Search

Objective: Economic nationalism has been on the rise for the past two decades. Scholars have also noted the shift away from globalization and deregulation toward a more prominent role of the state in the economy. I explore the role played by populist governments in the increased adoption of economic nationalism and in this return of the state. I argue that the populist worldview lends itself naturally to a consolidation of power—not just political, but also economic. This consolidation of economic power results in a more prominent state even in countries where the populist regime is a right‐leaning one. Methods: I test this argument quantitatively by analyzing governments in 30 European countries since 1990, levels of state ownership in the economy, and a battery of economic and political controls. Results: The election of a populist government is associated with a strengthening of state ownership in the economy. Conclusion: I conclude with a discussion of the prospects for the future study of this populist economic agenda both domestically and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a growing body of literature has analyzed radical left parties in Europe. However, internal party life and the sociology of party elites have remained an understudied topic, mostly dominated by non-systematic accounts on party leaders. This article offers an empirical exploration of the sociology of Podemos party cadres, based on a prosopography of the elected members of the Consejo Ciudadano Estatal and the Consejo de Coordinación, its main internal institutions, since 2014. This research questions Podemos' status of "outsider" in the partisan landscape by quantifying three fundamental dimensions of its cadres' public image: their links with social movements, academia and Latin America. By measuring the social and biographical characteristics of Podemos' elites as they institutionalize, this article offers a new scientific lens to analyze the trajectory of radical left parties, and provides a method to test common hypotheses on contemporary political forces after the Great Recession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Studies have found that gut microbiota may be associated with the development of erectile dysfunction (ED); however, the exact link between the two remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the gut microbiota and the risk of ED from a genetic perspective. Methods: We investigated the relationship between the gut microflora and ED using two-sample Mendelian randomization. GWAS-pooled data for ED were obtained from 223805 participants in Europe. GWAS summary data for ED were obtained from 223805 subjects in Europe and that for the gut microbiota were obtained from 18340 participants in 24 cohorts. We used the inversevariance weighted (IVW) estimator as the primary method for the preliminary analysis, and the MR-Egger, weighted median (WM), simple model, and weighted model as secondary methods. We used Cochrane's Q-test, to detect heterogeneity, MREgger to detect pleiotropy, and the leave-one-out method to test the stability of the MR results. Ultimately, we genetically predicted a causal relationship between 211 gut microbiota and ED. Results: A total of 2818 SNPs associated with gut microflora were screened in the ED correlation analysis based on the assumption of instrumental variables. The results of MR analysis showed a causal relationship between the six gut microbes and ED occurrence. The results of the fixed effects IVW method revealed five gut microflora, including Lachnospiraceae (OR, 1.265; P = 0.008), Lachnospiraceae NC2004 group (OR, 1.188; P = 0.019), Oscillibacter (OR, 1.200; P = 0.015), Senegalimassilia (OR, 1.355; P = 0.002), Tyzzerella3 (OR, 1.133; P = 0.022), to be negatively associated with ED. In addition, the IVW method revealed Ruminococcaceae UCG-013 (OR, 0.827; P = 0.049) to be positively associated with ED. Quality control results showed no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy in the MR analysis (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Six gut microbes were genetically associated with ED; of which, Ruminococcaceae UCG-013 was causally associated with a reduced risk of ED development. Our findings provide a new direction for research on the prevention and treatment of ED; however, the mechanisms and details require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an analysis on the fire safety of passengers and the fire protection of coaches and buses. A brief review of major bus fire incidents, an overview of current regulations in Europe, and their limitations are presented. The study finds that the current small-scale fire test methods described in UN ECE Reg No. 118 need to be replaced by test methods that can assess the reaction to fire of materials when exposed to ignition sources of varying sizes. To address these shortcomings, the study proposed an expert recommendation to update the material fire safety requirements and testing for buses. Additional measures are proposed, derived from objectives and strategies applied in other transport sectors, and can be tested through existing European and international standards, which are widely used by several industries. These measures aim to extend the time with tenable conditions for a safe evacuation in case of fire, reduce the degree of damage to buses, reduce the risk for fast and excessive thermal exposure on modern energy carriers needed for a more sustainable transport sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability against decay organisms is an essential material property for wood in outdoor use. A jack of all trades method for above-ground wood durability testing has been sought for decades, but until now no method has found its way into European standardization. The method of choice shall be applicable for untreated and treated wood—ideally also for wood composites. It shall further be reproducible, objective, fast, easy, and inexpensive. Finally, it shall provide high predictive power. This study was aimed at a review of results and practical experience with the Bundle test method which could serve as a standard procedure for above-ground field tests of wood-based materials. The method allows for water-trapping, creates a moderate moisture-induced decay risk typical for UC 3 situations, and was found applicable for a wide range of wood materials. The method allows for rapid infestation and failure of non-durable reference species within five years in Central Europe. Based on results from Bundle tests with different modifications and performed at different locations, a guideline has been developed. The method is recommended as a suitable tool for determining the durability of various wood-based materials including modified and preservative-treated wood and can provide data for durability classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a natural rewilding process that caused wolf populations in Europe to increase and expand in the last years, human–wolf conflicts still persist, threatening the long-term wolf presence in both anthropic and natural areas. Conservation management strategies should be carefully designed on updated population data and planned on a wide scale. Unfortunately, reliable ecological data are difficult and expensive to obtain and often hardly comparable through time or among different areas, especially because of different sampling designs. In order to assess the performance of different methods to estimate wolf (Canis lupus L.) abundance and distribution in southern Europe, we simultaneously applied three techniques: wolf howling, camera trapping and non-invasive genetic sampling in a protected area of the northern Apennines. We aimed at counting the minimum number of packs during a single wolf biological year and evaluating the pros and cons for each technique, comparing results obtained from different combinations of these three methods and testing how sampling effort may affect results. We found that packs' identifications could be hardly comparable if methods were separately used with a low sampling effort: wolf howling identified nine, camera trapping 12 and non-invasive genetic sampling eight packs. However, increased sampling efforts produced more consistent and comparable results across all used methods, although results from different sampling designs should be carefully compared. The integration of the three techniques yielded the highest number of detected packs, 13, although with the highest effort and cost. A common standardised sampling strategy should be a priority approach to studying elusive large carnivores, such as the wolf, allowing for the comparison of key population parameters and developing shared and effective conservation management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the last two years, a variety of assays for the serological detection of antibodies to the new SARS-CoV-2 virus have been launched and used as part of standard care in many laboratories. The pace with which these tests have been introduced into routine care emphasizes the importance of quality measures for analytical methods, particularly with regard to the implications of results for clinical and epidemiologic decisions. Accuracy, reliability and comparability of analytical test results are thus essential, and here external quality assessment (EQA) is the most important quality assurance tool. It allows us to achieve harmonization of test methods as a prerequisite for a high standard of performance for laboratory and analytical techniques and their interpretation. Methods: This EQA scheme consisted of pre-characterized clinical biospecimens dedicated to the analysis of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG total antibodies and differentiation into spike protein-specific IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (anti-S-SARS-CoV-2) and nucleocapsid-specific IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (anti-N-SARS-CoV-2). Results: A total of 239 laboratories across Europe participated in this scheme, called CoVimm. In detail, 536 results for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, 431 results for anti-S-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, and 200 results for anti-N-SARS-CoV-2 IgG were reported. Based on the pre-defined thresholds, the success rates for the determination of anti-S-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and anti-N-SARS-CoV-2 IgG were 96% and 90%, respectively. Interestingly, only 64% of the participating laboratories successfully passed the EQA scheme for the determination of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Conclusions: This EQA revealed serious concerns regarding the reliability and appropriate use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays in routine care. In addition to the wide heterogeneity of different assays used by participating laboratories, a lack of standardization and harmonization is also evident. This is of particular importance for reliable and clinically meaningful interpretation of test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) by high throughput sequencing (HTS) is proving to be a promising tool for freshwater fish biodiversity assessment in Europe within the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC), especially for large rivers and lakes where current fish monitoring techniques have known shortcomings. These new biomonitoring methods based on eDNA show several advantages compared to classical morphological methods. The sampling procedures are easier and cheaper and eDNA metabarcoding is non-invasive and very sensitive, allowing for the detection of traces of DNA. However, eDNA metabarcoding methods need careful standardization to make the results of different surveys comparable. The aim of the EU project Eco-AlpsWater is to test and validate molecular biodiversity monitoring tools for aquatic ecosystems (i.e., eDNA metabarcoding) to improve the traditional WFD monitoring approaches in Alpine waterbodies. To this end, an inter-calibration test was performed using fish mock community samples containing either tissue-extracted DNA, eDNA collected from aquaculture tanks and eDNA samples collected from Lake Bourget (France). Samples were analysed using a DNA metabarcoding approach, relying on the amplification and HTS of a 12S rDNA marker, in two separate laboratories, to evaluate if different laboratory and bioinformatic protocols can provide a reliable and comparable description of the fish communities in both mock and natural samples. Our results highlight good replicability of the molecular laboratory protocols for HTS and good amplification success of selected primers, providing essential information concerning the taxonomic resolution of the 12S mitochondrial marker in describing the Alpine fish communities. Interestingly, different concentrations of species DNA in the mock samples were well represented by the relative DNA reads abundance. These tests confirm the reproducibility of eDNA metabarcoding analyses for the biomonitoring of freshwater fish inhabiting Alpine and peri-Alpine lakes and rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chronological synopsis of the history of the technology used in experimental and testing work relating to artillery pieces is presented. The period covered is from the mid-seventeenth century up to the Cold War era of the mid-twentieth century. Although the focus is on the development of ballistics measurement in Britain, there are important links to related work in continental Europe. The locus for much of what is described is the Royal Artillery proof and experimental range at Shoeburyness and the key individuals and groups of men and women who worked there. There are longitudinal connections between the very earliest technologies of mechanical chronometry, with paper screens and paper-based calculations, and the later technology where timings, screens and calculations had all become electronic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines methods of calibrating projections of future regional climate for the next 40–50 years using large single-model ensembles (the Community Earth System Model (CESM) Large Ensemble and Max Planck Institute (MPI) Grand Ensemble), applied over Europe. The three calibration methods tested here are more commonly used for initialised forecasts from weeks up to seasonal timescales. The calibration techniques are applied to ensemble climate projections, fitting seasonal ensemble data to observations over a reference period (1920–2016). The calibration methods were tested and verified using an "imperfect model" approach using the historical/representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) archive. All the calibration methods exhibit a similar performance, generally improving the out-of-sample projections in comparison to the uncalibrated (bias-corrected) ensemble. The calibration methods give results that are largely indistinguishable from one another, so the simplest of these methods, namely homogeneous Gaussian regression (HGR), is used for the subsequent analysis. As an extension to the HGR calibration method it is applied to dynamically decomposed data, in which the underlying data are separated into dynamical and residual components (HGR-decomp). Based on the verification results obtained using the imperfect model approach, the HGR-decomp method is found to produce more reliable and accurate projections than the uncalibrated ensemble for future climate over Europe. The calibrated projections for temperature demonstrate a particular improvement, whereas the projections for changes in precipitation generally remain fairly unreliable. When the two large ensembles are calibrated using observational data, the climate projections for Europe are far more consistent between the two ensembles, with both projecting a reduction in warming but a general increase in the uncertainty of the projected changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New data on faience production technologies in central Europe come from an analysis of 12 faience beads from an Early Bronze Age cemetery in Poland. The beads were tested with the EPMA method. Altogether 65 measurements were made. In terms of morphology, the artifacts are all the same, but they differ in microstructure and chemical composition. For some a mixed alkali flux was used, for others soda‐rich plant ashes. Even so, all of the beads seem to have been made from local raw materials in central Europe (soda‐rich plant ashes could have come from plants growing near one of the mainland salt sources, which are frequent, for example, in south‐eastern Poland). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the last decade the production of plastic steadily increased and so did the amount of plastic waste. When bigger plastic pieces enter the environment, they are fragmented over time due to mechanical and environmental forces. The occurring and the directly released microplastic cause severe problems on soil organisms, due to alteration of physical properties and chemical interactions in the habitat. Main emissions sources of microplastic are different kinds of abrasions (road traffic, packaging, fibers of textiles during washing), waste disposal and drifts. Remains of mulching foils and protection nets spoil agricultural soil as well as the application of compost, sewage sludge and digestate, which may contain microplastic. Once released, microplastic accumulates much stronger in terrestrial than in aquatic systems. Spectroscopic, microscopic and thermo-analytical methods are commonly used to analyze microplastic in soil. The main challenges are to differentiate between soil matrix and plastic particles and to get rid of disturbing organic compounds. Unfortunately, there is no soil without plastic, no environmental blind sample to allow the finding of method limits. Inter-laboratory cooperation and data collection should allow estimation and comparison of emissions not only on European but on global scale. Investigations of Austrian samples provided a first orientation for regulations and measures to avoid further environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-computer interface (BCI) spellers based on event related potentials (ERPs) are intrinsically synchronous systems. Therefore, selections are constantly made, even when users are not paying attention to the stimuli. This poses a major limitation in real-life applications, in which an asynchronous control is required. The aim of this study is to design, develop and test a novel method to discriminate whether the user is controlling the system (i.e., control state) or is engaged in other task (i.e., non-control state). To achieve such an asynchronous control, our method detects the steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) elicited by peripheral stimuli of ERP-based spellers. A characterization experiment was conducted with 5 subjects to investigate general aspects of this phenomenon. Then, the proposed method was validated with 15 subjects in offline and online sessions. Results show that the proposed method provides a reliable asynchronous control, achieving an average accuracy of 95.5% for control state detection during the online sessions. Furthermore, our approach is independent of the ERP classification stage, and to the best of our knowledge, is the first procedure that does not need to extend the duration of the calibration sessions to acquire non-control observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tyre/road sound emissions have been proved to be the main source of noise caused by road traffic when traveling at medium and high speeds (Sandberg and Ejsmont, 2002). Tyre/road noise has been widely studied among the last decades. However, an important part of this research has been focused, mainly, on track tests. Different track or road methods have been developed for measurement of tyre/road sound emissions. The most important ones are the Coast-By, the Close-Proximity, the Statistical Pass-By or the Controlled Pass-By methods. Among all of them, the Coast-By method has been raised in Europe as standard method concerning the approval of tyres with regard to tyre/road sound emissions as preconized in UNECE Regulation 117 (2007)[2]. However, all the above mentioned methods have several disadvantages such as the influence of environmental factors, the different results that can be obtained depending on the test track or the vehicle upon which the tests are carried out, the lack of repeatability or, the most important aspect, which is the limitation of the measured magnitude, the sound pressure level. A new methodology (Clar-Garcia et al., 2016) based on drum tests and the ISO 3744 (1994), which was developed in order to avoid these limitations, has been proved to be comparable to the Coast-By (CB) method. This paper describes how different tyres have been tested according to both the CB and the new Alternative Drum test method (A-DR) while their results have been compared. In order to be able to carry out this comparison, as the measured magnitudes and test conditions differ widely from one test to another, the standardised ISO 9613 sound propagation method (ISO 9613-2, 1996) has been applied to obtain the sound pressure value at 7.5 m from the sound power level of a tyre measured under laboratory-controlled conditions when rolling against a drum. Results have shown that both methods are not only comparable but also have remarkably similar sound spectra and, for that reason, the new methodology based on drum tests can be used in order to obtain tyre/road noise emission approved values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays crash helmets are tested by dropping a free or unrestrained headform in Europe but a guided or restrained headform in the United States. It remains unclear whether the free fall and the guided fall produce similar impact kinematics that cause head injury. A finite element helmet model is developed and compared with experimental tests. The resulting head kinematics from virtual tests are input for a finite element head model to compute the brain tissue strain. The guided fall produces higher peak force and linear acceleration than the free fall. Eccentric impact in the free fall test induces angular head motion which directs some of the impact energy into rotational kinetic energy. Consequently, the brain tissue strain in the free fall test is up to 6.3 times more than that in the guided fall. This study recommends a supplemental procedure that records angular head motion in the free fall test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium oxysporum is a serious disease that causes root and crown rot in asparagus. Large asparagus growing areas in Europe are infected with Fusarium oxysporum, resulting in yield and quality losses at harvest. It cannot be effectively controlled by cultural or plant protection methods. Therefore, breeding resistant cultivars is an important strategy for managing Fusarium oxysporum in asparagus. The first step to achieve this goal is to establish a meaningful and reproducible resistance test. A method for testing resistance of asparagus seedlings to Fusarium oxysporum has been developed and optimized to produce resistant basic material for breeding. It was tested on 11 asparagus cultivars and 3 wild relatives. Seedlings were inoculated with two strains of Fusarium oxysporum isolates, one low virulent and one high virulent isolate, and incubated for two weeks in a climate-controlled cabinet. Disease symptoms were quantified using a digital image analysis system (Lab Scanalyzer LS10) and PCR. This resistance test will be further developed into a 'greenhouse test' to analyse resistance behaviour at later plant stages. In addition, an in vitro resistance test will be developed to allow test application under sterile conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limitations of the applicability domain of new approach methodologies (NAM) present a major challenge for the testing of cosmetic ingredients in Europe, as the regulation does not allow to resort to in vivo test method. Therefore, research focused on overcoming such limitations of established in vitro test methods is frequently conducted. Here, we address a limitation of the U-SENS™, an in vitro skin sensitization test method that addresses the key event 3 on activation of dendritic cells of the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for skin sensitization. The applicability domain of the U-SENS™ excludes autofluorescent substances that can interfere with the measurement of the expression of CD86, i.e. , the primary readout. An evaluation of several fluorochromes identified APC as most suitable for testing auto-fluorescent chemicals. Acceptance criteria were reproducibly met when using the APC-labelled antibody. Equivalent performance in terms of reproducibility and skin sensitisation hazard assessment of the standard FITC-labelled antibodies and the APC-labelled antibodies was demonstrated by testing 40 substances. Finally, the value of the expanded technical applicability domain was highlighted with a case study using sulfuretin. In conclusion, we successfully demonstrated the expansion of the U-SENS™ applicability domain to interfering auto-fluorescent chemicals by using APC-labelled antibodies. • Restricted applicability domains of NAM limit their usefulness • Autofluorescent chemicals may interfere in the U-SENS™ skin sensitization test • Using the fluorochrome APC allows to test autofluorescent chemicals • The U-SENS™ applicability domain has successfully been expanded [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of aggregate used as buildings materials is defined by European Standard test methods. According to the agreement within the European Economic Area, each individual country decides test methods of current interest. Among the Nordic countries, the Los Angeles-, micro-Deval- and the Nordic test are the most common methods used to decide the mechanical properties of the aggregate. The three test methods are all drum test where the degradation of the material occur by rotation between the test material and steel balls together with, or without water. The mechanical test methods are empirical and are believed to express either resistance to fragmentation or wearing. The results of this study show that analysing the particle size distribution of a material after the drum testing give indication of which type and degree of degradation the test material is exposed to. Knowledge of the type of degradation for the test methods is important compared to the understanding of the real breakdown of the aggregate for instance used in road construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes test methods for determining the tendency of conveyor belts which operate in explosive atmospheres to generate heat or flames. It gives an overview of health and safety requirements stipulated in the ATEX Directive in Europe. It provides information on the assessment of ignition risk at conveyor belts. It cites several factors to consider when doing the test including steel drum, belt tensioning system and air flow system. It also illustrates the test stand for finding out the electrostatic field produced by operational conveyor belts.

Copyright of Journal of Laboratory Medicine / Laboratoriums Medizin is the property of De Gruyter 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.)

More and more attention is being paid to the solar reflectance of built-up surfaces due to its influence on the summer heating of buildings and urban areas and the consequent effects on energy needs for air conditioning, as well as on the peak load of the electric grid. Several standard test methods are available for measuring solar reflectance in the laboratory or in the field, based on different devices and approaches. A convergence of some methods has been achieved by rating programs in the U.S. and, more recently, in Europe and other areas. However, laboratory or field measurements are impractical for characterizing a large number of urban surfaces—whether it is for identifying critical issues, developing policies, or verifying compliance with building requirements. In this regard, satellite remote sensors have recently become available, through which it is possible to estimate the reflectance of roof and pavement surfaces thanks to a spatial resolution that is suitable for identifying and characterizing individual built-up surfaces. In the present paper, the most-used standard test methods for rating of solar reflectance are reviewed. Subsequently, some publicly accessible satellite sensors are examined, through which comparable measurements could be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]