Orfeo BELSPO Instutional Open Access Repository for Federal Organisation
Not a member yet
14207 research outputs found
Sort by
Egypt through a Belgian Lens: Jean Capart and the Collection of Photographic Glass Plate Negatives of the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels
Get PDFUnder the impetus of a growing interest within the international Egyptological community
in the history of its own discipline, many institutions have recently made considerable investments
to disclose historical photographic archival collections by digitization efforts. The famous Egyptological
library of the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH) in Brussels also keeps an important
photographic archive of which the large subcollection of almost fourteen thousand historical glass plate
photographic negatives were studied in the framework of the SURA project. These photos date from the
first half of the 20th century and document the pioneering years of Egyptology in Belgium from the
perspective of Jean Capart, founding father of Belgian Egyptology and the first curator of the Egyptian
department of the RMAH, and his collaborators
Inventaire des archives Hellawell – Adan – t’Serstevens
No full textDécouvrez l’arbre généalogique de la famille t’Serstevens, un document unique qui fait revivre plusieurs siècles d’histoire familiale entre Gand, Bruxelles et l’Angleterre. Ce précieux témoignage, confié en 2024 aux Archives générales du Royaume par Michel Hellawell, ouvre une fenêtre sur des destins intimes et européens.The records described in this inventory are held at the National Archives of Belgium (Brussels) (inventory code 510 - I 730).This inventory is the frozen published version dated 10-12-2025. For the dynamic inventory under active revision, including recent updates and additions, please consult our online search platform AGATHA. In AGATHA you can also place requests for the archival items you want to view in the reading room
Rediscovery and redescription of <i>Dixonius siamensis</i> (Boulenger, 1899) (Squamata: Gekkonidae), type species of the genus, with lectotype designation
No full textWe redescribe the type material of Phyllodactylus siamensis Boulenger, 1899, type species of the Southeast Asian gekkonid genus Dixonius Bauer, Good & Branch, 1997, using external morphology and cranial osteology. There is some evidence that the type series contains more than one species; we hence designate a lectotype in order to stabilize nomenclature and provide more precision on the geographical location of the type locality. Because the current concept of Dixonius siamensis auctorum is incomplete and composite, we provide a revised diagnosis based on the presently designated lectotype and a paralectotype from the same locality, as well as observations on new material from the type locality and the first photographs of live topotypical individuals. We regard Dixonius siamensis as probably geographically restricted to the Dong Phaya Yen mountain range in central Thailand, and the numerous published mentions of this species from outside this range likely refer to other or undescribed taxa. We treat Phyllodactylus burmanicus Annandale, 1905 from Tavoy, southern Myanmar, as a valid species, as Dixonius burmanicus comb. nov
Aerosol Climatology on Mars as Observed by NOMAD UVIS on ExoMars TGO
Get PDFThe Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery spectrometer on board Trace Gas Orbiter began science operations in April 2018, providing infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectra of the Martian atmosphere. This paper explores the application of the UVIS channel in solar occultation to study aerosols. We have developed a retrieval scheme that allows us to study the size and extinction of the aerosol as a function of altitude. Results from mid-MY 34 to the end of MY 36 are reported and discussed. Particle size is retrieved using a Mie code with log-normal distribution with an effective radius (reff), 0.1–0.8 μm and an effective variance (veff) equal 0.1. In this work, we show the presence of aerosol-detached layers, characterized by a local increase in particle size and extinction. These detached layers can be composed of dust, H2O ice, or CO2 ice. CO2 ice clouds can be detected up to 80 km, while H2O ice clouds are usually more present around 30–50 km. Symmetry of the particle effective radius between the northern and southern regions is observed. During northern/southern winter, the atmospheric aerosols are composed of smaller particles below 0.6 μm but in summer, the size increases to micron-sized particles that are larger than the sensitivity of UVIS. This increase in size in the northern/southern summer is not correlated with a similar increase in extinction. Our data support the previously observed relationship between water vapor and aerosol, especially the formation of high-altitude water ice cloud during the global dust storm event
Mapping of intermediate host snails for schistosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a systematic review
No full textSchistosomiasis is a snail-borne disease that has a considerable impact on human and animal health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The intermediate hosts of the schistosome parasites are freshwater snails of the genera Biomphalaria Preston, 1910 and Bulinus M & uuml;ller, 1781. In order to identify existing gaps in the spread of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this study compiled the available knowledge of the distribution, population dynamics and ecology of the intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Scopus for all malacological studies on schistosoma intermediate hosts in DRC published between 1927 and October 2022. A total of 55 records were found, of which 31 met the inclusion criteria: these were published field and experimental studies conducted in the DRC and focused on snails as intermediate hosts of schistosomes. The analysis of these studies revealed that more up-to-date data on the distribution of snail intermediate hosts in the DRC are needed. Moreover, ecological factors have been less studied for Bulinus species than for Biomphalaria species. These factors play a crucial role in determining suitable snail habitats, and the lack of comprehensive information poses a challenge in snail control. This review makes it clear that there are no current malacological data in the DRC. There is a clear need for molecular and ecological research to update the exact species status and population dynamics of all potential intermediate host species. This will facilitate targeted snail control measures that complement drug treatment in the control of schistosomiasis in the country
Expanding the swimmer s itch pool: a first record of <i>Trichobilharzia regenti</i> in Belgium
No full textIntroduction: Swimmer's itch (or cercarial dermatitis) is caused by avian and mammalian blood flukes, a parasitic infection affecting people worldwide. In particular, avian blood flukes of the genus Trichobilharzia, including Trichobilharzia regenti, are known for causing swimmer's itch. While these parasites typically infect waterfowl as final hosts, incidental infections in humans by cercariae can occur. Such infections trigger immune responses leading to painful, itchy skin lesions. In experimental animals, T. regenti has however shown the ability to evade immune responses, causing neuroinflammation. Recent decades have witnessed an increase in swimmer's itch cases across Europe, turning it into an emerging zoonosis. Methods: Following a swimmer's itch case in Kampenhout (Belgium) in 2022, a malacological and parasitological survey was conducted at the transmission site, consisting of a private pond and adjacent creek. Results: Six snail species were collected, including Ampullaceana balthica, a common intermediate host for Trichobilharzia parasites. Shedding experiments and DNA barcoding identified one snail specimen infected with T. regenti, a new species record for Belgium. This finding further strengthens the link between T. regenti and cercarial dermatitis. Additionally, Echinostomatidae sp. and Notocotylus sp. were isolated from other A. balthica specimens. However, the absence of reference DNA sequences hindered genus- and species-level identification for these parasites. Conclusions: The presence of T. regenti in Belgium may have significant clinical implications, emphasizing the need for heightened diagnostic awareness among medical professionals. The lack of species-level identification for other parasite species underscores the need for comprehensive DNA databases for trematodes. These findings reveal the necessity for a Belgian framework to promptly detect and monitor zoonotic outbreaks of trematode parasites within the One Health context
