scenario uncertainty. Based upon the stakeholder needs identified within RegIS, a series of guiding principles were developed with Steering Committee stakeholders, which informed the concept of the 'Regional Impact Simulator' including functionality, appearance and complexity. An Integrated Assessment Methodology based upon the Drivers-Pressure-State- Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework facilitated the integration of multiple models, scenarios and datasets within the software interface. The development of the 'Regional Impact Simulator' provides a test-bed for further studies of stakeholder-led, regional, integrated assessment, and provides an opportunity to learn the many lessons in undertaking such studies.

Changes in climate risk are driven by a range of socio-economic factors, as well as the climatic drivers considered in Chaps. 2 and 3. Exploring how the built environment might change over time is an essential element for assessing changing risks. This chapter presents and discusses two algorithm-based approaches used in the Tyndall Coastal Simulator to analyse local changes in residential and other urban land uses.

Multiple classification systems for ecosystem services (ES) make comparison and integration between studies and assessments very difficult. With the fast-growing number of ecosystem services assessment and valuation studies, there is a need to identify generally agreed definitions and to design a common base that will enable comparisons between ecosystem services assessments at different places. The recently developed Common International Classification for Ecosystem Services (CICES) is aiming to fill this gap. One advantage of the CICES approach is that it allows adjustment to local conditions. Through an iterative consultation round with Belgian experts from administrations, policy support units, and research centers CICES has been adapted to the needs of a highly populated country, where multifunctional land use is very common. The goal of CICES-Be is to introduce a common reference base for ecosystem services in Belgium, which is locally adapted and compatible with an international standard.

In this paper, scenarios of the built environment of a coastal town-Cromer are developed via using an innovative Agent-Based Model (ABM), which distributes housing demand based on algorithms describing interacting agents at the local and regional levels and taking account of the different socio-economic futures, and a CA spatial model is developed in a VR-GIS integrated environment, which is used as the 3D visualization engine to distribute the increased housing demand explicitly to 3D geographical space, which is real-world GIS data based. The scenarios can be used to better understand and estimate the regional climate changes, urban-rural temperature shifts and biodiversity etc.

Coastal zones attract settlements, are ideal for a range of economic activities and accommodate important natural habitats that provide ecosystem services. All these coastal activities are vulnerable to climate and other changes unless appropriate management policies are implemented. Sea-level rise and intensified storms could increase the incidence of flooding and erosion, as well as degrade coastal ecosystems. Importantly, the coast is a linked system, and management responses for one area or sector may influence the impacts for other areas or sectors. Understanding coastal processes and taking account of climate and socio-economic futures helps to illustrate/reveal impending choices,and in developing responsive informed long-term coastal management policies. This paper describes research being carried out by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research on their Coastal Simulator. The research includes the linkage of a range of modelling procedures to represent coastal management and climate and coastal processes, as well as the design of a GIS-based interface to make the intergrated results accessible. The prototype simulator provides regional impact assessments of climate and socio-economic futures under various management options in the coastal zones of Norfolk, Fast Anglia and shows that erosion and flood risk are strongly linked.

Urban dynamic modeling has been identified as one of the most complicated processes in geo-simulation. New theories and applications are expected to facilitate understanding urban dynamics and complexities. In this paper, we present a tightly integrated system applied in this context, by coupling the newly developed modeling techniques in geo-simulation: agent-based modeling (ABM) and an advanced framework in computer science: VR-GIS integrated platform. The result system has demonstrated with some practical advantages: 1) the urban dynamic model is more operational and realistic through running in real-world based 3D environment; 2) it provides a testing platform for model calibration, validation, and drawing conclusions; 3) due to the richness in representation and interaction, it is desirable for communication and decision-making support in urban planning.

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