Brussels Area Research Articles

Champs de légumes et jardins de blés

Résumé Les dernières recherches s’accordent pour situer au milieu du xiii e siècle les débuts de l’intensification agricole en Europe du Nord-Ouest. Les explications sont en revanche moins unanimes. L’ambition de cet article est d’approcher le phénomène à la lumière d’un document exceptionnel de 1258 concernant la région de Bruxelles. Il fournit des éléments de réflexion qui replacent le processus dans un contexte plus large, celui de l’évolution de l’agriculture au xiii e siècle et l’influence grandissante des centres urbains.

Emergence of PER and VEB extended-spectrum -lactamases in Acinetobacter baumannii in Belgium

Strains of Acinetobacter baumannii producing the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) PER-1 are widespread in Turkey and have also been reported from Korea and France. In contrast, A. baumannii producing the ESBL VEB-1 have only been reported from France, where one strain was responsible for a nationwide outbreak in 2003-2004. Here we describe the emergence of strains of A. baumannii producing VEB-1 and PER- 1 in Belgium. Belgian hospitals were alerted in December 2003 to the emergence in France of VEB-1-producing A. baumannii susceptible only to meropenem and colistin. Isolates with a compatible susceptibility profile were sent to a single central laboratory for VEB-1 confirmation, molecular characterization and typing. From December 2003 to March 2005, three hospitals located close to the French border and one in the Brussels area reported isolation of eight A. baumannii isolates compatible with the French epidemic clone. Using PCR, six were identified as VEB-1-positive and two as PER-1-positive. All the VEB-1-positive isolates were clonally related by PFGE and by integron analysis to the French epidemic strain. The PER-1-positive strains were indistinguishable by PFGE but not related to the known French isolate or to several Turkish isolates. Both genes were chromosomally encoded. This work illustrates the inter-country spread of VEB-1-producing A. baumannii isolates as well as the emergence of PER-1-producing A. baumannii strains in Belgium.

The MURBANDY Project: development of land use and network databases for the Brussels area (Belgium) using remote sensing and aerial photography

Few studies in Europe have analysed the urban growth phenomenon in terms of spatial expansion of built up areas, rather than from the population changes. This paper presents the CHANGE module of Brussels of the MURBANDY Project, which aims to analyse and understand the urban expansion of several European cities. In that context, four land use and transportation network databases from the 1950s to 1997 have been developed. The first results allow to evaluate the past and new trends of the urban sprawl around Brussels.

The boundary between the Middle Eocene Brussel Sand and the Lede Sand Formations in the Zaventem-Nederokkerzeel area (Northeast of Brussels, Belgium)

In the Zaventem airport railway cutting, to the north-east of Brussels, the upper part of the Brussel Sand Formation consists of two major units, both attributable to calcareous nannofossil zone NP14a. The lower predominantly sandy unit ZB1 (including subunits A, B and C, belonging to NP14al) is built up of sparsely glauconitic, relatively coarse tidal current deposits with nodule levels cemented by carbonate and silica, of which one shows slumping structures and is interpreted as a seismite. The uppermost unit ZB2 (also labelled D, belonging to NP14a2), composed of alternating thin fine sandstone bands and silty marls, represents the fill of a large channel. In the Berg-Nederokkerzeel sandpit the carbonate-rich Brussel Sand Formation is finer grained and more homogeneous. Here, the basal sand (unit A) is attributable to NP14a3 and consequently, younger than the section exposed at Zaventem. It is incised at its the top by a rather narrow erosive gully, filled in with well-sorted fine sand rich in washed-in molluscs (unit B), some of which seem to point to a brackish influence. The extreme top is made up of half a meter of sand with abundant Callianassa burrows and echinid fragments (unit C). From the nannofossil data it appears that, east of Brussels, at least two generations of tidal channel systems seem to have occurred within the Brussel Sand Formation, followed by a partial emersion at the end of the filling of the uppermost channel (Nederokkerzeel B). This was succeeded by a relative sea-level rise, as shown by unit C and the remains of a completely eroded fully marine deposit, reworked in the base of the overlying Lede Sand Formation. The lowest relative sea level, with at least partial emergence of the Brussels area, occurred during middle to late Biochron NP14b. In both outcrops the Lede Sand Formation displays its characteristic pale grey relatively fine-grained homogeneous nature with a stone layer near its base. It can be concluded that, at the beginning of the "Lede transgression", an erosion of older deposits, containing already lifhified stone layers, occurred. This was, apparently, at least locally, caused by storms, which could redistribute, imbricate and turn over the stones, explaining their bio-perforation on both sides. Afterwards the stones have been above water for a relatively long time, enough to allow the dissolution of the perforating organisms and consequently an important oxidation of their surfaces. These stones have subsequently been colonised by a new marine fauna. Part of the shark teeth and calcareous nannofossil assemblages found in the coarse base of the Lede Sand is definitely older than the taxa normally found in the Lede Sand Formation. These fossils are the remains of a sediment package, believed to represent the formerly "Laekenian" stage.

Temporal analysis of the Brussels flora as indicator for changing environmental quality

With their species diversity, their population abundance and their integrator characters, higher plants represent useful tools to solve problems concerning the environment analysis and management. As they are good bioindicators, plants integrate many environmental parameters and can help to reveal the misworking of the ecosystems. Within this framework, a recent and complete survey of the phanerogamic flora of the Brussels area was carried out by the method of the floristic grid-map based on 1 km — squares. A comparison with earlier data has allowed us to appreciate the consequences of half a century of human activities on plant diversity in the urban ecosystem. The basic aim is to present a method of diagnosis and mapping that has been used, so as to turn the descriptive information about the biological environment of the area into a series of guidelines for land-use regulation and management within the city. Ellenberg’s indicator values were used to express the relationship of flora to soil nitrogen, moisture content, reaction, light and temperature. Considering the biological characteristics of new floristic components and plants which have become rare or disappeared, it was possible to draw conclusions about the alterations in environmental conditions in Brussels. Our results show that the number of species did not differ significantly from 1940 until now. However, considerable changes have appeared during this period: there is a clear increase in the number of alien species; the flora of the Brussels area is becoming more nitrophilous and tolerant to shade, while it does not differ with respect to soil moisture, reaction and temperature. Human activities have disturbed the distribution and abundance of many species, inducing a decline or disappearance of some of them, principally those which are associated with cropland, with marshland and woodland. On the other hand, numerous species have recently appeared in the city, many of which are aliens. The comparison between indigenous and alien species has revealed that their occurrence depends upon their ecological requirements: alien species are more tolerant of nitrogen, light, drought, heat and alkaline soils. The response of the flora to human impact is clearly demonstrated. Such sensitivity has obvious implications for both conservation and management. Circumstances, where Brussels plant monitoring is carried out permitting the avoidance of potential disaster and the saving of valuable biological resources, are developed. Arguments for the conservation of wild plants in cities also lead to some remarks concerning nature conservation practices in Brussels.

A Campylobacter Colifoodborne Outbreak in Belgium

In May 1995, the Scientific Institute of Public Health was informed of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in a congregational school in the Brussels area. The field investigation identified 24 cases with mild to severe gastrointestinal and general symptoms of acute bacterial enterocolitis. Campylobacter coli was detected in the stools of 5 patients. A retrospective cohort study suggested that a mixed salad (containing ham and feta cheese) was the probable source of infection, but the route of contamination remained unknown. The rapid investigation of such episodes of collective foodbome infections is essential for the implementation of adequate control measures.

Problems reported by parents of children in multiple cultures: the Child Behavior Checklist syndrome constructs.

The purpose of this study was to compare syndromes of parent-reported problems for children in 12 cultures. Child Behavior Checklists were analyzed for 13,697 children and adolescents, ages 6 through 17 years, from general population samples in Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Greece, Israel, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States. Comparisons of nine cultures for subjects ages 6 through 17 gave medium effect sizes for cross-cultural variations in withdrawn and social problems and small effect sizes for somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, thought problems, attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior. Scores of Puerto Rican subjects were the highest, whereas Swedish subjects had the lowest scores on almost all syndromes. With great cross-cultural consistency, girls obtained higher scores than boys on somatic complaints and anxious/depressed but lower scores on attention problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior. Although remarkably consistent across cultures, the developmental trends differed according to syndrome. Comparison of the 12 cultures across ages 6 through 11 supported these results. Empirically based assessment in terms of Child Behavior Checklist syndromes permits comparisons of problems reported for children from diverse cultures.

Housing Turks and Moroccans in Brussels and Amsterdam: The Difference between Private and Public Markets

In this paper, the settlement patterns of Turks and Moroccans in Brussels will be compared with the patterns of the same groups in Amsterdam. It will be argued that housing market variables explain a lot of the differences between the two cities. The large number of (affordable) social dwellings in Amsterdam forms a significant contrast with the virtual lack of these dwellings in the Brussels area. Historical variables account for these different kinds of housing stock. Cultural variables, differences between and within the categories of Turks and Moroccans, can be seen as an additional explanatory factor for the segregation and concentration patterns of Turks and Moroccans in both cities.

Hepatitis A virus infections in Belgian children.

In childhood HAV infection most often passes subclinically. In this study we evaluate the percentages of clinically and subclinically developing HAV infections and the age distribution of the prevalence of immunity to HAV. The study population (n = 1,008) included newborns, children and teenagers up to 20 years of age from the Brussels area. Sera were randomly collected at a general hospital. Subjects were stratified into six age groups. Among children and teenagers, the overall prevalence of anti-HAV (IgG) was 13.4%; this prevalence increased from 4.8% among children in the first group (1-2-year-olds) to 33.9% in the group of teenagers (16-20-year-olds). Among children and teenagers, 10% HAV infections on average is clinically recognized. For the different age groups, these figures are 3.5%, 18.7%, 12.3% and 5.5%, respectively. It can be concluded that, relative to the overall population of each age group, 0.3%, 1.8%, 1.6% and 0.3%, respectively, will have a clinically recognized HAV infection as members of that specific age group.

Goiter and pregnancy: a new insight into an old problem.

Evidence is presented that pregnancy constitutes a goitrogenic stimulus, particularly in conditions with a restricted or even a marginally low iodine intake. In a series of studies carried out in a large cohort of pregnancies in the Brussels area, the authors show that an increase in thyroid volume is observed in a majority of pregnant women, leading to goiter formation at delivery in 9% of the cases. Furthermore, increments in thyroid volume were correlated with biochemical evidences of functional stimulation of the thyroid, such as an elevation in serum TG levels, preferential T3 secretion, and slight increases in basal TSH at delivery. Hence, the association of biochemical features of thyroidal stimulation with volumetric changes in the gland strongly suggests that pregnancy truly induces goitrogenesis rather than vascular swelling ("intumescence") alone, at least in conditions with a low iodine intake. Finally, preliminary data from this laboratory, as well as recently published data from other investigators, suggest that goiter formation during pregnancy can easily be prevented by increasing the iodine supply during pregnancy.

Study of the respirable immission levels for a cyclist in Brussels' traffic using PIXE as analytical technique

The respirable immission levels of 11 paniculate elements (i.e. Si, S, K., Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, and Pb) for a cyclist in Brussels' traffic were assessed. To this end, a personal aerosol sampler (in which the respirable size fraction was collected on a Nuclepore filter) was carried on about 180 bicycle trips between a private home in a Brussels' suburb and an institute in the city center. All filter samples were analyzed by PIXE. The respirable immission levels of S, Pb and Zn were related to the results from stationary total aerosol collectors which are operated on a routine basis at various locations in the greater Brussels area. It was found that the cyclist's respirable immission levels can quite well be predicted from the stationary data for S, only to some extent for Pb, and not really for Zn. The 3- to 5-element data sets from the stationary samplers (with levels for S, Zn, and Pb, and occasionally also for Mn and Cu) were examined for interstation and interelement correlations. It appeared that the interelement correlations at each station were weaker than the interstation correlations for each element. The data set with concentrations of 11 elements in the bicycle trip samples was subjected to absolute principal components analysis in order to assess the dominant sources of the elements and to apportion the elemental concentrations to the sources. Four source types (components) were identified, i.e. a traffic component, a mixed road dust/soil dust/coal fly ash source, a sulfate component, and a component which was tentatively assigned to a mixture of industrial and incinerator emissions. The traffic source was responsible for most of the Pb and Br, but it was also the major source for Cu and Fe; Si, Ca and Ti originated predominantly from the mixed dust source; the sulfate component was responsible for most of the S; and the contributions from the industrial/incinerator emissions were least pronounced.

Prospective study on the prevalence of sudden infant death and possible risk factors in Brussels: Preliminary results (1987–1988)

A prospective study was carried out to assess the frequency of sudden infant death (SID) in the Brussels area. The study was conducted between January and December 1987 on infants presented to the health clinics of the Brussels "Office de la Naissance et de l'Enfance" (ONE). The infants entered the study if: (a) they were born between January 1 and December 31, 1987; (b) they attended an ONE consultation in the Brussels area between January 1987 and December 1988; (c) visits were repeated monthly during the first 12 months of life, or until death occurred; and (d) standard questionnaires were completed for each visit. For 4,064 infants these four criteria were fulfilled. During the study period 7 infants died of SID. Their deaths were unexpected and remained unexplained despite post-mortem investigations. For each SID case, 10 control infants were selected from the same health clinics. Controls matched the SID cases in the following respects: (a) dates of visits; (b) sex; (c) gestational age; (d) legal age; and (e) the profession of both parents. For most of the 65 items studied no significant difference was seen between the 7 SID infants and their 70 matched controls. Only two variables significantly differentiated the two groups. Repeated fatigue during feeding was seen in 4 of the 7 SID cases, but only in 10 of the 70 control infants (Fisher P = 0.017). Profuse sweating during sleep was reported in 2 of the 7 SID infants, and in none of the 70 controls (Fischer P = 0.007). These two infants' bedclothes were repeatedly wet with sweat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

English in the Business World

This abstract constitutes a summary of the research carried out by the author in the framework of his doctoral dissertation. Jean-Paul CALLUT lectures at the ICHEC (a business college in Brussels) and inspects English courses at secondary education level in the Brussels area.

The school as a bargaining point in language politics: The Belgian language law of 1932

Abstract It is commonly held that the French‐speaking population of Flanders, living mostly in the Brussels area, lost out heavily when Dutch was made the sole medium of instruction in their primary and secondary schools in 1932. The French speakers, it is argued, accepted the linguistic defeat out because in non‐linguistic terms it was also a victory for them, as political Liberals, over conservative Catholicism, since private Catholic schools would be treated no differently from state schools in the enforcement of Dutch‐medium instruction under the new legislation. The interpretation assumes that linguistic preferences are absolutes on which there is no compromise without the intervention of non‐linguistic considerations. But a closer analysis of primary sources suggests that the French‐speaking population of Flanders did envisage linguistic compromise, i.e. bilingualism, and used the Liberal vs. Catholic issue to win concessions for French in the emerging realignment of languages.

Education and bilingualism on the French‐Dutch language boundary in Belgium

Abstract This paper surveys the complex linguistic and social situation along the French‐Dutch language boundary in Belgium outside the Greater Brussels area. It is based on a series of interviews and a detailed questionnaire used with a selected group of senior secondary school students in seven towns on or very near the language boundary. The statistical analysis shows the limited extent of the bilingualism in this area and reveals the tenseness of the social attitudes both held and perceived by the students in the survey. A brief comparison is also made with the results of a similar survey by the author in Switzerland in 1979.

Evolution des concentrations en plomb dans l'air ambiant a bruxelles

The pollution of the ambient air in the Greater Brussels area is studied by means of the data obtained from four sampling sites gathered over a period of several years. A noticeable decrease in pollution concentration during the last 10 years is observed, as well as a difference in pollution levels between a residential district and the town center.

Bruxelles : le ralentissement de la rurbanisation

FRE:Rurbanisation!Ralentissement de la rurbanisation!Belgique

In-vitro activity of antimicrobial agents against Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Brussels.

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 18 antimicrobial agents against 104 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in the Brussels area between January and October 1976 have been measured. The MICs for penicillin G, ampicillin, amoxycillin, carbenicillin, and cephalexin showed a bimodal distribution. The second modus strains of cephalexin (MIC = 6.25 microgram/ml) were relatively resistant to penicillin G (MIC greater than or equal to 0.08 microgram/ml). About 51% of all strains were relatively resistant to penicillin G, 40.5% to ampicillin (MIC greater than or equal to 0.16 microgram/ml), 46% to amoxycillin, and 47.5% to carbenicillin. For cephalexin and cephaloridine, 25% and 8.5% respectively of all strains were relatively resistant (MIC greater than 3.12 microgram/ml). For cefazolin all MICs fell into a range of 0.097--3.12 microgram/ml. Resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, erythromycin, and spiramycin (MIC greater than or equal to 1 microgram/ml) was found in 9.5%, 7%, 6%, 36.5%, and 71% respectively of all isolates. No strains were resistant to rifampicin. For chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol the MICs ranged from 0.39 to 12.5 microgram/ml and from 0.195 to 3.12 microgram/ml respectively. The results for sulphamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and the combination of sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim in a 20:1 ratio are given and discussed. The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices have also been calculated. No beta-lactamase-producing strains were found, and a contingency coefficient C has been determined for all the pairs of antibiotics investigated.

Recent Sociolinguïstisch Onderzoek in Vlaanderen

In the introduction of this paper the author discusses the relevance of sociolinguistic research for Belgium. In this respect he mentions the problems of the pacification between the language communities in the Brussels area and the relation between dialect and standard language in Flanders. In this paper he mainly deals with the latter problem which is discussed along the following lines: a. Who speaks in Flanders what variety (dialect or standard Dutch) to whom and when? (cf Fishman; research by Meeus and Geerts, Nootens and Van den Broeck). b. What attitude do the Flemish show towards the Dutch used by the Flemish as compared to the Dutch used by the Dutch? What do they eventually reject in the Dutch as used by Dutch speakers? (Attitu-des, cf. Lambert & Giles, research by Geerts, Nootens and Van den Broeck and by Deprez). c. Problems of standardisation ("the long road to the standard Dutch") illustrated by some concrete lexical and pronominal (jij-gij) variables, ("linguistic insecurity", cf. Labov; research by Deprez and Geerts in Kortrijk-Poperinge). d. The relation between the dimension of dialect/standard language and the code-theory of Bernstein; research by Van den Broeck of the syntactic complexity in the actual use of both standard language and dialect by workers and middleclass in Maaseik (Bernstein, Labov, Ammon).

Activity of Doxycycline against Respiratory Pathogens

149 patients were admitted from the Brussels area to the multi-centre Pan European trial of doxycycline in respiratory tract infections. Of these, 40 satisfied the strict criteria for detailed bacteriological study with positive culture of a known pathogen before treatment and bacteriological follow-up after treatment. The pathogens were beta-haemolytic streptococcus, group A (29 cases), pneumococcus (6 cases) and Haemophilus influenzae (6 cases); in one case, the pneumococcus and H. influenzae were present together. The results of doxycycline therapy were excellent, this included both its in vivo and in vitro activity; only one strain of pneumococcus proved resistant.