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Illustrated Catalog of African brush-footed trapdoor spiders: type specimens from the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Barychelidae)
No full textThe brush-footed trapdoor spiders (Barychelidae Simon, 1889) represent a family of mygalomorphs that includes 285 species spread in 39 genera. Barychelids are mainly tropical spiders, distributed from South America to Oceania. The African barychelid fauna is the second most diverse in number of spiders described within the family, with 41 species known from nine different genera. Following several published taxonomic works of Pierre L. G. Benoit in the mid-1960s, few taxonomic revisions of Barychelidae have been proposed since from the African continent. To avoid deterioration and loss of information from the type specimens, we have made efforts to digitise these specimens, which serve as the definitive references and physical representations of the species. Among 174 mygalomorph types deposited at the Royal Museum of Central Africa (RMCA) in Belgium, Barychelidae is represented by 16 species from five different genera. The present paper aims to provide illustrations of important morphological characters. Additionally, we herein considered the species Cyphonisia straba Benoit, 1966, Pisenor selindanus (Benoit, 1966), and Sipalolasma humicola (Benoit, 1965) as species inquirendae, and S. warnantae Benoit, 1966 as senior synonym of S. kissi Benoit, 1966. This work aspires to improve the understanding and accessibility of name-bearing types through the cataloguing and digitisation of type specimens of Barychelidae deposited at the RMCA
Nyama : la crise de la viande de brousse
No full textThis book is a startling account of one of the Anthropocene s catastrophes in the making. In much of Central Africa, eating wildlife is seen as a normal practice. Tens of millions of animals are hunted every year for human consumption. Tradition, trade, taste, and the lack of alternative proteins explain this reality. Animal populations are being decimated, directly impacting the fragile network of biodiversity, local economies, and public health. But cultural attachment to nyama makes the bushmeat crisis difficult to solve. Healthy forests are needed to mitigate climate change; healthy fauna is needed to maintain the equilibrium of these spaces. Bolstered by anthropological studies, this book analyses such dynamics, while explaining why the persistent demand for nyama is a challenge to conservation efforts and thus to the survival of the planet
De schedel van Sint Thomas in context : wetenschappelijk reliekenonderzoek in België
Get PDFDe dominicaan Thomas van Aquino geldt als de grootste theoloog uit de middeleeuwen. Tot op vandaag
inspireert zijn werk vele wetenschappers, en zijn leven van heiligheid vele gelovigen.
In 2024-2025 wordt het 800 jaar sinds Thomas’ geboorte gevierd en 750 jaar sinds zijn thuiskomst bij de Heer.
Voor deze gelegenheid komen Thomas’ relieken naar Antwerpen en worden drie dagen lang
feestelijke ac:viteiten georganiseerd
Depositional setting and hydrothermal alteration of Paleoproterozoic manganiferous metasedimentary rocks in the Ampanihy district (Southern Madagascar)
No full textFirst record of three alien termite species (Insecta: Isoptera) In Belgium
No full textThe presence of subterranean termites (Family Rhinotermitidae) and drywood termites (Family Kalotermitidae) poses significant challenges as potential pests, capable of causing substantial damage to wooden structures and leading to economic losses. Some species within these families exhibit high levels of destructiveness and have become invasive in numerous regions worldwide. Introductions or expansions of termite populations often result from the importation of infested wood, plants, or soils. Here, we document the initial occurrences of three exotic termite species in Belgium: Cryptotermes brevis and Reticulitermes banyulensis in Brussels (Brussels Capital Region), and Reticulitermes flavipes in Brugelette (Hainaut province; Walloon region). Morphological identification of specimens was corroborated through DNA-barcoding validation. While infestations of Cryptotermes brevis and Reticulitermes banyulensis are likely inconsequential due to unfavorable local climatic conditions, the establishment and spread of Reticulitermes flavipes in Belgium is more likely and will be monitored closely. These findings underscore the importance of vigilance and effective pest management strategies to mitigate potential impacts
Evaluating GEMS HCHO Retrievals With TROPOMI Product, Pandora Observations, and GEOS-Chem Simulations
Get PDFSatellite column formaldehyde (HCHO) is an indicator of regional volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions as HCHO is a short-lived intermediate oxidation product. The Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS), launched in 2020, is the first geostationary satellite to monitor hourly HCHO. GEMS offers unprecedented potential to reveal the diurnal variations of VOC emissions in Asia. Here, we present the first study to evaluate year-round GEMS HCHO retrievals using TROPOMI satellite and ground-based Pandora spectrometers. Our study shows that GEMS HCHO aligns with TROPOMI (r = 0.59–0.85; differences within 20\% for most areas). Moreover, GEMS captures monthly and diurnal HCHO variations observed by Pandora spectrometers across Asia with differences overall within 15\% (r ∼ 0.85). Diurnally, we find strong HCHO variations over urban areas but not in forests. During the fire season of mainland Southeast Asia, GEMS HCHO increases in the afternoon, in line with diurnal emission estimates from the Global Fire Emissions Database Version 4 with small fires (GFED4s) and GEOS-Chem simulations. GEMS also captures the spatial patterns of fire emissions in GFED4s. GEMS HCHO shows negative bias when observing with a high (>60°) viewing zenith angle (VZA) and overly relies on model correction for observations to the north of 30°N
Les artistes polyvalents et le vitrail monumental dans les anciens Pays-Bas pendant la première moitié du XVIe siècle : l’exemple de Bernard van Orley et de Pieter Coecke
No full text30th International Colloquium Corpus Vitrearum. Barcelona – Cerdanyola – Girona 4–7 July 2022, Organized by the Catalan Committee of the Corpus Vitrearum, Barcelone, Corpus Vitrearum Catalunya.Two major artists from the southern Netherlands, Pieter Coecke (1502–1550) and Bernard Van Orley (1487–1541) distinguished themselves by their versa- tility and their skills as “entrepreneurs”. Both were personally involved in the creation of works in various techniques including panel painting, tapestry and stained glass. Archives and preserved works document or attest to the activity of these artists in these different fields but, beyond the certified or supposed supply of a scale model ("vidimus") or full-scale drawing ("cartoon"), the exact degree of involvement remains difficult to establish. From selected examples, this paper will show the importance and the limits of a connoisseurship approach in surveying the compartmentalization of artistic techniques and in understanding the complex dynamic of artistic creation in the southern Netherlands during the first half of the 16th century
Misconceptions and knowledge gaps regarding female genital schistosomiasis among community women and healthcare professionals in Kimpese, Democratic Republic of Congo
No full textSexual dimorphism in the cranium and endocast of the eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri)
No full textLiver fluke and schistosome cross-infection risk between livestock and wild mammals in Western Uganda, a One Health approach
No full textTrematodiases strongly reduce the welfare of humans and animals causing a great decline in health and productivity. Insufficient data on the extent of trematode infection in definitive hosts and associated risk factors remain a great threat to its control. A cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the; prevalence of liver flukes and schistosomes in livestock and wild mammals and the socio-ecological risk factors associated with their spread. Fresh dung samples were collected opportunistically (n = 865) and examined using formal ether sedimentation and microscopy for parasite eggs. Twelve abattoir visits were conducted to examine the livers of animals killed for mature flukes. Key informants (n = 110) including farmers, butchers, game rangers, and herders were interviewed to document the socio-ecological risk factors. In the abattoirs, 57.1%(CI 0.422 0.712) of cattle were infected with Fasciola flukes and not sheep and goats. Cattle dung had the highest prevalence (56% CI 0.518 0.604) of Fasciola eggs, followed by sheep (50%, CI 0.319 0.681) and goats (28.2%, CI 0.218 0.353). Among wild mammals, hippos' dung (66%; 95% CI 0.53 0.777) had the highest prevalence of Fasciola followed by warthogs (8%; 95% CI 0.002 0.385) and baboons (6.7%; CI 0.002 0.319). No Fasciola eggs were observed in elephant dung (n = 21) and monkeys (n = 2). Schistosoma bovis was found in cattle dung from Mpeefu (2.6%; 95% CI 0.007 0.066) and Ndaiga (4.3%; 95% CI 0.022 0.075) while S. mattheei in goats (1.4%; 95% CI 0.00 0.075) and cattle (0.39%; 95% CI 0.00 0.021) dung samples from Ndaiga. Key informants had moderate knowledge of fasciolosis (62.7%), highest among butchers (89.7%), and lowest among herders (31.8%). Only veterinary officers knew about schistosomiasis in animals. Free-range grazing and unsafe water sources for livestock, shared with wild animals, were the risky practices by most farmers (66 100%). Fasciola was prevalent in livestock and wild mammals, while Schistosoma in cattle and goats