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We here review and discuss management options that growers in Europe could take in response to the expected invasion of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The focus is put on maize but the information provided is also relevant for other crops potentially affected. A sound forecasting system for fall armyworm both on a regional as well as at local scale should be established to alert growers as early as possible. Whilst a number of cultural control methods are adopted by maize growers in different regions globally to fight fall armyworm, many of them may either not be highly effective, too laborious, or otherwise unfeasible within the mechanized crop production systems used in Europe. Potential is seen in the stimulation of natural enemies through conservation biocontrol approaches, e.g., the planting of flower strips or intermediate cover crops, reducing tillage intensity, and avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides. To manage fall armyworm infestations, several effective biologically-based products are available globally, and some in Europe, e.g., based on specific baculoviruses, certain Bacillus thuringiensis strains, few entomopathogenic nematodes, and a number of botanicals. These should be given priority to avoid a major influx of insecticides into the maize agro-ecosystem once the fall armyworm arrives and in case growers are not prepared. Plant protection companies, particularly biocontrol companies should act proactively in starting registration of ingredients and products against fall armyworm in Europe. European maize growers should be made aware, in time, of key features of this new invasive pest and appropriate control options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disentangling phylogenetic relationships proves challenging for groups that have evolved recently, especially if there is ongoing reticulation. Although they are in most cases immediately isolated from diploid relatives, sets of sibling allopolyploids often hybridize with each other, thereby increasing the complexity of an already challenging situation. Dactylorhiza (Orchidaceae: Orchidinae) is a genus much affected by allopolyploid speciation and reticulate phylogenetic relationships. Here, we use genetic variation at tens of thousands of genomic positions to unravel the convoluted evolutionary history of Dactylorhiza. We first investigate circumscription and relationships of diploid species in the genus using coalescent and maximum likelihood methods, and then group 16 allotetraploids by maximum affiliation to their putative parental diploids, implementing a method based on genotype likelihoods. The direction of hybrid crosses is inferred for each allotetraploid using information from maternally inherited plastid RADseq loci. Starting from age estimates of parental taxa, the relative ages of these allotetraploid entities are inferred by quantifying their genetic similarity to the diploids and numbers of private alleles compared with sibling allotetraploids. Whereas northwestern Europe is dominated by young allotetraploids of postglacial origins, comparatively older allotetraploids are distributed further south, where climatic conditions remained relatively stable during the Pleistocene glaciations. Our bioinformatics approach should prove effective for the study of other naturally occurring, nonmodel, polyploid plant complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of land snail shells has been used for decades to provide insight into past changes in δ18O precipitation , relative humidity, moisture source and several other paleoenvironmental parameters across diverse environments and ecosystems. Recently, carbonate clumped isotope values (Δ 47) recorded from land snail shells have also been applied as a geothermometer. However, there is limited information available regarding the relationship between modern shell geochemistry and paleoenvironmental conditions for regions with contrasting climates, which is needed for further contextualization and validation of snail shell temperature proxies. Our study utilizes paired Δ 47 and δ18O shell measurements in terrestrial snail shells to reconstruct temperature (T 47) and δ18O body water composition, which are two key variables used for the study of regional and sub-regional paleoclimates and paleoecosystems. We examine shells from three geographical regions with distinct hydroclimates: Central Europe, the Canary Islands, and the Chinese Loess Plateau. To constrain the timing of shell growth, we compare snail shell isotope-derived climate parameters to independent environmental data, including mean annual, warm season, and rainy season temperatures, assuming snail shells mineralize during the optimal activity range of 15–25 °C. Our results indicate that values for samples from the Canary Islands are most consistent with year-round growth; Chinese Loess Plateau samples are most consistent with summer growth; and samples from Central Europe are most consistent with growth between spring and autumn. Calculated values of δ18O body water in snail shells were found to be enriched relative to the value of δ18O precipitation for the season of growth, with values ranging from ∼1–5‰. Altogether, our data suggest that Δ 47 and δ18O measurements from terrestrial snail shells represent a useful archive of environmental temperature and humidity. However, their application in the paleo-record requires careful consideration of the ecophysiology of the taxa, and the climate of the region. • Knowledge of growth season for land snails underpins accurate use for environmental reconstructions. • Land snail shell T 47 reflects environmental temperature of seasonal growth periods in three different climatic regions. • Reconstructed relative humidity values from snail shells may be biased towards rain events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe a microsporidian parasite infecting non-native Chinese mitten crabs (Eriochier sinensis) from Europe. Electron microscopy revealed merogonic and sporogonic life stages bound within a plasmalemma. The crab parasite develops polar tube precursors at the sporont stage but does not complete formation of the intact spore extrusion apparatus at the stage of the sporogonial plasmodium like Enterocytozoon bienuesi and other representatives of the Enterocytozoonidae. Its presence within an aquatic crustacean host, and a distinct molecular phylogeny based on partial small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences also place it relatively close, though distinct to, existing genera within the Enterocytozoonidae. Consideration of morphological and phylogenetic characteristics of other hepatopancreas-infecting microsporidia from crustaceans suggests that certain ones (e.g. Enterospora canceri) are retained within the clade corresponding to the existing family Enterocytozoonidae, while others, including the parasite described here, may eventually be grouped in a sister taxon potentially of family rank. Based upon morphological and host similarity, it is likely that the parasite described here is the same as Endoreticulatus eriocheir (), previously described from Chinese mitten crabs in Asia. However, using a combined taxonomic approach based upon morphological and phylogenetic data, we propose the formation of a new genus (Hepatospora) to replace the previous generic classification of the Asian parasite as Endoreticulatus. The microsporidian from the hepatopancreas of E. sinensis is named Hepatospora eriocheir () gen. et comb. nov. It is assumed that the parasite was introduced during initial invasions of this crab to Europe during the early 20th Century. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We implement a controlled, multi-site experiment to develop and test guidance principles for benefits transfers. These argue that when transferring across relatively similar sites, simple mean value transfers are to be preferred but that when sites are relatively dissimilar then value function transfers will yield lower errors. The paper also provides guidance on the appropriate specification of transferable value functions arguing that these should be developed from theoretical rather than ad-hoc statistical approaches. These principles are tested via a common format valuation study of water quality improvements across five countries. While this provides an idealised tested, results support the above principles and suggest directions for future transfer studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which described the associated histopathology of Sphaerothecum destruens infection along with its pathogenesis in the endangered cyprinid sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus. Several hosts for Sphaerothecum destruens have been identified within the Salmonidae family and the histopathology of the infection can differ between hosts. The study found that histological examination of 100 Leucaspius delineatus in a wild population in the south England revealed the presence of Sphaerothecum destruens infections, with a prevalence of 5% with Sphaerothecum destruens, indicating an over-dispersed distribution within the Leucaspius delineatus sample.

Using a compilation of monthly and annual wheat price data, this article examines the trend of market development in Europe from the late medieval period to the industrial revolution. In contrast to much of the earlier scholarship, which suggests that markets improved, the findings propose that markets were on average as well integrated in Europe in the early sixteenth century as in the late eighteenth century. In the intervening period, markets are found to have suffered a severe contraction. These findings enable us to build a more complete picture of markets in history, and to carry out a better examination of the relationship between markets and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Boscombe Artificial Surf Reef (ASR) is the first ASR in Europe and is the flagship project of an ambitious scheme to regenerate Boscombe Spa, a resort-suburb of Bournemouth, UK. The Boscombe ASR therefore presents a unique coastal management challenge in Europe for which there is no precedent and little pre-existing management capacity. Through a multi-stage research process, this paper identifies the likely governance challenges that will face the Boscombe ASR. These were found to include overcrowding, a lack of surf skill and etiquette amongst visitors, conflict between different uses, and localism. Through a consideration of approaches to surf governance elsewhere, suggestions are identified for management interventions that may work in Boscombe. The paper concludes by identifying underlying tensions between the need to attract visitors to support the regeneration of Boscombe, the surf safety issues created by an influx of novice surfers, and the potential for the breakdown of the norms governing the self-regulation of surfing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The long-term efficacy and safety of aclidinium bromide, a novel, long-acting muscarinic antagonist, were investigated in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods: In two double-blind, 52-week studies, ACCLAIM/COPD I (n=843) and II (n=804), patients were randomised to inhaled aclidinium 200 μg or placebo once-daily. Patients were required to have a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity ratio of ≤70% and FEV1<80% of the predicted value. The primary endpoint was trough FEV1 at 12 and 28 weeks. Secondary endpoints were health status measured by St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and time to first moderate or severe COPD exacerbation.Results: At 12 and 28 weeks, aclidinium improved trough FEV1 versus placebo in ACCLAIM/COPD I (by 61 and 67 mL; both p<0.001) and ACCLAIM/COPD II (by 63 and 59 mL; both p<0.001). More patients had a SGRQ improvement≥4 units at 52 weeks with aclidinium versus placebo in ACCLAIM/COPD I (48.1% versus 39.5%; p=0.025) and ACCLAIM/COPD II (39.0% versus 32.8%; p=0.074). The time to first exacerbation was significantly delayed by aclidinium in ACCLAIM/COPD II (hazard ratio [HR] 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55 to 0.92; p=0.01), but not ACCLAIM/COPD I (HR 1.0; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.33; p=0.9). Adverse events were minor in both studies.Conclusion: Aclidinium is effective and well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe COPD.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00363896 (ACCLAIM/COPD I) and NCT00358436 (ACCLAIM/COPD II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study of the Yorkshire Derwent (UK) catchment is used to illustrate an integrated approach for assessing the viability of policy options for reducing diffuse nitrate losses to waterbodies. For a range of options, modeling methods for simulating river nitrate levels are combined with techniques for estimating the economic costs to agriculture of modifying those levels. By incorporating spatially explicit data and information on catchment residence times (which may span many decades particularly in areas of groundwater discharge) a method is developed for efficient spatial targeting of measures, for example, to the most at-risk freshwater environments. Combining hydrological and economic findings, the analysis reveals that, in terms of cost-effectiveness, the ranking of options is highly sensitive to both (i) whether or not specific stretches of river within a catchment are regarded as a priority for protection, and (ii) the criterion of nitrate concentration deemed most appropriate as an indicator of the health of the environment. Therefore, given the focus under European legislation upon ecological status of freshwaters, these conclusions highlight the need to improve understanding of mechanistic linkages between the chemical and biological dynamics of aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the Yersinia ruckeri biotype 2 isolates from mainland Europe and Great Britain which would likely represent different clonal groups. To obtain information about their likely origins and relationships, a geographically and temporally diverse collection of isolates were characterised by serotyping, biotyping, pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and outer membrane protein (OMP) profiling. It found that Danish biotype 2 isolates recovered since 1995 were indistinguishable by PFGE from the dominant biotype 1 clone responsible for the majority of outbreaks in Denmark and the rest of mainland Europe. Meanwhile, Great Britain Atlantic Salmon isolates were genetically and serologically diverse, with 12 distinct pulsotypes identified among isolates.

The article discusses relationships between religious and economic thinking in Europe and North America from the early 19th century history until 1950. Economists' works during this period are interpreted, contextualized, and described. Topics include economists whose works are animated by religious faith, the disconnection between economics and theology, and the works of those considered to be professional economists rather than social writings of theologians and religious leaders. Also discussed are the differences between economists located in North America and economists in Europe.

This article presents an editorial on the contributions of David W. Pearce to environmental economics and policy. Pearce's impact in Europe was formidable as he changed the term "environmental economist" from an oxymoron to a job description increasingly valued by governments. Pearce is known for his ability to take difficult subjects and make them clear and accessible for decision makers. Many of Pearce's accomplishments are outlined.

• Background and Aims This study explores the previously largely ignored morphological variation that occurs among flowers within a single inflorescence.• Methods Variation in four metric parameters (labellum length and width, spur length and width) that together strongly influence pollination frequency is documented within the simple racemose inflorescences of eight individuals that represent a primary hybrid and six species of European orchids.• Key Results Regression of each parameter against the location of each flower on the inflorescence, and calculation of correlation coefficients for each pair of parameters within each inflorescence, demonstrate significant decoupling of labellum and spur development, despite the fact that they are different portions of the same floral organ. Spur length and diameter are constant across inflorescences of Dactylorhiza other than the vestigial-spurred D. viridis, whereas in other genera spur length declines in parallel with labellum dimensions. These differences are likely to reflect selection pressures or developmental constraints. Strong negative deviations from the regression line for one or more parameters are evident in occasional flowers, occurring most frequently in the lowermost and uppermost one or two flowers, and so reflecting transitions in meristematic behaviour. Thus, population-level morphometric studies are best conducted on flowers taken from approximately the mid-point of the inflorescence. Moreover, in the two relatively large inflorescences where lower flowers were removed for measurement before the upper flowers had opened, labellum size increased significantly in the flowers immediately above the excisions, suggesting that excision liberated resources that were diverted into the opening buds. Repeat measurement of all flowers from one selected inflorescence demonstrated typical measurement errors of only ± 30–80 μm, irrespective of the size of the structure studied. If flowers are not mounted and measured immediately following excision, modest negative deviations of 30–50 μm result from post-mounting shrinkage; this occurs less rapidly in the spur than in the thinner labellum, which should therefore be measured first. Variation in all four parameters among all the flowers of a single inflorescence is between 42 % and 107 % of that observed between a similar number of flowers sampled from a consistent location on different (but conspecific and coexisting) inflorescences.• Conclusions This result demonstrates the strong influence of epigenesis on flower morphology and further emphasizes the importance of (a) sampling from a consistent location within the inflorescences under comparison, (b) interpreting morphometric ordinations hierarchically, building from individuals to infraspecific taxa and species via populations, and (c) considering in any microevolutionary study the potentially profound effects of the cline in flower size within each inflorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to characterize genetic diversity of the endangered Burnt Orchid, Neotinea (formerly Orchis) ustulata. Fingerprinting of Estonian and British populations revealed surprisingly little genetic differentiation between populations but larger amounts of diversity within populations, especially in Britain. The resulting mean Fst value of 0.51 is unusually high for an orchid species. Much of the variation follows a west–east cline across Europe, whereas the much-discussed early- and late-flowering taxa of N. ustulata are considered insufficiently distinct to be viewed as separate subspecies. The later flowering N. ustulata var. aestivalis probably evolved independently on two or three occasions, each time diverging from the earlier flowering nominate race. The identity of the genes underpinning phenology in the species, and the potential selective advantages of phenological divergence, merit further study. Overall genetic diversity within populations is sufficiently high to render impoverishment an unlikely cause of their recent, precipitous decline. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 87, 13–25. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on culture learning in foreign language classes. It has become a truism in discussions of foreign language curricula that culture is inseparable from language and therefore must be included in language study. In the last decade, the place of culture learning in foreign language classes has been solidified in both the United States and Europe in the form of national standards and curriculum documents. Prior to the 1990s, the primary emphasis in culture learning was on cognitive outcomes such as acquiring information about other cultures. More recently, affective outcomes (such as positive attitudes toward other countries) and behavioral outcomes (such as participating in multilingual communities) have received increased attention. Unfortunately, it is one thing for students to acquire information about a culture, but it is quite another for them to develop a true appreciation for another culture's worldview and a desire to interact with its members. This difficulty may be partly due to a failure by teachers and textbooks to address cultural perspectives as well as products and practices.

Clinical treatment guidelines encourage physicians to select asthma treatment in order to achieve established clinical treatment goals. Treatment selected on this basis may have profound effects upon other outcomes, some of which, such as improvements in well-being and lifestyle, are of direct benefit to the patient, and others, such as utilisation of healthcare resources and productivity, are of benefit to society. There is, however, evidence that a large proportion of patients do not achieve the goals of asthma management, such as those appearing in the international guide produced by the Global Initiative on Asthma (GINA). Furthermore, evaluation of the individual guideline goals provides little indication of the level of overall control achieved in individual patients, in spite of the fact that overall or comprehensive control is likely to be of greater value to the patient than control of only limited aspects of the disease. To give an indication of overall asthma control, and assess whether it is possible to reach this target, the GINA goals of asthma management have been amalgamated into a composite measure of overall asthma control. This approach has been used to assess recent clinical trials with the fluticasone propionate plus salmeterol combination given through a single inhaler compared with alternative treatment approaches. The studies showed that overall asthma control can be achieved, but at the fixed treatment doses used in clinical trials by only about half of the patients. Once such measures of control are included in management guidelines, healthcare professionals may need help to ensure implementation, using methods such as educational programmes and computerised disease management programmes. Improving asthma control in this way is likely to be associated with significant economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing interest in the potential for producing generally applicable models for valuing non-market environmental services which do not rely upon expensive and time-consuming survey work, but rather extrapolate results from previous studies. This paper presents a meta-analysis for the use and non-use values generated by wetlands across North America and Europe. The study assesses the socio-economic values attributable to the hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological functions provided by such complex environmental assets. The clustering of multiple values derived from single studies is examined through the application of multilevel modelling methods allowing for the hierarchical structure of such data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces the decision of the European Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (EVECCS) to choose the "Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care" as its official journal. It says that the EVECCS' decision will enable the journal to achieve international recognition and wide distribution. It also says that the decision shows the society's recognition of the high quality of the journal's scientific and clinical writing.

The role of Quaternary ice sheet fluctuations in driving meltwater pulses and ocean circulation perturbations is widely acknowledged. What is less clear is the role of these processes in driving changes in past atmospheric dust activity, and possible wider links between dust and climate. Terrestrial windblown dust (loess) deposits along the northern fringe of the European loess belt potentially record past atmospheric dust emission from regions close to the former Eurasian Ice Sheet (EIS) and provide a means to evaluate the role of ice sheet fluctuations in the past dust cycle. Numerical loess chronologies across this region generally agree on greatly enhanced dust deposition rates during MIS 2, when the EIS reached its maximum extent. Yet, uncertainties over the sources of this material prevent understanding of the precise causes of this greatly enhanced atmospheric dustiness, and any potential link to ice sheet fluctuations and climate. In southeast England, loess accumulation dominantly occurred in two phases centered on 25–23.5 ka and 20–19 ka, matching the timing of coalescence of the Fennoscandian and British-Irish ice sheets and specifically advances and retreats of nearby ice lobes in the western North Sea. As such, these deposits provide an ideal test of the role of ice sheet fluctuations in atmospheric dust dynamics. Here we undertake such a test through a detailed provenance study of loess in southeast England and potential dust source sediments across the North Sea region. We group extensive new and published data sets of detrital zircon U–Pb ages from basement rocks and Cenozoic sediments in the North Sea area, which not only provide new insight into both loess source, but also the nature of sediment transport over NW Europe into the North Sea basin more widely. Multi-proxy evidence allows us to unambiguously identify ice sheet derived sediments in the exposed North Sea basin as the dominant source of loess in southeast England, while fluvial sediments delivered by rivers draining Continental Europe possibly contributed additional source material to the first loess accumulation phase. We propose that sudden retreats of the North Sea Lobe released substantial amounts of sediment rich meltwater into the southern North Sea and Channel basins, driving accelerated dust emission, loess deposition and provenance variability in NW Europe during MIS 2. Moreover, we propose that this model of dust activity driven by proglacial sediment availability may be applicable for EIS marginal regions more widely, even where resultant loess cover is rarely preserved due to extensive erosion and reworking along the ice marginal spillway. This implies the role of ice sheets in controlling wider dust emission may be underestimated. In addition to driving changes in ocean circulation through meltwater pulses, ice sheet dynamics in the Quaternary may have also driven substantial and abrupt changes in atmospheric dust activity. This mechanism may in part explain the coupling between dust and climate events widely seen in Quaternary dust sediment records and suggests a possible major role of high latitude dust emission in MIS 2 dustiness across Europe and beyond. • Detailed review and multi-proxy study of loess sources along the Eurasian Ice Sheet. • Ice sheet dynamics control dust deposition and provenance variability in SE England. • Role of the Eurasian Ice Sheet in driving wider dust activity underestimated. • Ice sheet contributions may explain coupling of Quaternary climate and dust events. • Extensive compilation of zircon U–Pb data from protosource terranes across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Flash floods are one of the most significant natural hazards in Europe, causing serious risk to life and destruction of buildings and infrastructure. This type of flood, often affecting ungauged watersheds, remains nevertheless a poorly documented phenomenon. To address the gap in available information, and particularly to assess the possible ranges for peak discharges on watersheds with area smaller than 500km2 and to describe the geography of the hazard across Europe, an intensive data compilation has been carried out for seven European hydrometeorological regions. This inventory is the first step towards an atlas of extreme flash floods in Europe. It contains over 550 documented events. This paper aims at presenting the data compilation strategy, the content of the elaborated data base and some preliminary data analysis results. The initial observations show that the most extreme flash floods are greater in magnitude in the Mediterranean countries than in the inner continental countries and that there is a strong seasonality to flash flood occurrence revealing different climatic forcing mechanisms in each region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) maintains a comprehensive range of freely available and up-to-date molecular data resources, which includes over 40 resources covering every major data type in the life sciences. This year's service update for EMBL-EBI includes new resources, PGS Catalog and AlphaFold DB, and updates on existing resources, including the COVID-19 Data Platform, trRosetta and RoseTTAfold models introduced in Pfam and InterPro, and the launch of Genome Integrations with Function and Sequence by UniProt and Ensembl. Furthermore, we highlight projects through which EMBL-EBI has contributed to the development of community-driven data standards and guidelines, including the Recommended Metadata for Biological Images (REMBI), and the BioModels Reproducibility Scorecard. Training is one of EMBL-EBI's core missions and a key component of the provision of bioinformatics services to users: this year's update includes many of the improvements that have been developed to EMBL-EBI's online training offering., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Data from the European Brain Injury Questionnaire (EBIQ) responses of 226 consecutive admissions to the Oliver Zangwill Centre were analysed using Rasch analysis (Item Response Theory) techniques with the software package RUMM2020. Some items and overall scales did not meet the expectations of the Rasch model. After removal of items it was possible to validate six subscales from previously published subscales, namely: "cognitive", "impulsivity", "somatic", "depression", "communication" and "difficulties in social interactions". A new EBIQ "fatigue" subscale is also proposed.