Search

Documenting the seasonal temperature cycle constitutes an essential step toward mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events in a future warmer world. The mid-Piacenzian Warm Period (mPWP), 3.3 to 3.0 million years ago, featured global temperatures approximately 3°C above preindustrial levels. It represents an ideal period for directed paleoclimate reconstructions equivalent to model projections for 2100 under moderate Shared Socioeconomic Pathway SSP2-4.5. Here, seasonal clumped isotope analyses of fossil mollusk shells from the North Sea are presented to test Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project 2 outcomes. Joint data and model evidence reveals enhanced summer warming (+4.3° ± 1.0°C) compared to winter (+2.5° ± 1.5°C) during the mPWP, equivalent to SSP2-4.5 outcomes for future climate. We show that Arctic amplification of global warming weakens mid-latitude summer circulation while intensifying seasonal contrast in temperature and precipitation, leading to an increased risk of summer heat waves and other extreme weather events in Europe's future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the rising popularity of Citizen Science (CS) projects, there is little empirical evidence for effects on learning outcomes, particularly when young people are involved. It is also often not clear how CS projects are linked to science education (SE) research. The aim of this study was to examine biodiversity CS projects in an outdoor school class context and to measure the effects on individual learning outcomes (ILOs) with a perspective for SE. Five learning outcomes considered important for CS were tested: interest, self-efficacy/mastery, motivation, behaviour and attitude. These ILOs were measured via eight different scales and tested in an evaluation study of a large CS project with 428 students aged 8-18. Students recorded hedgehogs, wild bee activity, birds and butterflies in gardens. Results showed that students' interest and motivation, as well as perceived mastery increased during the project. Most remarkably, positive attitudes towards wild animals, natural gardens and biodiversity rose significantly. For most ILOs there were significant differences between age groups: Primary school students showed the highest ILOs and also provided most database entries. The authors describe how well biodiversity CS projects contribute to SE aims and how discrepancies between educational and scientific aims in CS projects may be addressed.

Background: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face major financial losses due to mental health issues affecting employees at all levels but seldom apply programs to promote wellbeing and prevent mental health issues among employees. To support the development of a multi-country workplace-based mental health intervention for SMEs (MENTUPP), a multinational consultation study was conducted. The study aimed to examine the experiences and needs of SMEs concerning the promotion of employee wellbeing, and the prevention and management of non-clinical mental health problems in workplaces. Methods: A survey consisting of open and closed questions was designed to assess key informants' opinion about the acceptability, the use, and the implementation of interventions to promote wellbeing and prevent mental health issues in the workplace. Academic experts and representatives of SME organisations, specific sector organisations, labour or advocacy groups, and occupational health organisations across the nine MENTUPP intervention countries (eight European countries and Australia) were invited to complete the survey. Data were collected via the online platform Qualtrics. Sixty-five of 146 informants responded, representing a 44.5% response rate. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: Measures to create mentally healthy workplaces were most used in SMEs, while more specific mental health interventions, such as training staff on how to promote wellbeing, were hardly used. Managers lack resources to implement mental health interventions and are concerned about employees spending too much time on these interventions during working hours. Receiving information about the economic benefits of mental health interventions and hearing successful testimonials from other SMEs can persuade managers otherwise. Employees have concerns about confidentiality, discrimination and stigma, and career opportunities when using such interventions. Conclusions: The study identifies a variety of challenges, needs and possibilities related to implementing mental health interventions in SMEs. Employers need to be convinced that investing in mental health in the workplace is worth their time and money. This requires more studies on the (cost-)effectiveness of mental health interventions. Once employers are engaged, their knowledge and competencies about how to implement such interventions should be increased and privacy concerns of employees to participate in them should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas there are recent papers on the effect of robot adoption on employment and wages, there is no evidence on how robots affect non‐monetary working conditions. We explore the impact of robot adoption on several domains of non‐monetary working conditions in Europe over the period 1995–2005 combining information from the World Robotics Survey and the European Working Conditions Survey. In order to deal with the possible endogeneity of robot deployment, we employ an instrumental variables strategy, using the robot exposure by sector in other developed countries as an instrument. Our results indicate that robotization has a negative impact on the quality of work in the dimension of work intensity and no relevant impact on the domains of physical environment or skills and discretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this month's article, George Winter discusses the role of metformin in treating diabetes, as well as a range of other conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are at risk of developing non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) after treatment; however, the risks of developing subsequent primary lymphomas (SPLs), including HL and NHL, after different types of childhood cancer are unknown. The authors quantified the risk of SPLs using the largest cohort of childhood cancer survivors worldwide. Methods: The Pan‐European Network for Care of Survivors After Childhood and Adolescent Cancer (PanCare) Survivor Care and Follow‐Up Studies (PanCareSurFup) cohort includes 69,460 five‐year survivors of childhood cancer, diagnosed during 1940 through 2008, from 12 European countries. Risks of SPLs were quantified by standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and relative risks (RRs) using multivariable Poisson regression. Results: Overall, 140 SPLs, including 104 NHLs and 36 HLs, were identified. Survivors were at 60% increased risk of an SPL compared with the general population (SIR, 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–1.9). Survivors were twice as likely to develop NHL (SIR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.9–2.8), with the greatest risks among survivors of HL (SIR, 7.1; 95% CI, 5.1–10.0), Wilms tumor (SIR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.7–5.7), leukemia (SIR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8–4.4), and bone sarcoma (SIR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4–5.4). Treatment with chemotherapy for any cancer doubled the RR of NHL (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2–3.9), but treatment with radiotherapy did not (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.7–2.0). Survivors were at similar risk of developing a subsequent HL as the general population (SIR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8–1.5). Conclusions: In addition to HL, the authors show here for the first time that survivors of Wilms tumor, leukemia, and bone sarcoma are at risk of NHL. Survivors and health care professionals should be aware of the risk of NHL in these survivors and in any survivors treated with chemotherapy. Using data from 69,460 five‐year survivors of childhood cancer across Europe, the authors investigated the risks of subsequent primary lymphoma within the largest cohort reported to date. Novel findings include the identification of an increased risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma among survivors of Wilms tumor, leukemia, and bone sarcoma and in any survivors treated with chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While prior Micra trials demonstrated a high implant success rate and favorable safety and efficacy results, changes in implant populations and safety over time is not well studied. The objective of this analysis was to report the performance of Micra in European and Middle Eastern patients and compare to the Micra Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) and Micra Post Approval Registry (PAR) studies. Methods: The prospective, single‐arm Micra Acute Performance European and Middle Eastern (MAP EMEA) registry was designed to further study the performance of Micra in patients from EMEA. The primary endpoint was to characterize acute (30‐day) major complications. Electrical performance was analyzed. The major complication rate through 12 months was compared with the IDE and PAR studies. Results: The MAP EMEA cohort (n = 928 patients) had an implant success rate of 99.9% and were followed for an average of 9.7 ± 6.5 months. Compared to prior studies, MAP EMEA patients were more likely to have undergone dialysis and have a condition which precluded the use of a transvenous pacemaker (p <.001). Within 30 days of implantation, the MAP EMEA cohort had a major complication rate of 2.59%. Mean pacing thresholds were low and stable through 12 months (0.61 ± 0.40 V at 0.24 ms at implant and 12 months). Through 12 months post‐implantation, the major complication rate for MAP EMEA was not significantly different from IDE (p =.56) or PAR (p =.79). Conclusion: Despite patient differences over time, the Micra leadless pacemaker was implanted with a high success rate and low complication rate, in‐line with prior reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018–2019, Central Europe experienced an unprecedented 2-year drought with severe impacts on society and ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed the impact of this drought on water quality by comparing long-term (1997–2017) nitrate export with 2018–2019 export in a heterogeneous mesoscale catchment. We combined data-driven analysis with process-based modeling to analyze nitrogen retention and the underlying mechanisms in the soils and during subsurface transport. We found a drought-induced shift in concentration–discharge relationships, reflecting exceptionally low riverine nitrate concentrations during dry periods and exceptionally high concentrations during subsequent wet periods. Nitrate loads were up to 73 % higher compared to the long-term load–discharge relationship. Model simulations confirmed that this increase was driven by decreased denitrification and plant uptake and subsequent flushing of accumulated nitrogen during rewetting. Fast transit times (<2 months) during wet periods in the upstream sub-catchments enabled a fast water quality response to drought. In contrast, longer transit times downstream (>20 years) inhibited a fast response but potentially contribute to a long-term drought legacy. Overall, our study reveals that severe droughts, which are predicted to become more frequent across Europe, can reduce the nitrogen retention capacity of catchments, thereby intensifying nitrate pollution and threatening water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of new targeted therapies and immunotherapy as well as screening modalities for lung cancer patients, detailed mortality trends in Europe and Northern America are unknown. Time-trend analysis using vital registration data of Northern America and Europe from the WHO Mortality Database (years 2000/2017). To assess improvements in lung cancer mortality, we performed a population-averaged Poisson autoregressive analysis. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was used as a summary measure of overall and country-specific trends in mortality. Second, we studied time trends of lung cancer incidence and smoking prevalence rates. In the total population of 872·5 million people between 2015 and 2017, the average annual age-standardised mortality from lung cancer was 54·6 deaths per 100 000, with substantial differences across countries. Lung cancer was reported as the primary cause of death in 5·4 cases per 100 deaths. The age-standardised mortality rate decreased constantly (AAPC –1·5%) between 2000 and 2017. While mortality in men dropped annually by an average of −2·3%, mortality in women decreased by an average of −0·3%. This slight decline was driven exclusively by the USA. In contrast, 21 out of 31 countries registered a significant increase in female lung cancer mortality between 2000 and 2017, with Spain (AAPC 4·1%) and France (AAPC 3·6%) leading the list. Despite overall decreases in lung cancer mortality trends, female mortality remained unchanged or increased significantly in all countries except the USA. National mortality outcomes reflect variabilities in tobacco control, screening, therapeutic advances, and access to health care. • Lung cancer mortality decreased with an AAPC of −1·5%. • Female mortality trends remained stable or increased in all countries except the USA. • In Northern America, lung cancer mortality declined more than in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power-to-Liquid (PtL) plants can viably implement carbon capture and utilization technologies in Europe. In addition, local CO2 sources can be valorized to substitute oil and gas imports. This work's aim was to determine the PtL efficiency obtained by combining a solid oxide electrolyzer (SOEC) and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. In addition, a recommended plant configuration to produce synthetic fuel and wax at pilot scale is established. The presented process configurations with and without a tail gas reformer were modeled and analyzed using IPSEpro as simulation software. A maximum mass flow rate of naphtha, middle distillate and wax of 57.8 kg/h can be realized by using a SOEC unit operated in co-electrolysis mode, with a rated power of 1 MWel.. A maximum PtL efficiency of 50.8% was found for the process configuration without a tail gas reformer. Implementing a tail gas reformer resulted in a maximum PtL efficiency of 62.7%. Hence, the reforming of tail gas is highly beneficial for the PtL plant's productivity and efficiency. Nevertheless, a process configuration based on the recirculation of tail gas without a reformer is recommended as a feasible solution to manage the transition from laboratory scale to industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Many plant species native to Europe have naturalized worldwide. We tested whether the phylogenetic structure of the species pools of European habitats is related to the proportion of species from each habitat that has naturalized outside Europe (habitat's donor role) and whether the donated species are more phylogenetically related to each other than expected by chance. Location: Europe (native range), the rest of the world (invaded range). Time period: Last c. 100 years. Major taxa studied: Angiospermae. Methods: We selected 33 habitats in Europe and analysed their species pools, including 9,636 plant species, of which 2,293 have naturalized outside Europe. We assessed the phylogenetic structure of each habitat as the difference between the observed and expected mean pairwise phylogenetic distance (MPD) for (a) the whole species pool and (b) subgroups of species that have naturalized outside Europe and those that have not. We used generalized linear models to test for the effects of the phylogenetic structure and the level of human influence on the habitat's donor role. Results: Habitats strongly to moderately influenced by humans often showed phylogenetically clustered species pools. Within the clustered species pools, those species that have naturalized outside Europe showed a random phylogenetic structure. Species pools of less human‐influenced natural habitats varied from phylogenetically clustered to overdispersed, with donated naturalized species also often showing random patterns within the species pools. Donor roles in both habitat groups increased with increasing MPD within habitats. Main conclusions: European human‐influenced habitats donate closely related species that often naturalize in disturbed habitats outside their native range. Natural habitats donate species from different lineages with various ecological strategies that allow them to succeed in different habitats in the invaded range. However, the naturalized species donated by most European habitats are phylogenetically random subsets of their species pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an independent organic breeding and seed sector poses a significant challenge for organic agriculture in Europe. It should deliver cultivars suitable to the principles and conditions of organic farming and secure the integrity of future product supply. This study seeks to identify promising pathways to address this challenge by analyzing value chain organization. It is based on a mixed method approach combining the assessment of qualitative data from a stakeholder dialogue with an analysis of quantitative farm survey data. The results from the stakeholder dialogue show that a value chain partnership is a promising strategy to distribute the burden for refinancing breeding, as the whole organic sector would profit from organic breeding. A cross-sector pool funding strategy is proposed for joining forces among all value chain partners of the organic sector to invest in organic breeding and collectively secure the integrity of the future organic product supply. Four success factors have been identified: a long-term commitment, a pool fund for organic cultivar development, awareness-raising on the importance of breeding, and a high level of transparency in the process. The funding strategy is backed up by findings on market channels. Farmers who market their products through long value chains use less organic seed than those marketing through short value chains. This highlights the need to better integrate long organic value chains such as processors, traders, and retailers, and seed supply. Regardless of the marketing channel, farmers consider the development of organic breeding a vital measure to achieve higher organic seed use. This indicates that overcoming organic seed shortage is more likely to be achieved when also including breeding activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accrued comorbidities are perceived to increase operative risk. Surgeons may offer operative treatments less often to their older patients with acute complicated calculous biliary disease (ACCBD). We set out to capture ACCBD incidence in older patients across Europe and the currently used treatment algorithms. Methods: The European Society of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) undertook a snapshot audit of patients undergoing emergency hospital admission for ACCBD between October 1 and 31 2018, comparing patients under and ≥ 65 years. Mortality, postoperative complications, time to operative intervention, post-acute disposition, and length of hospital stay (LOS) were compared between groups. Within the ≥ 65 cohort, comorbidity burden, mortality, LOS, and disposition outcomes were further compared between patients undergoing operative and non-operative management. Results: The median age of the 338 admitted patients was 67 years; 185 patients (54.7%) of these were the age of 65 or over. Significantly fewer patients ≥ 65 underwent surgical treatment (37.8% vs. 64.7%, p < 0.001). Surgical complications were more frequent in the ≥ 65 cohort than younger patients, and the mean postoperative LOS was significantly longer. Postoperative mortality was seen in 2.2% of patients ≥ 65 (vs. 0.7%, p = 0.253). However, operated elderly patients did not differ from non-operated in terms of comorbidity burden, mortality, LOS, or post-discharge rehabilitation need. Conclusions: Few elderly patients receive surgical treatment for ACCBD. Expectedly, postoperative morbidity, LOS, and the requirement for post-discharge rehabilitation are higher in the elderly than younger patients but do not differ from elderly patients managed non-operatively. With multidisciplinary perioperative optimization, elderly patients may be safely offered optimal treatment. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (Trial # NCT03610308). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyme borreliosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. In Europe, Lyme borreliosis is predominantly caused by Borrelia afzelii and transmitted by Ixodes ricinus. Although Borrelia behavior throughout tick development is quite well documented, specific molecular interactions between Borrelia and the tick have not been satisfactorily examined. Here, we present the first transcriptomic study focused on the expression of tick midgut genes regulated by Borrelia. By using massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE), we searched for tick transcripts expressed differentially in the midgut of unfed, 24h-fed, and fully fed I. ricinus nymphs infected with B. afzelii. In total, we identified 553 upregulated and 530 downregulated tick genes and demonstrated that B. afzelii interacts intensively with the tick. Technical and biological validations confirmed the accuracy of the transcriptome. The expression of five validated tick genes was silenced by RNA interference. Silencing of the uncharacterized protein (GXP_Contig_30818) delayed the infection progress and decreased infection prevalence in the target mice tissues. Silencing of other genes did not significantly affect tick feeding nor the transmission of B. afzelii , suggesting a possible role of these genes rather in Borrelia acquisition or persistence in ticks. Identification of genes and proteins exploited by Borrelia during transmission and establishment in a tick could help the development of novel preventive strategies for Lyme borreliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A fully electrified transport chain offers considerable potential for CO2 savings. In this paper, we examine the conditions necessary to introduce a fully electrified, large-scale, high-speed rail freight transport system in Europe in addition to high-speed passenger trains, aiming to shift goods transport from road to rail. We compare a novel high-speed rail freight concept with road-based lorry transport for low-density high value goods to estimate the potential for a modal shift from road to rail in 2030. Methods: To characterize the impacts of different framework conditions, a simulation tool was designed as a discrete choice model, based on random utility theory, with integrated performance calculation assessing the full multimodal transport chain regarding costs, emissions and time. It was applied to a European reference scenario based on forecast data for freight traffic in 2030. Results: We show that high-speed rail freight is about 70% more expensive than the conventional lorry but emits 80% less CO2 emissions for the baseline parameter setting. The expected mode share largely depends on the cargo's value of time, while the implementation of a CO2-tax of 100 EUR/tCO2eq has an insignificant impact. The costs of handling goods and the infrastructure charges are highly influential variables. Conclusion: High-speed rail track access charges are a suitable political instrument to create a level playing field between the transport modes and internalize external costs of freight transport. With the given access charge structure, a reduction of the maximum operating speed to 160 km/h has a positive impact on the expected mode share of rail transport while it still reacts positively to a wide range of the cargo's time sensitivity (compared to a maximum operating speed of 350 km/h). The flexibility of rail freight's operating speed is important for an effective implementation. Further research should concentrate on time- and cost-efficient transhipment terminals as they have a significant impact on transport performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this report, we determine the cumulative incidence of symptomatic cardiac ischaemia and its risk factors among European 5-year childhood cancer survivors (CCS) participating in the PanCareSurFup study.Methods: Eight data providers (France, Hungary, Italy (two cohorts), the Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland and the UK) participating in PanCareSurFup ascertained and validated symptomatic cardiac events among their 36 205 eligible CCS. Data on symptomatic cardiac ischaemia were graded according to the Criteria for Adverse Events V.3.0 (grade 3-5). We calculated cumulative incidences, both overall and for different subgroups based on treatment and malignancy, and used multivariable Cox regression to analyse risk factors.Results: Overall, 302 out of the 36 205 CCS developed symptomatic cardiac ischaemia during follow-up (median follow-up time after primary cancer diagnosis: 23.0 years). The cumulative incidence by age 60 was 5.4% (95% CI 4.6% to 6.2%). Men (7.1% (95% CI 5.8 to 8.4)) had higher rates than women (3.4% (95% CI 2.4 to 4.4)) (p<0.0001). Of importance is that a significant number of patients (41/302) were affected as teens or young adults (14-30 years). Treatment with radiotherapy/chemotherapy conferred twofold risk (95% CI 1.5 to 3.0) and cases in these patients appeared earlier than in CCS without treatment/surgery only (15% vs 3% prior to age 30 years, respectively (p=0.04)).Conclusions: In this very large European childhood cancer cohort, we found that by age 60 years, 1 in 18 CCS will develop a severe, life-threatening or fatal cardiac ischaemia, especially in lymphoma survivors and CCS treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy increases the risk significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

George Winter discusses the use of masks to protect against transmission of infection, and whether or not research now suggests they were effective at preventing spread during the pandemic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use data from wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to construct an individual-level index of active ageing for people aged between 50 and 90 years. We develop nine sub-indices for different dimensions, which are then aggregated to the final index. This individual-level index allows to analyze inequalities between age cohorts, dimensions, countries, and other individual-characteristics that are covered by SHARE. We focus on differences between the sexes. Overall women score lower than men with 54.9 index-points compared to 57.7 for men. We present gender differences in active ageing for some sub-populations as a showcase for this new individual-level index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Antipsychotic‐induced weight gain (AiWG) is a debilitating adverse effect of most antipsychotics. First‐episode psychosis patients are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental consequences of AiWG. Amisulpride has good efficacy and tolerability. We here aimed to identify the phenotypic factors associated with amisulpride‐induced weight gain in first‐episode psychosis patients. Method: Data were collected from the Optimization of Treatment and Management of Schizophrenia in Europe trial. Multivariable regression models with various phenotypic variables (N = 305) were performed with absolute AiWG and clinically relevant AiWG (≥7% AiWG) as outcomes. Results: Four weeks of amisulpride treatment increased body weight from 69.7 to 72.4 kg (P < 0.001). In the regression model of absolute AiWG, unemployment (β = 0.94, P = 0.016), younger age (β = −0.07, P = 0.031) and absence of current comorbid major depression disorder (β = −1.61, P = 0.034) were positively associated with absolute AiWG. In the regression model of clinically relevant AiWG, unemployment (OR = 2.83, P = 0.001), schizophreniform disorder (OR = 2.00, P = 0.025) and low baseline weight (OR = 0.97, P = 0.032) increased the likelihood of clinically relevant AiWG. Conclusions: Clinicians prescribing amisulpride should consider the relatively high susceptibility to AiWG in unemployed first‐episode patients with psychosis, in particular young subjects with a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder. We advise to carefully monitor these patients and, when needed, implement weight‐reducing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent waves of immigration have changed the demographic face of European societies and fueled considerable debate over the consequences of ethnic diversity for social cohesion. One prominent argument in this debate holds that individuals are less willing to extend trust and solidarity across ethnic lines, leading to lower social capital in multiethnic communities. We present a direct test of this proposition in a field experiment involving native-immigrant interactions in Zurich's Central Train Station. Our intervention consists of approaching commuters with a small request for assistance (borrowing a mobile phone), which we take as a measure of prosociality. We further differentiate between reactions towards natives as well as both high- and low-status immigrant groups. Compared to native-native interactions, we find lower solidarity in native-immigrant encounters, especially in cases involving stereotypically low-status immigrants. In exploratory analyses, we further show that discrimination only obtains in 'low cost' situations where commuters could easily justify not helping (e.g. by claiming not to carry a phone). Overall our results shed light on key theoretical mechanisms underlying patterns of solidarity in contemporary multiethnic societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Evaluating the impacts on biodiversity by means of the life cycle assessment (LCA) is a task researchers are currently facing. One impact assessment method that aims to do so is the recently developed biodiversity impact assessment BIA+. The aim of the present paper is to test this method and to show its applicability and feasibility. Additionally opportunities and challenges of this method shall be revealed. For this purpose, a case study for assessing the impacts of biodiesel production on freshwater biodiversity is introduced. Two substances, namely phosphorus and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB), which are used for the biodiesel production for fertilization and the usage of pesticides, are being considered. The inventory data needed for the case study is gathered through the grey water footprint of the crop production that forms the basis of the European biodiesel consumption. Further, the BIA+ method is applied in order to assess the impacts of the biodiesel consumption in Europe for the year 2010 on freshwater biodiversity. The results reveal that even though assumptions have to be made and the results are highly uncertain, this method helps to identify hotspots within production processes. By including the BIA+ as an impact assessment method into LCA, impacts of products can be assessed with regard to biodiversity including genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. The main impact hotspot occurs in France with a potential loss of the biodiversity of 0.5 points. The lowest loss of the biodiversity occurs in Brazil (loss of 8.05*10–06 points). The results are mainly influenced by the impact of the toxic substance 1,4-DCB. By means of the case study, it is shown that the BIA+ method is applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural intensification is a major driver of wild bee decline. Vineyards may be inhabited by plant and animal species, especially when the inter‐row space is vegetated with spontaneous vegetation or cover crops. Wild bees depend on floral resources and suitable nesting sites which may be found in vineyard inter‐rows or in viticultural landscapes. Inter‐row vegetation is managed by mulching, tillage, and/or herbicide application and results in habitat degradation when applied intensively. Here, we hypothesize that lower vegetation management intensities, higher floral resources, and landscape diversity affect wild bee diversity and abundance dependent on their functional traits. We sampled wild bees semi‐quantitatively in 63 vineyards representing different vegetation management intensities across Europe in 2016. A proxy for floral resource availability was based on visual flower cover estimations. Management intensity was assessed by vegetation cover (%) twice a year per vineyard. The Shannon Landscape Diversity Index was used as a proxy for landscape diversity within a 750 m radius around each vineyard center point. Wild bee communities were clustered by country. At the country level, between 20 and 64 wild bee species were identified. Increased floral resource availability and extensive vegetation management both affected wild bee diversity and abundance in vineyards strongly positively. Increased landscape diversity had a small positive effect on wild bee diversity but compensated for the negative effect of low floral resource availability by increasing eusocial bee abundance. We conclude that wild bee diversity and abundance in vineyards is efficiently promoted by increasing floral resources and reducing vegetation management frequency. High landscape diversity further compensates for low floral resources in vineyards and increases pollinating insect abundance in viticulture landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor relief provisions in early modern Europe are often considered to have been characterized by a divide between a uniform, compulsory, tax‐based, and relatively secure and generous poor law 'system' in England, and the more haphazard, voluntary, relatively parsimonious, insecure, and predominantly urban relief practices on the Continent. In this article we challenge these assumptions by arguing that the spread of agrarian capitalism in coastal Flanders fostered a reorganization of poor relief that displayed many features considered unique to the English old poor law, including the levying of poor taxes. By exploring the introduction, diffusion, and effects of poor taxes in the rural district of Furnes in the second half of the eighteenth century, we demonstrate that poor taxes were not unique to England, and sharpen our comparative understanding of the causes, implications, and conflicts associated with this particular way of raising revenue for the poor. This supports our more general contention that the influence of the normative framework should not be overstated: more than differences in legislation, similarities in socio‐economic development can explain variations in relief practices in preindustrial Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to the climate crisis's looming dangers, Europe was recently affected by profoundly volatile energy markets, entailing soaring inflation and political uncertainty. Power-to-Liquid processes have the potential to curb global warming by valorizing CO 2 to produce synthetic fuels and platform chemicals while simultaneously substituting fossil energy imports. The impact of the CO 2 source, i.e., cement production, biogas upgrading and solid biomass combustion, on Power-to-Liquid plants was evaluated by implementing the designed configuration, including CO 2 capture, solid-oxide electrolyzer, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and steam reforming, in IPSEpro, a stationary equation-based process simulation tool. Maximum Power-to-Liquid efficiency of 63.8% and maximum carbon efficiency of 88.6% were obtained by exploiting CO 2 emitted by a biogas upgrading unit. Solid-oxide electrolyzers ranging from 23 MW el. (biogas) to 504 MW el. (cement) are required to process CO 2 streams from 4.5 to 100 t/h. In addition, the mass and energy balances of the three considered configurations were determined and embedded in a process flow diagram. The presented study aims to facilitate future decisions concerning carbon capture and utilization policy by assessing the CO 2 source's influence on Power-to-Liquid plants' key performance indicators. Furthermore, the underlying work supports a sustainable realization of Power-to-Liquid plants by offering a framework for exploiting CO 2 sources. [Display omitted] • A simulation study of a Power-to-Liquid plant producing FT products is presented. • Models of a solid-oxide electrolyzer, CO 2 capture and a steam reformer were established. • The CO 2 source's influence on the plant's key performance indicators was evaluated. • Power-to-Liquid efficiencies ranged from 54.7% to 63.8%. • The obtained carbon efficiencies ranged from 68.4% to 88.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood cancer survivors are at risk of subsequent primary soft-tissue sarcomas (STS), but the risks of specific STS histological subtypes are unknown. We quantified the risk of STS histological subtypes after specific types of childhood cancer.Methods: We pooled data from 13 European cohorts, yielding a cohort of 69 460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and absolute excess risks (AERs) were calculated.Results: Overall, 301 STS developed compared with 19 expected (SIR = 15.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.0 to 17.6). The highest standardized incidence ratios were for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST; SIR = 40.6, 95% CI = 29.6 to 54.3), leiomyosarcomas (SIR = 29.9, 95% CI = 23.7 to 37.2), and fibromatous neoplasms (SIR = 12.3, 95% CI = 9.3 to 16.0). SIRs for MPNST were highest following central nervous system tumors (SIR = 80.5, 95% CI = 48.4 to 125.7), Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR = 81.3, 95% CI = 35.1 to 160.1), and Wilms tumor (SIR = 76.0, 95% CI = 27.9 to 165.4). Standardized incidence ratios for leiomyosarcoma were highest following retinoblastoma (SIR = 342.9, 95% CI = 245.0 to 466.9) and Wilms tumor (SIR = 74.2, 95% CI = 37.1 to 132.8). AERs for all STS subtypes were generally low at all years from diagnosis (AER < 1 per 10 000 person-years), except for leiomyosarcoma following retinoblastoma, for which the AER reached 52.7 (95% CI = 20.0 to 85.5) per 10 000 person-years among patients who had survived at least 45 years from diagnosis of retinoblastoma.Conclusions: For the first time, we provide risk estimates of specific STS subtypes following childhood cancers and give evidence that risks of MPNSTs, leiomyosarcomas, and fibromatous neoplasms are particularly increased. While the multiplicative excess risks relative to the general population are substantial, the absolute excess risk of developing any STS subtype is low, except for leiomyosarcoma after retinoblastoma. These results are likely to be informative for both survivors and health care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Radom Plain is a region with numerous fossil palaeolakes that formed a palaeolakeland. Lacustrine sediments of thickness varying from 0.5 to 18 m were encountered in numerous boreholes. Pollen analyses of the sediments filling the palaeolakes have proven that their sedimentation began after the retreat of the Saalian ice-sheet (MIS 6), continued during the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e), and terminated at the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation (MIS 5d). Climate and palaeoenvironmental changes have been recorded in different deposits: muds, peats and gyttja. Local factors, such as reservoir depth, and geological conditions have influenced the type of the accumulated sediments. Eemian sites occur in two geomorphological positions: in small depressions on the glacial plateau and in small valleys in ox-bow palaeolakes. Eemian lakes were formed from the melting of dead-ice blocks. Pollen data obtained from the palaeolake sediments document climate and vegetation changes characteristic of the Late Glacial period, the Eemian Interglacial, and the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation. In many sites, a record of a complete Eemian succession is present, whereas in others it is fragmentary. Comparison of pollen data between the Radom region and other localities in Poland shows local and regional differences in the development of forest communities in the Eemian. In the Eemian sequences of the Radom Plain, a considerable contribution of Tilia , Picea and Abies pollen is distinct in the forest communities, often higher than in other Eemian sites of Central Poland. The particularly high percentage of Tilia (exceeding 30%), Picea (up to 67%) and Abies (30%) pollen are recorded in the Babin site. This phenomenon may indicate favourable environmental and climate conditions, facilitating further propagation of these trees. In the pollen record from the Babin site, three distinct abrupt/cool climate oscillations have been noted, with the oldest one recorded in the Saalian Glaciation. The two younger oscillations have been distinguished at the very beginning and at the very end of the Last Interglacial, respectively. Eemian sites from the Radom Plain are important for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate changes in the Eemian Interglacial in Poland and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of European plant species as aliens worldwide is thought to reflect their association with human-disturbed environments. However, an explicit test including all human-made, seminatural and natural habitat types of Europe, and their contributions as donor habitats of naturalized species to the rest of the globe, has been missing. Here we combine two databases, the European Vegetation Checklist and the Global Naturalized Alien Flora, to assess how human influence in European habitats affects the probability of naturalization of their plant species on other continents. A total of 9,875 native European vascular plant species were assigned to 39 European habitat types; of these, 2,550 species have become naturalized somewhere in the world. Species that occur in both human-made habitats and seminatural or natural habitats in Europe have the highest probability of naturalization (64.7% and 64.5% of them have naturalized). Species associated only with human-made or seminatural habitats still have a significantly higher probability of becoming naturalized (41.7% and 28.6%, respectively) than species confined to natural habitats (19.4%). Species associated with arable land and human settlements were recorded as naturalized in the largest number of regions worldwide. Our findings highlight that plant species' association with native-range habitats disturbed by human activities, combined with broad habitat range, play an important role in shaping global patterns of plant invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Plant invasions often follow initial introduction with a considerable delay. The current non-native flora of a region may hence contain species that are not yet naturalized but may become so in the future, especially if climate change lifts limitations on species spread. In Europe, non-native garden plants represent a huge pool of potential future invaders. Here, we evaluate the naturalization risk from this species pool and how it may change under a warmer climate. Location Europe. Methods We selected all species naturalized anywhere in the world but not yet in Europe from the set of non-native European garden plants. For this subset of 783 species, we used species distribution models to assess their potential European ranges under different scenarios of climate change. Moreover, we defined geographical hotspots of naturalization risk from those species by combining projections of climatic suitability with maps of the area available for ornamental plant cultivation. Results Under current climate, 165 species would already find suitable conditions in>5% of Europe. Although climate change substantially increases the potential range of many species, there are also some that are predicted to lose climatically suitable area under a changing climate, particularly species native to boreal and Mediterranean biomes. Overall, hotspots of naturalization risk defined by climatic suitability alone, or by a combination of climatic suitability and appropriate land cover, are projected to increase by up to 102% or 64%, respectively. Main conclusions Our results suggest that the risk of naturalization of European garden plants will increase with warming climate, and thus it is very likely that the risk of negative impacts from invasion by these plants will also grow. It is therefore crucial to increase awareness of the possibility of biological invasions among horticulturalists, particularly in the face of a warming climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the relationship between education and fertility, exploiting compulsory schooling reforms in England and Continental Europe, implemented between 1936 and 1975. We assess the causal effect of education on the number of biological children and the incidence of childlessness. While we find a negative relationship between education and fertility in England, this result cannot be confirmed for Continental Europe. The additional education generated by schooling expansions on the Continent did not lead to a decrease in the number of biological children nor to an increase in childlessness. These findings are robust to a number of sensitivity and falsification checks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To help achieve effective longitudinal river connectivity, evaluation of the efficacy of fishway use by upstream-migrating fishes is needed. Larinier super active baffle (SAB) fishways are relatively cheap retrofit fish passes, suitable for low-head barriers, widespread in Europe and the most commonly fitted technical pass in Britain. Their suitability for non-salmonids, however, is poorly quantified. The efficacy of a 15% gradient SAB fishway and effects of flow regime and water temperature were tested for European river lamprey ( Lampetra fluviatilis ) using passive integrated transponder (PIT) and acoustic telemetry at a Crump weir on the River Derwent, Northeast England. In migration season 2013–14, over a wide range of flows, 90.1% of 350 tagged lamprey entered the fishway. One fish (0.3%) of those that entered the pass ascended successfully, even though measured water velocity was within laboratory-measured performance conditions for this species. Of 29 acoustic-tagged lamprey that visited the weir over the same period, four (13.8%) ascended it directly, during elevated flows. These data suggest that high turbulence and/or the physical characteristics of baffles may inhibit lamprey ascent of the pass. In migration season 2014–15, we tested the effect of adding studded modular plastic tiles adjacent to the fishway wall, employing PIT antennas separately interrogating the entrance and exit of each of the main fishway and tile routes. 85.8% (169) of 197 tagged lamprey entered the fishway, of which 72/169 (42.6%) entered the tile entrance. Passage efficiency of entrants was 7.1% (12/169), all of which used the tiled route. Reduced local flow velocity in combination with increased availability of resting habitat within the tiles may have facilitated increased passage. Although fishway passage efficiency increased after placement of the modular tiles, it remained half that measured for direct weir passage, both of which are inadequate for connectivity restoration. Quantitative tests of studded tiles placed on the sloping downstream weir face by comparison to control conditions may be more effective and are needed. This study demonstrates the importance of carrying out full-scale field tests to supplement possible solutions developed under laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the causal effect of education on health and the part of it that is attributable to health behaviors by distinguishing between short-run and long-run mediating effects: whereas, in the former, only behaviors in the immediate past are taken into account, in the latter, we consider the entire history of behaviors. We use two identification strategies: instrumental variables based on compulsory schooling reforms and a combined aggregation, differencing, and selection on an observables technique to address the endogeneity of both education and behaviors in the health production function. Using panel data for European countries, we find that education has a protective effect for European men and women aged 50+. We find that the mediating effects of health behaviors-measured by smoking, drinking, exercising, and the body mass index-account in the short run for around a quarter and in the long run for around a third of the entire effect of education on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymph node (LN) staging in penile cancer has strong prognostic implications. This contrasts with the high morbidity of extended inguinal LN dissection (LND) or over-treatment of many patients. Therefore, inguinal dynamic sentinel node biopsy (DSNB) or modified LND is recommended by the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines to evaluate the nodal status of patients with clinically node-negative penile cancer. This study analyzed the reliability and morbidity of radioguided DSNB in penile cancer under consideration of the current EAU recommendations in an experienced center with long-term follow-up.Methods: Thirty-four patients who received primary surgery and had radioguided inguinal DSNB for penile cancer (≥ T1G2) were included (July 2004 to July 2013). Preoperative sentinel LN (SLN) mapping was performed using lymphoscintigraphy after peritumoral injection of (99m)Technetium nanocolloid on the day of surgery. During surgery, SLNs were detected using a gamma probe. According to the EAU guidelines, a secondary ipsilateral radical inguinal LND was performed in patients who had positive SLNs. The false-negative and complication rates of DSNB were assessed.Results: A total of 32 patients were analyzed. Two patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 166 SLNs (median, 5; range, 1-15) were removed and 216 LNs (SLNs + non-SLNs; median, 6; range, 2-19) were dissected. LN metastases were found in five of the 32 (15.6 %) patients and nine of the 166 (5.4 %) SLNs were found to contain metastases. None of the remaining 50 non-SLNs contained metastases. In only one of the five SLN-positive patients, a singular further metastasis was detected by secondary radical inguinal LND. During follow-up (median, 30.5; range, 5-95 months) no inguinal nodal recurrence was detected. DSNB-related complications occurred in 11.1 % of explored groins.Discussion and Conclusions: Radioguided DSNB is a suitable procedure for LN staging in penile cancer considering the EAU recommendations and with the required experience. Under these circumstances, patients can be spared from higher morbidity without compromising the detection of LN metastases or therapeutic implications. Improvement of the methodology used to perform DSNB should be developed further to decrease the risk of missing LN metastases and to simplify the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil respiration is the second largest CO-exchange process between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Yet, high-quality experimental data are still in demand. During the vegetation period of 2013 we measured soil and ecosystem respiration with a closed dynamic flux chamber at six Saxon ICP-Forests Level II monitoring sites, representative for Central Europe. Each site comprises a closed canopy (UC) and an open field (OF) plot. Apart from CO fluxes, meteorological parameters were recorded, assuring that the chosen measurement period was representative for longer time frames. Additional soil samples delivered current chemical conditions. Carbon dioxide fluxes at the open field plots were 30-250 % higher than under canopy-due to different plant cover. Under canopy, 2.7-5.8 µmol CO m s were determined (median 3.5 µmol CO m s), while the open field showed a range of 3.2-15.5 µmol CO m s (median 7.6 µmol CO m s). The key drivers for soil metabolism, soil temperature, humidity and nutrient budget, showed distinct plot and site differences. Surmising that the determined fluxes are representative for Saxony and its temperate forests, and calculating with winter half year data from the literature, it can be deduced that 3.85 Mt C of carbon would be released annually from Saxon forest soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across Europe populist radical right (PRR) parties advertise themselves as defenders of Christian identity and values, but they do not seem to strongly attract religious Christian voters. This article tests a general framework for understanding this religion gap in 13 countries. Findings extend earlier research on religiosity and radical right attitudes, provide insight on East-West differences in the PRR phenomenon, and lend conditional support to the notion of a "vaccine effect" suggested by prior research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Cities represent an ideal study system for assessing how intensive land-use change and biotic interchange have altered beta diversity at broad geographic extents. Here we test the hypothesis that floras in cities located in disparate regions of the globe are being homogenized by species classified as invasive (naturalized species that have spread over a large area) or as a European archaeophyte (species introduced into Europe before ad 1500 from the Mediterranean Basin). We also test the prediction that the global influences of European activities (colonization, agriculture, commerce) have supported this outcome. Location One hundred and ten cities world-wide. Methods We examined the richness and composition of urban floras among European ( n = 85) and non- European cities ( n = 25) for species classified as native or non-native, or further classified as European archaeophyte or invasive. We modelled how geographic, climatic and anthropogenic factors were related to compositional similarity between European and non- European cities. Results We found that most plants in the cities we examined, particularly non- European cities, were native and unique to each city. Non-native species were similarly unique, but occurred in much lower proportions relative to natives. Although European archaeophytes and invasive species also occurred in lower proportions, they had similar compositions among cities. European archaeophytes were most prevalent in European cities, but were most similar among non- European cities. Contrasting European and non- European cities, geography and climate were most relevant for native and invasive species, whereas climate and agriculture were most relevant for European archaeophytes. Main conclusions Cities in disparate regions of the globe retain regionally distinct native and non-native plant assemblages, while invasive species, and especially European archaeophytes, were associated with lower beta diversity among cities. These findings suggest that intensive land-use change and biotic interchange, shaped through European influences, have had a world-wide effect on the beta diversity of urban plant assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage studies is yet to have a debate about its theorisation at the global level. Many of the core ideas that shape the field are rooted in the contexts of Europe and the USA and geographically rolled out in normative ways. This paper argues it is important we embark on pluralising how heritage is studied and theoretically framed, in ways that better address the heterogeneous nature of heritage, for both the West and the non-West. The themes of modernity, cities and international cultural policy provide evidence of why we need to better position the academic study of heritage in relation to the rapid geo-political and geo-cultural shifts now taking place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we address the long-run associations between childhood shocks and health in late adulthood. Applying a life-course approach and data from SHARE, we estimate direct and indirect relations of shocks like relocation, dispossession, or hunger and health outcomes after 50 years of age. Having lived in a children’s home, in a foster family, or having suffered a period of hunger turn out to be the most detrimental. Using a finite mixture model, which allows to classify the correlations between shocks and later health into a priori unknown groups, we show that some adverse shocks show opposite relations for specific groups. (JEL codes: J1, I12, J13) [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We study the relationship between job quality and retirement using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, a longitudinal survey covering individuals aged 50+ in several European countries. Although most previous studies looked at the impact of bad working conditions on retirement intentions, we can use the panel dimension to study actual retirement as well as other pathways out of a job. As indicators for job quality we use three different approaches: overall job satisfaction, over- and undereducation for a particular job as well as effort-reward imbalance, which measures the imbalance between a worker's effort and the rewards he or she receives in turn. The analysis gives some evidence that poor job quality decreases retirement age, in particular for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effect of secondary education on cognitive performance toward the end of working age. We exploit the exogenous variation in years of schooling arising from compulsory schooling reforms implemented in six European countries during the 1950s and 1960s. Using data of individuals, approximately age 60, from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we assess the causal effect of education on memory, fluency, numeracy, and orientation-to-date. Furthermore, we study education effects on cognitive decline. We find a positive impact of schooling on memory scores. One year of education increases the memory score approximately four decades later by about 0.2, which amounts to 10 % of a standard deviation. Furthermore, we find some evidence for a protective effect of schooling on cognitive decline in terms of verbal fluency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ixodes ricinus transmits bacterial, protozoal and viral pathogens, causing disease and forming an increasing health concern in Europe. ANTIDotE is an European Commission funded consortium of seven institutes, which aims to identify and characterize tick proteins involved in feeding and pathogen transmission. The knowledge gained will be used to develop and evaluate anti-tick vaccines that may prevent multiple human tick-borne diseases. Strategies encompassing anti-tick vaccines to prevent transmission of pathogens to humans, animals or wildlife will be developed with relevant stakeholders with the ultimate aim of reducing the incidence of tick-borne diseases in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate long-run effects of World War II on socioeconomic status and health of older individuals in Europe. We analyze data from SHARELIFE, a retrospective survey conducted as part of SHARE in Europe in 2009. SHARELIFE provides detailed data on events in childhood during and after the war for over 20,000 individuals in thirteen European countries. We construct several measures of war exposure: experience of dispossession, persecution, combat in local areas, and hunger periods. Exposure to war and, more important, to individual-level shocks caused by the war significantly predicts economic and health outcomes at older ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in vegetation composition due to the increasing temperatures in the past few decades have already been reported from several parts of Europe. It has been shown that single species move either northwards or to higher elevations. We expected that the species composition of forest stands should also have changed, i.e., an increase of thermophilous species. Another site factor changing for decades is nitrogen availability; we therefore also expected an increase of nitrophilous species, which was one main result in former long-term studies. We studied the species composition of beech ( Fagus sylvatica) forests in southern Germany (Bavaria), comparing old (from 1949 to 1985) and young (2010) phytosociological relevés. Ellenberg indicator values representing plant species specific environmental factors combined with climatic data were used in a partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA) for vegetation comparisons. Changes in plant species composition were analyzed considering species frequency, distribution of Ellenberg indicator values, shares of i) non-native plants and ii) tree, shrub and herbaceous species. Contrary to our expectations, global warming in Bavaria during the past decades resulted only in an explained dispersion of 5 % in the species composition. On the species level, an overall increase of thermophilous walnut tree saplings ( Juglans regia) was conspicuous in some study areas. Nitrophilous species, however, generally increased in frequency throughout the study areas. Throughout Bavaria the most significant change was a striking increase of juvenile tree species and a decrease of herbaceous species. Up to now the increased nitrogen input into forests had a stronger provable influence on species composition shift than the global warming of the last decades. Additionally general changes in forest management also had effects on forest species. Therefore community reorganization mirroring temperature factors in beech forests in central Europe seems to be only at its very beginning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that the funding of pensions is at issue, governments across Europe now try to discourage early retirement. Yet, international research about the determinants of early retirement based on appropriate micro-data is scarce. In addition, studies have tended to look at the retiring generation in an isolated way, ignoring the intergenerational ties that may play a role in their retirement decision. This article uses the European Social Survey, covering 22 countries from all regions of Europe, to investigate to what extent becoming a grandparent affects early retirement in European countries. We apply multilevel event history modelling to data from the third round of the European Social Survey and from the MULTILINKS database on intergenerational policy indicators. We find that becoming a grandparent speeds up retirement, especially at the round ages of 55 and 60 years. However, the effect is statistically significant only for women, not for men. We discuss differences between countries, including the role played by differences in formal childcare provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Coinciding with the general trends towards the internationalisation and privatisation of statehood, legal orders have multiplied. As a result, in a given case, laws produced by different states, sector al polities, governance levels, societal fora and trans - national arrangements may overlap or even contradict each other. This article elaborates why the variety of legal orders has emerged and how it can be structured, in what kinds of relationship the fragments stand to each other, and how conflicts between laws can be resolved. Through a discussion of proposals of discourse and systems theory for conflict resolution, the article develops a genuine approach called conflict analysis and evaluation. This approach allows to rationalise preconceptions of relationships between conflicting laws and thus lays the groundwork for reason able solutions. The approach is illustrated by two examples: the conflict between the World Trade Organisation and the Europe an Union concerning genetically modified products, and the conflict between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civic Aviation Organisation on greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the costs of Parkinson''s Disease (PD) in 486 patients based on a survey conducted in six countries. Economic data were collected over a 6-month period and presented from the societal perspective. The total mean costs per patient ranged from EUR 2620 to EUR 9820. Direct costs totalled about 60% to 70% and indirect costs about 30% to 40% of total costs. The proportions of costs components of PD vary notably; variations were due to differences in country-specific health system characteristics, macro economic conditions, as well as frequencies of resource use and price differences. However, inpatient care, long-term care and medication were identified as the major expenditures in the investigated countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents an overview of the implementation and execution process of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law on provisions introduced by Protocol No. 14 in Europe. It notes that there are some severe cases of relentless denial of certain states to take necessary requirement to follow the court's decision. It states that it needs strength measures to accomplish more effective execution procedure which is necessary in the function of the system.

We run an experiment in which students of different European nationalities are matched in groups of five and repeatedly choose with whom within their group they want to play a trust game. Participants observe of each other age, gender, nationality and number of siblings. The region of origin, “North” or “South” is a major determinant of success in the experiment. Participants tend to trust those they trusted before and who trusted them. We do not find evidence of regional discrimination per se. It is only the underlying and significant differences in behavior that translate through repeated interactions into differences in payoffs between the two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]