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This action research study focuses on measuring the impact of a Free Voluntary Reading Program on students' active vocabulary use and self-direction in language learning in two different programs of English as a foreign language. The impetus for this research came from close observation and a needs analysis that confirmed students' reluctant attitude towards reading, due to deficiency in vocabulary, as well as the limited access to books of their interest in the target language. The implementation of the program took place in blended classes in two university contexts, with 14 and 11 students respectively. All the students from both universities were classified in the A1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and their ages ranged from 16-21 years. The data was collected using a pretest and a posttest, students' diaries, pre and post implementation surveys and book reviews. The program attempted to promote extensive reading, self-direction, reading habits, vocabulary gain and a more positive attitude towards written stories.

This contribution examines recent transformation in the institutionalization of a new mode of governance in the field of Higher Education. We identify three characteristics of the institutional design of public Quality Assurance Agencies (QAAs) that operate at the national level in the field of higher education. In order to do so, we examine three "de jure" dimensions to explore the capabilities of regulatory agencies, based on their legal frameworks: (1) the agency's capacity to act independently from political principals, specifically, its relationship with the executive; (2) the agency's accountability towards society and stakeholders ; and, (3) the scope of policy and regulatory responsibilities the agency is granted. In addition, we also explore the role of representativeness and expertise in QAAs decision-making bodies, something particularly relevant in quality assurance. Our empirical analysis is based on formal agencies' constitutive norms and regulations for more than 40 countries in Europe and Latin America. The analysis introduced allows us to compare the characteristics of these agencies in different higher education policy regimes across Latin America and Europe, and to discuss their variations.

Background Use of illegal stimulants is associated with an increased risk of psychotic disorder. However, the impact of stimulant use on odds of first-episode psychosis (FEP) remains unclear. Here, we aimed to describe the patterns of stimulant use and examine their impact on odds of FEP. Methods We included patients with FEP aged 18–64 years who attended psychiatric services at 17 sites across 5 European countries and Brazil, and recruited controls representative of each local population (FEP = 1130; controls = 1497). Patterns of stimulant use were described. We computed fully adjusted logistic regression models (controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, cannabis use, and education level) to estimate their association with odds of FEP. Assuming causality, we calculated the population-attributable fractions for stimulant use associated with the odds for FEP. Findings Prevalence of lifetime and recent stimulant use in the FEP sample were 14.50% and 7.88% and in controls 10.80% and 3.8%, respectively. Recent and lifetime stimulant use was associated with increased odds of FEP compared with abstainers [fully adjusted odds ratio 1.74,95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20–2.54, P =.004 and 1.62, 95% CI 1.25–2.09, P <.001, respectively]. According to PAFs, a substantial number of FEP cases (3.35% [95% CI 1.31–4.78] for recent use and 7.61% [95% CI 3.68–10.54] for lifetime use) could have been prevented if stimulants were no longer available and the odds of FEP and PAFs for lifetime and recent stimulant use varied across countries. Interpretation Illegal stimulant use has a significant and clinically relevant influence on FEP incidence, with varying impacts across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Education in Latin America provides scientific and technical knowledge to solve social problems, however, it has relegated human, social, ethical and philosophical knowledge in the training of graduates. The concept of competences of being and coexistence in the training of nursing students in Latin America and Europe 2010-2021 is studied. A national and international bibliographic review was carried out using the Google Scholar search engine; with descriptors such as: Comprehensive Training; Nursing; Competencies of being and living together, using the Boolean operator “AND” and the search command “(AND)”. For eligibility, 300 documents were selected; 63 under temporal, spatial, thematic and idiomatic criteria. The 23 texts are grouped into themes such as: didactics and university organization; theory and pedagogy; educational psychology; pedagogical practices; care management and professional values. The formation of values is incipient due to the lack of awareness and to distinguish the practice of nursing as a technical or procedural routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Disentangling the contribution of climatic and edaphic factors to microbiome variation and local adaptation in plants requires an experimental approach to uncouple their effects and test for causality.We used microbial inocula, soil matrices and plant genotypes derived from two natural Arabidopsis thaliana populations in northern and southern Europe in an experiment conducted in climatic chambers mimicking seasonal changes in temperature, day length and light intensity of the home sites of the two genotypes.The southern A. thaliana genotype outperformed the northern genotype in the southern climate chamber, whereas the opposite was true in the northern climate chamber. Recipient soil matrix, but not microbial composition, affected plant fitness, and effects did not differ between genotypes. Differences between chambers significantly affected rhizosphere microbiome assembly, although these effects were small in comparison with the shifts induced by physicochemical differences between soil matrices.The results suggest that differences in seasonal changes in temperature, day length and light intensity between northern and southern Europe have strongly influenced adaptive differentiation between the two A. thaliana populations, whereas effects of differences in soil factors have been weak. By contrast, below‐ground differences in soil characteristics were more important than differences in climate for rhizosphere microbiome differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a harmful insect‐borne plant pathogen that causes severe diseases to major agricultural crops and many forest, ornamental and uncultivated plants. The pathogen, native to the Americas, has recently been detected in Europe, where it causes huge agricultural losses. The effect of landscape composition on the distribution of the vectors of the bacterium in Europe remains little explored. The present study aims at identifying how landscape composition impacts the distribution of the spittlebugs Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris, which can carry and transmit the pathogen to plants and are considered to be the main vectors of Xf in the Mediterranean region. During the period 2015–2018, we thoroughly sampled the distribution of both species in the southwest of Iberian Peninsula. We characterized landscape composition in the sampling area by computing landscape metrics and fitted multivariate analyses and species distribution models (SDMs) to investigate spittlebugs' response to climate and landscape structure. High densities of Mediterranean agro‐forestry systems (named "dehesas" in Spanish), sclerophyllous vegetation and broad‐leaved forests in the landscape, were positively associated with the presence of P. spumarius. Conversely, the high density of coniferous vegetation in the landscape was positively associated with the occurrence of N. campestris. For P. spumarius, SDMs accounting for ecologically relevant landscape descriptors yielded better predictive accuracy than models relying on climate only. These results highlight the importance of considering landscape information when modelling pests' distributions and provide practical information to design landscape‐informed monitoring plans to prevent the spread of Xf in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental objective of this work is to ascertain the importance of emotions in the intention of doing the Camino de Santiago. The sample comprises 312 subjects from Europe and the Americas aged between 18 and 80 years. The results show that positive anticipated emotions emerge as a variable to be taken into account within the explanatory model, since they increase its predictive capacity (ΔR² = 1.6%) and the relationship thereof is also direct and significant with intent (β = .09). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a rare and underdiagnosed disease that is associated with the development of liver disease in adults and children and pulmonary emphysema in adults. Several studies have shown that there is limited knowledge about the disease and its diagnosis among health care providers, and there is an important inequity in the access to specialized care and appropriate treatment across Europe. The European Commision and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) recommend that the care of patients with AATD must be organized in reference centers at national or regional levels. These reference centers must provide optimal clinical care in terms of adequate diagnostic techniques, such as phenotyping and genotyping, and ensure access to treatment according to guidelines. Reference centers should also provide continuous medical education for health care professionals, genetic counseling, collaboration with patient associations and promote collaborative research and clinical trials with new and existing treatments for the disease. These centers must have a registry of their activity and collaborate with large, international, multicenter registries, such as the European Alpha-1 antitrypsin Deficiency Research Collaboration (EARCO) international registry, which is endorsed by the ERS, and aims to recruit up to 3,000 patients over a period of three years and prospectively follow them to better understand the natural history of the disease and the impact of different treatments on outcomes in a real life setting. International collaboration and standardized collection of high-quality prospective data will provide new insights into the clinical manifestations and prognosis of AATD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies in big data focus on the uses of data available to researchers, leaving without treatment data that is on the servers but of which researchers are unaware. We call this dark data, and in this article, we present and discuss it in the context of high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. To this end, we provide statistics of a major HPC facility in Europe, the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS). We also propose a new position tailor-made for coping with dark data and general data management. We call it the scientific data officer (SDO) and we distinguish it from other standard positions in HPC facilities such as chief data officers, system administrators, and security officers. In order to understand the role of the SDO in HPC facilities, we discuss two kinds of responsibilities, namely, technical responsibilities and ethical responsibilities. While the former are intended to characterize the position, the latter raise concerns—and proposes solutions—to the control and authority that the SDO would acquire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst the benefits of agroforestry are widely recognised in tropical latitudes few studies have assessed how agroforestry is perceived in temperate latitudes. This study evaluates how stakeholders and key actors including farmers, landowners, agricultural advisors, researchers and environmentalists perceive the implementation and expansion of agroforestry in Europe. Meetings were held with 30 stakeholder groups covering different agroforestry systems in 2014 in eleven EU countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom). In total 344 valid responses were received to a questionnaire where stakeholders were asked to rank the positive and negative aspects of implementing agroforestry in their region. Improved biodiversity and wildlife habitats, animal health and welfare, and landscape aesthetics were seen as the main positive aspects of agroforestry. By contrast, increased labour, complexity of work, management costs and administrative burden were seen as the most important negative aspects. Overall, improving the environmental value of agriculture was seen as the main benefit of agroforestry, whilst management and socio-economic issues were seen as the greatest barriers. The great variability in the opportunities and barriers of the systems suggests enhanced adoption of agroforestry across Europe will be most likely to occur with specific initiatives for each type of system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a coronary risk factor associated to myocardial infarction although waist to-hip-ratio has shown higher predictive power. Objective: The aim of this study was a Receiver Operating Characteristic anthropometric analysis in infarcted males to identify the strength of association for simple measurements, obesity and indicators such as, waist to-hip-ratios, waist to-height-ratios and conicity index. Methods:Case-control study of myocardial infarction in European males. One hundred and twelve cases and 112 controls aged 30-74 years were enrolled. We measured weight, height, waist circumference, umbilical waist circumference and hip circumference. We calculated various anthropometric indicators. We obtained the areas under the ROC curves, the odds ratio and correlations for measurements and anthropometric indicators. Results: Body mass index [AUC: 0.686, 95% CI (0.616-0.755); OR: 3.3], waist circumference [AUC: 0.734, 95% CI (0.668-0.800); OR: 5.7], height [AUC: 0.623, 95% CI (0.550-0.696); OR: 2.3], hip circumference [AUC: 0.555, 95% CI (0.479-0.631); OR: 1], waist to-hip-ratio [AUC: 0.796, 95% CI (0.737-0.855); OR: 9.9], umbilical waist to-hip-ratio [AUC: 0.830, 95% CI (0.729-0.847); OR: 5.5], umbilical waist to-height-ratio [AUC: 0.788, 95% CI (0.729-0.847); OR: 7.5], conicity index [AUC: 0.795; 95% CI (0.738-0.853); OR: 9]. The correlations for waist to-height-ratios and conicity index were strong (all r ≥ 0.85; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Waist and height are measurements of associated independent risk. Hip circumference does no show discriminatory power. Obesity and waist-ratios are associated to myocardial infarction with different strength. Between other indicators, general obesity is more weakly associated. Waist to-hip-ratios present the best ROC curves but it occur information bias of their predictive power of risk. Umbilical waist to-height-ratio and conicity index present high discriminatory power and the best anthropometric risk correlations that support its use for the identification of obesity as risk factor associated to myocardial infarction and in all strategies for coronary health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lower latitudes in North Europe favor blackcurrant phenolic compound accumulation. • Rainfall has a positive impact on the content of the two main anthocyanins. • Lower temperatures appear to increase malic acid content and fruit acidity. • 'Ben Tirran' cultivar presents higher overall appreciation in all locations. • Acetate esters correlate with bitterness and fermented flavor perception. This work aims to determine the effect of genotype x environment (GxE) interaction that influence blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) fruit quality. We applied metabolomics-driven analysis on fruits from four cultivars grown in contrasting European-locations over two seasons. By integrating metabolomics and sensory analysis, we also defined specific metabolic signatures associated with consumer acceptance. Our results showed that rainfall is a crucial factor associated with accumulation of delphinidin- and cyanidin-3- O -glucoside, the two mayor blackcurrant pigments meanwhile temperature affects the main organic acid levels which can be decisive for fruit taste. Sensorial analysis showed that increases in terpenoid and acetate ester volatiles were strongly associated with higher appreciation score, while proacacipetalin, a cyanogenic-glycoside, was positively associated to bitter taste. Our results pave the way for the selection of high-quality cultivars and suitable production sites for blackcurrant cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We know little about how procurement of a high-risk medical device (HRMD) affects clinical practice and outcomes. In health systems in high-income countries, and specifically those that maintain a national arthroplasty registry, procurement decisions are frequently guided by long-term clinical results, with the goal of ensuring at least standard quality of HRMDs. But in countries like Mexico, decision-making is often dominated by lowest acquisition price. We set out to study the impact of procurement for orthopaedic HRMDs on clinical procedures and outcomes.Methods: We based our qualitative study on 59 in-depth interviews with stakeholders from Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, and UK: orthopaedic specialists, government officials, other experts, and social security system managers or administrators. We took a healthcare delivery approach to capturing and comparing factors that affected the regulations of HRMDs and procurement processes, and to understanding connections between procurement and clinical practice.Results: Our findings demonstrate for procurement processes that the three European countries compared to Mexico don't have similar concerns with regards to their procurement processes. Deficiencies of procurement regulations and practices identified from representatives in Mexico were almost absent in European countries. We identified three areas of deficiency: 1) HRMD regulations based on insufficiently robust clinical evidence (mainly noted by European countries); 2) Follow-up on Health Technology Assessments is inadequate (noted by Mexico) and methodology not always good enough (noted by European countries); and, 3) Lowest-acquisition price often guides procurement decisions and thus may not align with needs of clinical procedures (noted by Mexico and some European countries).Conclusions: Procurement processes for orthopaedic HRMDs may have an impact on clinical procedures and outcomes. A favourable approach is one where orthopaedic specialists are parties to the procurement process, and post-market surveillance data informs decision-making. Actors in the procurement process can improve their impact on clinical procedures and outcomes by developing specific strategies that better align the needs of both, procurement and clinical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyse citizens’ attitudes towards governmental accountability in 24 European countries and to examine the influence of contextual and individual factors on perceptions of accountability. Using as a dataset the 2012 European Social Survey, the results show that citizens respond positively when the media provides reliable information on which to judge the government, when individuals perceive that governments perform well, when individuals live in more extensive and generous welfare states and when they live in countries where the rule of law is firmly established. In addition, the findings also provide evidence that compared to politically left-wing citizens, right-wing supporters have, on average, a higher perception of governmental accountability. In particular, the findings show strong positive evaluations of right-wing governments by right-wing voters in comparison with left-wing governments by left-wing voters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) seeking health care in the United States may be more obese and hyperandrogenic than those present in the general population. We aimed to assess the impact of referral bias on European women with functional androgen excess disorders. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We studied two groups of patients: i) 368 consecutive patients referred to our clinic for the study of functional hyperandrogenism (FH) (referral patients); ii) 57 consecutive premenopausal patients identified by screening during blood donation (unselected patients). We compared the anthropometric data from the groups of patients with those of two control populations: iii) a group of unselected premenopausal healthy female blood donors (unselected controls); and iv) data available from the local general premenopausal female population. Results: Referral patients with FH were more hirsute, had a higher percentage of hyperandrogenemia, and fulfilled PCOS criteria more frequently than unselected patients. The prevalence of obesity in unselected controls was similar to that observed in the general population, whereas referral patients and unselected patients were more frequently obese. The prevalence of obesity was also higher among referral patients compared to unselected patients. Conclusion: Referral bias influences the phenotype of patients with FH. Patients studied at the clinical setting may show more severe hyperandrogenic and obese phenotypes than patients from the general population, even though PCOS appears to be associated with weight excess also in the general European population. This fact should be considered when establishing reference values and control populations for clinical and research purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal for East European Management Studies is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper has the goal to develop a comparative approach between the European definition of social rights and the same definition in the case of the United Nations; taking into account the differences and similarities between the way to work on it by the European Union and the Council of Europe. The research done try to show the dear gap between the legal promotion and protection of civil and political rights and the legal promotion and protection of social rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iberica is the property of Asociacion Europea de Lenguas para Fines Especificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Relaciones Internacionales, Estrategia y Seguridad is the property of Revista de Relaciones Internacionales, Estrategia y Seguridad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study seeks to analyse the impact of political risk variables in the location strategy of Spanish Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) in Europe. Evidence is obtained from the relevance of lower political constraints to attract investments, but the results also highlight the importance of cultural and geographical proximity, which may overtake inconveniences derived from higher corruption or lower economic-freedom levels. Population, low unemployment rates and previous international experience in countries all around the world are also found to play a key role as determinants of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) location for Spanish firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) has a potential major influence on patients’ global access to medicines. Historically, this influence most notably came through the EU’s trade and aid agendas that intentionally targeted foreign markets. Now, the EU’s own internal pharmaceutical policy appears to indirectly shape global access to medicines (ex. EU’s large-scale Covid-19 vaccine procurement and export bans). To understand the ways the EU’s internal and external policies impact on global access to medicines, this Scoping Review synthesises evidence of the EU’s global regulatory influence and its impacts on access to medicines in non-EU low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). By searching 8 databases and grey literature, documents published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Russian between 1995-2021 that addressed an EU law, regulation, or policy in relation to access to medicines in LMICs were included. This review identifies three mechanisms through which EU action impacts on medicines in LMICs. One, the EU’s external, treaty-based agreements with LMICs can affect their pharmaceutical trade, sales, and use. Two, EU’s internal market regulation, standards, and methods are used as models or sources of inspiration for pharmaceutical governance in LMICs. Three, ‘soft’ forms of EU influence manifest through the EU’s technical assistance, its research and development (aid) funding, and its ‘capacity building’ activities towards LMIC actors in the field of pharmaceuticals. Examples of impacts of EU action ranged from the development of new medicines primarily for LMICs, to changes in the availability of generics and on medicines spending in LMICs, and the potential for a more efficient yet less autonomous local market approval process. Most evidence of impact was not peer reviewed. This study raises the question of how to support resilient and efficient global pathways for drug development and regulation while still being responsive and accountable to the local public interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the Mediterranean Europe, where rainfall is scarce and irregular but often of high intensity, wild shrubs protect the soil against erosivity of raindrops. Moreover, some of these plants are the economic income for local farmers. Particularly in SE Spain, soil erosion is a core factor in environmental degradation attributed primarily to the cultivation practices and human pressure on the land. Over a four-year period, soil erosion and runoff were monitored in erosion plots on a mountainside, comparing four harvest intensities of four aromatic shrubs (Lavandula lanata L., Santolina rosmarinifolia L. Origanum bastetanum, and Salvia lavandulifolia V.): 0% (HI-0), 25% (HI-25), 50% (HI-50), and 75% (HI-75). Also, the fresh biomass and essential-oil content were quantified in each treatment. The erosion plots were located in Lanjarón (Granada, SE Spain) on the southern flank of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on a 20% slope, and of 96 m2 in area. The average soil loss for HI-0, HI-25, HI-50, and HI-75 during the study period was 144.6, 187.2, 256.0, and 356.0 kg ha−1, respectively, and runoff 2.6, 3.2, 3.4, and 4.7 mm, respectively. The lowest average soil erosion and runoff rates for the study period were recorded with plant cover of S. lavandulifolia V. 67.6 kg ha−1 and 1.3 mm, respectively. Since no significant differences were found between HI-25 and HI-50 for soil erosion and runoff, and harvest and distillation of wild-aromatic plants currently persists as an important economic activity in mountainous areas of the study zone, we recommend a rational harvest (HI-50), leaving the 50% of the plant biomass in the field (especially for sage and lavender) to avoid the soil degradation. In this sense, the harvest of 50% of fresh herb of sage, santolina, lavender, and oregano produced reasonable essential-oil yield of 12.7, 14.0, 19.7, and 18.3 L ha−1, respectively. The inappropriate harvest of aromatic plants and the intensity farming systems of mountain areas endanger land conservation, and there is an urgent need to implement appropriate land management which has a large-scale perspective but acts at the local level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The political commitment to the objective of establishing the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)—adopted formally in the Bologna Declaration of 19 June 1999— involves European higher education institutions in a complex process of reconstruction in order to harmonize their educational structures by 2010. The so-called Bologna process responds to several needs: the adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees that assures the recognition and compatibility of studies; a commitment to break down the barriers caused by national borders for the different institutions of higher education; a desire to promote the mobility of professors, students and administrative staff; the need to facilitate student access to the European labour market. The EHEA is an initiative devoted to enhancing the attractiveness and competitiveness of European higher education via the development of a common quality assurance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microwave pyrolysis of olive pomace was investigated. • Optimal processing conditions were determined to be 200 W for 180 s. • Energy requirement of 3.6 kJ/g pyrolysed 80% of OP and yielded 30% bio-oil. • Microwave power influenced textural and adsorption properties of bio-chars. • Bio-oils contained a high abundance of acetic acid. Olive pomace is a widely available agro-industrial waste residue in Europe that has the potential to contribute towards a circular, low carbon bio-economy. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the ability to successfully pyrolyse olive pomace with microwaves for the production of bio-char and bio-oil. It was found that the energy requirement needed to pyrolyse up to 80% of the olive pomace was as low as 3.6 kJ/g and bio-oil yields up to 30% were produced. Microwave power did not influence the overall yields or the chemical composition of the obtained bio-oils, but did alter the textural properties of the generated bio-chars and their ability to remove methylene blue dye. Optimum processing conditions were found to be within the 3.6 kJ/g energy requirement with a microwave power of 200 W and processing time of 180 sec. These conditions produced a bio-oil fraction containing mainly acetic acid (71.9%) and a bio-char with a surface area of 392.3 m2/g, micropore volume of 0.15 cm3/g and a methylene blue removal efficiency of 40 qMB mg/g. The results acquired from this study reveal the superiority of microwave heating in a pyrolysis system and highlight a novel and prospective route for added value recovery from natural waste resources like olive pomace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little information is available on the content of bisphenol A (BPA) and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as parabens in infant textiles and clothes. 1) To determine the concentrations of BPA and parabens in socks for infants and young children purchased in Spain, 2) to assess the (anti-)estrogenicity and (anti-)androgenicity of extracts from the socks, and 3) to estimate dermal exposure doses to these chemicals. Thirty-two pairs of socks for infants and young children (1–48 months) were purchased from 3 stores in Granada (Spain). Textile material was cut from the foot, toe, and leg of each sock (n = 96 samples) for chemical analysis. Hormone-like activities were determined in foot sections (n = 32 samples) by using the E-Screen assay for (anti-)estrogenicity and PALM luciferase assay for (anti-)androgenicity. BPA was present in 90.6% of samples at concentrations ranging from <0.70 to 3736 ng/g. BPA levels were around 25-fold higher in socks from store 1, which had a higher cotton content compared to stores 2 and 3. Ethyl-paraben was found in 100% of samples, followed by methyl-paraben (81.0%), and propyl-paraben (43.7%). No butyl-paraben was detected in any sample. Estrogenic activity was detected in 83.3% of socks from store 1 (range = 48.2–6051 pM E 2 eq/g) but in only three socks from stores 2 and 3. Anti-androgenic activity was detected in six of the 32 socks studied (range = 94.4–2989 μM Proceq/g), all from store 1. Estimated dermal exposure to BPA was higher from socks for children aged 36–48 months (median = 17.6 pg/kg/day), and dermal exposure to parabens was higher from socks for children aged 24–36 months (median = 0.60 pg/kg/day). This is the first report in Europe on the wide presence of BPA and parabens in socks marketed for infants and children. BPA appears to contribute to the hormone-like activity observed in sock extracts. Unlabelled Image • BPA was present in 91% of socks at concentrations ranging from <0.70 to 3736 ng/g. • Ethyl-paraben was found in 100% of socks, followed by methyl- and propyl-paraben. • Around 41% of socks extracts were estrogenic and 19% were anti-androgenic. • Hormone-like activities were higher in socks with higher BPA content. • The median estimated dermal exposure dose to BPA was 19.6 pg/kg/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generic medicine is a pharmaceutical product containing an active ingredient already known and previously developed and invented by others. The cost of these generic or multisource products should be less than their counterparts original. The clinical effects and the risk-benefit balance of a medicine do not depend exclusively on the activity of a pharmacologically active substance. Demonstration of bioequivalence of generic medicine is of great importance. In Europe and the United States generic medicine approval is based in the demonstration of bioequivalence through comparative bioavailability studies in vivo. These arguments are required for marketing approval of generic medicines by the European and North American health authorities. As a measure of the amount of drug absorbed it is used the area under the curve concentration-time (AUC), and as an indicator of the rate of absorption it is measured the peak concentration (Cmax) reached in the concentration-time curve and the time for its occurrence (Tmax). It is known as bioequivalence between two products when they have a comparable bioavailability in the appropriate experimental conditions. The ultimate goal of this process is to make quality drugs available to society and contribute to a more rational use of economic resources in the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost one half of currently practicing physicians in Europe are women. Despite advances in access to training positions and the entry of women into neurosurgery, it has remained a male-dominated field, with an underrepresentation of female leaders. We designed a 2-part study to better understand the current situation of European female neurosurgeons. The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies and its member societies were analyzed for female participation in leadership positions. Additionally, an online survey was designed, containing 33 questions about career choice, mentorship, family planning, and perceived obstacles, for women in neurosurgery. A total of 116 responses were received. Most female neurosurgeons lacked same-gender role models (76%), although most reported that having a female mentor would be important (58%). An overwhelming majority (86%) believe family planning takes on a more important role for women, and 72% reported worrying their career prospects could be negatively affected by their desire to have children. The greatest obstacle perceived was the prevailing inequality in opportunities (30%) and attaining leadership positions (24%). Most (81%) reported that women have different concerns regarding their career from men, and 72% also reported feeling at a disadvantage as a woman. Most (66%) also believe should be a "Women in Neurosurgery" committee within the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies. Unfortunately, a gender gap still exists in European neurosurgery. The extent thereof has not yet been systematically analyzed. Our project offers a glimpse into the inequalities and obstacles women perceive in our field; however, more comprehensive data are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a 4-year-period, more than 500 ostriches and several rheas, all born in European countries and raised in Spain and Portugal, have been analyzed for the presence of ectoparasites and endoparasites. A total of 29 parasite species have been found, most of them of the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the helminth species found may represent spureous parasitosis, as only the eggs (of an ascarid and a trematode) were found in some samples. From the organisms identified, the ectoparasites (lice—Struthiolipeurus rheae, S. nandu; mites—Dermoglyphus pachycnemis, Gabucinia bicaudata), helminths (cestoda—Houttuynia struthionis- and nematoda—Libyostrongylus sp., Codiostomum struthionis-) and the ciliate Balantidium struthionis are known as ratite specific parasites. Capillaria eggs and larvae were also found; there are no previous records of this parasite from ostriches, and the data available do not allow to do a temptative specific diagnosis. Among protozoa, most of the species now found are described for the first time in ratites. They include organisms also found in other birds (Trichomonas gallinae, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, Chilomastix gallinarum, Spironucleus meleagridis and Pleuromonas jaculans), and organisms whose specific status cannot be established until further analysis are performed (Cryptosporidium sp., Eimeria sp. and/or Isospora sp., Entamoeba sp. of the one-nucleate and of the eight-nucleate mature cyst groups, Endolimax sp., Iodamoeba sp., Monocercomonas sp., Retortamonas sp., Giardia sp., Blastocystis sp. and euglenids). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A cequias de careo constitute the oldest managed aquifer recharge system of Europe. • In Middle Ages, Muslims derived meltwater and recharged it through uncoated channels. • The managed aquifer recharge technique helped ensure water availability downstream. • This case study illustrates a paradigm that should be used in future water crises. • This MAR technique may prove key for adaptation to climate change in Alpine regions. In Sierra Nevada (southern Spain), the highest mountain range in southern Europe, the application of an ancestral Integrated Water Resources Management system (IWRM), based on the conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water, provides water resources for irrigation and supply in the driest months of the year in this semiarid mountain region. Meltwater is derived from the headwaters of the mountain streams and rivers through a set of uncoated channels excavated in the ground (locally known as acequias de careo) to infiltrate at the upper part of the valleys. Water infiltrated along the acequias de careo slowly flows down the hillsides, through the weathered zone of the hard rock aquifer and the glacial and periglacial sediments. The recharge accomplished through this Managed Aquifer Recharge technique (MAR) activates numerous springs located halfway down the hillside and increases the base flow of the rivers. In this study, focused on a careo channel located on the southern slope of Sierra Nevada called Acequia de El Espino, different archaeological, sedimentological, geophysical and hydrogeological techniques are applied to determine the age and the efficiency of this ancestral example of a MAR and IWRM system. Results suggest that the acequias de careo may be the oldest MAR system in Europe, and that this MAR technique could be applied in other high mountain alpine watersheds to mitigate the effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple sclerosis has both high healthcare and social impacts., Objective: The purpose of this article is to analyse the available literature describing the economic burden of multiple sclerosis and to compare costs among studies examining main cost drivers., Methods: A literature search on studies published in English on cost-of-illness of multiple sclerosis included in this review using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS and Web of Science includes a retrospective horizon and it describes direct and indirect costs in patients categorized into severity groups., Results: Several papers were obtained from the database search (n=37). Additionally, results from "hand searching" were also included, where a wider horizon was considered. Cost estimates were compared among studies that used a societal perspective on costs, time-period studied, and year of price level used. The estimated total annual cost per patient in Europe is on average 40,300€ (n=20). In addition, differences by geographic areas and severity groups are also considered. All in all, the higher the severity, the higher the associated costs., Conclusions: This systematic review provides one clear finding: multiple sclerosis places a huge economic burden on healthcare models and societies due to productivity losses and caregiver burden. Moreover, costs of drugs were main cost determinants for less severe cases of multiple sclerosis and informal care and production losses for the most severe cases of multiple sclerosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None of the authors has financial interest related to this study to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Migrations into Africa from the Levant have greatly determined the mitochondrial genetic landscape of North Africa. After analyzing samples from North Morocco to Spain, we show that three fourths of the Moroccan individuals belong to Western Eurasian haplogroups and the frequencies of these are much more similar to those of the Iberian Peninsula than to those of the Middle East. This is particularly true for the mitochondrial haplogroups H1, H3 and V, which experienced a late-glacial expansion from this region, that repopulated much of Central and Northern Europe. Iberian Peninsula was also a source for prehistoric migrations to North Africa.

Modelling of soot and SOF emissions from a typical European turbocharged diesel engine has been made. The model consists of a detailed kinetic mechanism with 472 reactions (120 chemical species) and data from the thermodynamic diagnostic procedure of the combustion process of the engine. The forward kinetic constants were obtained from literature and the background constants from a self-developed non-linear fitting routine based on the Marquardt algorithm. The dilution and mixing processes inside the engine are represented by a simple Wiebe function. The system of ordinary differential equations is solved with the Rosenbrock method for rigid systems and using the interpolating Lagrange polynomials to calculate the heat capacity of each species at the corresponding temperature. The kinetic model has been implemented in Digital Visual Fortran 6.0. The model has been executed for five different fuels and three mixtures of biodiesel and reference diesel operating under three diverse conditions from the European transient urban/extraurban Certification Cycle and the results of soot and SOF predicted are compared with experimental data.

This article compares the challenges of health systems in Latin America and the experience in Europe. The framework is the analysis of four functions: a) to generate resources; b) to produce activities; c) to finance, and d) to exercise stewardship. It is at this level where actors can influence health system responsiveness. Five challenges are identified in Latin America: a) to extend (prepayment and solidarity) financial protection; b) to stabilise that protection for crisis times; c) to equilibrate resources in accordance to capacity for financing services; d) to increase efficiency (technical and of placement) to produce services, and e) to improve the stewardship function in public and private sectors (the most important and difficult challenge Latin-American systems have nowadays). The experience of reform in Europe is analysed, showing: a) experiences about financial protection in Beveridge and Bismarck systems; b) stability in crisis times, recently confirm (West) and with important obstacles (East); c) efforts to equilibrate hospital beds and health care professionals, combining regulation and incentives; d) increase of efficiency in services production, with more express prioritisation, empowering patients, decentralising management and with market incentives, and e) improvement of stewardship with better (not less, sometimes even more) regulation. Three areas of European experience stand out: a) to combine solidarity with financial sustainability; b) to introduce market incentives in a measured way, but maintaining a clear stewardship role for the state, and c) to adopt innovations in organising and producing services. In spite of methodological difficulties, convergence of challenges and adopted solutions justify this analysis, but learning must be seen in each national context. A future article will analyse lessons offered by reform in Latin-American systems for European reforms.