Direct excitation luminescence spectroscopy of Eu(III) complexes of 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecane derivatives and kinetic studies of their catalytic cleavage of an RNA analog.

PubMed

Nwe, Kido; Richard, John P; Morrow, Janet R

2007-11-28

The macrocycles 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetrazacyclododecane (1), 1,4,7-tris[(N-ethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (2), 1,4,7-tris[(N,N-diethyl)carbamoylmethyl]-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (3) and their Eu(III) complexes are prepared. Studies using direct Eu(III) excitation luminescence spectroscopy show that all three Eu(III) complexes exhibit only one predominant isomer with two bound waters under neutral to mildly basic conditions (Eu(X)(H(2)O)(2) for X = 1-3). There are no detectable ligand ionizations over the pH range 5.0-8.0 for Eu(3), 5.0-8.5 for Eu(2) or 5.0-9.5 for Eu(1). The three Eu(III) complexes show a linear dependence of second-order rate constants for the cleavage of 4-nitrophenyl-2-hydroxyethylphosphate (HpPNP) on pH in the range 6.5-8.0 for Eu(3), 7.0-8.5 for Eu(2) and 7.0-9.0 for Eu(1). This pH-rate profile is consistent with the Eu(III) complex-substrate complex being converted to the active form by loss of a proton and with Eu(III) water pK(a) values that are higher than 8.0 for Eu(3), 8.5 for Eu(2) and 9.0 for Eu(1). Inhibition studies show that Eu() binds strongly to the dianionic ligand methylphosphate (K(d) = 0.28 mM), and more weakly to diethylphosphate (K(d) = 7.5 mM), consistent with a catalytic role of the Eu(III) complexes in stabilizing the developing negative charge on the phosphorane transition state.

Advances in the development of common noise assessment methods in Europe: The CNOSSOS-EU framework for strategic environmental noise mapping.

PubMed

Kephalopoulos, Stylianos; Paviotti, Marco; Anfosso-Lédée, Fabienne; Van Maercke, Dirk; Shilton, Simon; Jones, Nigel

2014-06-01

The Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) requires EU Member States to determine the exposure to environmental noise through strategic noise mapping and to elaborate action plans in order to reduce noise pollution, where necessary. A common framework for noise assessment methods (CNOSSOS-EU) has been developed by the European Commission in co-operation with the EU Member States to be applied for strategic noise mapping as required by the Environment Noise Directive (2002/49/EC). CNOSSOS-EU represents a harmonised and coherent approach to assess noise levels from the main sources of noise (road traffic, railway traffic, aircraft and industrial) across Europe. This paper outlines the process behind the development of CNOSSOS-EU and the parts of the CNOSSOS-EU core methodological framework which were developed during phase A of the CNOSSOS-EU process (2010-2012), whilst focusing on the main scientific and technical issues that were addressed, and the implementation challenges that are being faced before it can become fully operational in the EU MS. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Causes of drug shortages in the legal pharmaceutical framework.

PubMed

De Weerdt, Elfi; Simoens, Steven; Hombroeckx, Luc; Casteels, Minne; Huys, Isabelle

2015-03-01

Different causes of drug shortages can be linked to the pharmaceutical legal framework, such as: parallel trade, quality requirements, economic decisions to suspend or cease production, etc. However until now no in-depth study of the different regulations affecting drug shortages is available. The aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of relevant legal and regulatory measures in the European pharmaceutical framework which influence drug shortages. Different European and national legislations governing human medicinal products were analyzed (e.g. Directive 2001/83/EC and Directive 2011/62/EU), supplemented with literature studies. For patented drugs, external price referencing may encompass the largest impact on drug shortages. For generic medicines, internal or external reference pricing, tendering as well as price capping may affect drug shortages. Manufacturing/quality requirements also contribute to drug shortages, since non-compliance leads to recalls. The influence of parallel trade on drug shortages is still rather disputable. Price and quality regulations are both important causes of drug shortages or drug unavailability. It can be concluded that there is room for improvement in the pharmaceutical legal framework within the lines drawn by the EU to mitigate drug shortages. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Implementation of the Directive 2011/24/EU in the Czech Republic.

PubMed

Prudil, Lukás

2014-03-01

The article describes implementation of the Directive 2011/24/EU in the Czech Republic, its consequences with individual patient's rights and financing of healthcare for citizens of the European Union.

How online sales and promotion of snus contravenes current European Union legislation.

PubMed

Peeters, Silvy; Gilmore, Anna B

2013-07-01

The European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive that bans sales of snus (a form of oral tobacco) in EU countries other than Sweden is currently under review. Major tobacco companies favour the ban being overturned. This study aims to explore compliance with the current ban on snus sales and examines the conduct of online snus vendors, including their compliance with two other EU Directives on excise and tobacco advertising and Swedish legislation banning sales of snus outside Sweden. To determine who is currently distributing snus via the internet in the EU, searches were carried out in Google, followed by searches in the WHOIS and Amadeus databases. Five online test purchases of snus were made in each of 10 EU Member States using a standardised protocol. Feedback from the test purchases and further analysis of the websites accessed for test purchases were used to critically examine snus retailers' conduct. The majority of online vendors operate from Sweden and target non-Swedish EU citizens. Test purchases were successfully made in all 10 EU Member States; of 43 orders placed, only two failed. Age verification relied only on self-report. The majority of sales applied Swedish taxes, contrary to EU requirements. Copious sales promotion activities, many price based, are incorporated in these websites contravening the EU regulation, and three test purchases were delivered with gifts. Snus is currently being sold on the single market via the internet in contravention of Swedish legislation and three EU Directives. The apparent willingness of the tobacco industry to contravene EU and Swedish legislation and profit from unlawful sales raises questions about their status as stakeholders in consultations on future policy developments. The findings highlight how national and regional tobacco control legislation can be undermined in an increasingly globalised world.

HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan--a regional programme of measures for the marine environment based on the Ecosystem Approach.

PubMed

Backer, Hermanni; Leppänen, Juha-Markku; Brusendorff, Anne Christine; Forsius, Kaj; Stankiewicz, Monika; Mehtonen, Jukka; Pyhälä, Minna; Laamanen, Maria; Paulomäki, Hanna; Vlasov, Nikolay; Haaranen, Tarja

2010-05-01

The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Baltic Sea Action Plan, adopted by the coastal countries of the Baltic Sea and the European Community in November 2007, is a regional intergovernmental programme of measures for the protection and management of the marine environment explicitly based on the Ecosystem Approach. The Action Plan is structured around a set of Ecological Objectives used to define indicators and targets, including effect-based nutrient input ceilings, and to monitor implementation. The Action Plan strongly links Baltic marine environmental concerns to important socio-economic fields such as agriculture and fisheries and promotes cross-sectoral tools including marine spatial planning. Due to complementarities with the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Action Plan is in essence a pilot for this process without neglecting the important role of the Russian Federation - the only Baltic coastal country not a member of the EU. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sensitized luminescence from water-soluble LaF3:Eu nanocrystals via partially-capped 1,10-phenanthroline: time-gated emission and multiple lifetimes.

PubMed

Irfanullah, Mir; Bhardwaj, Navneet; Chowdhury, Arindam

2016-08-02

Water dispersible citrate-capped LaF3:Eu(5%) nanocrystals (NCs) have been partially surface-functionalized by 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) via a ligand exchange method to produce novel water dispersed citrate/phen-capped LaF3:Eu(5%) NCs in which citrate ligands preserve the water dispersibility of the NCs and phen ligands act as sensitizers of surface Eu(3+)-dopant sites. The partial ligand exchange and the formation of water dispersed NCs have been monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, as well as luminescence measurements at different time intervals during the reaction. These NCs display a distinct phen-sensitized Eu(3+)-emission profile with enhanced intensity in water as compared to the emission profile and intensity obtained upon direct excitation. Time-resolved (or time-gated) emission spectroscopy (TRES) has been used to probe PL dynamics of Eu(3+)-sites of LaF3:Eu(5%) NCs by taking advantage of selectively sensitizing surface Eu(3+)-dopant sites by phen ligands as well as by exciting all the Eu(3+)-sites in the NCs upon direct excitation. TRES upon direct excitation of the citrate-capped LaF3:Eu(5%) NCs reveals that Eu(3+)-dopants occupy at least three different sites, each with a different emission profile and lifetime, and emission from purely interior Eu(3+)-sites has been resolved due to their long lifetime as compared to the lifetime of purely surface and near surface Eu(3+)-sites. In contrast, the phen-sensitized emission from citrate/phen-capped LaF3:Eu(5%) NCs displays similar emission profiles and lifetimes in TRES measurements, which reveal that phen truly sensitizes purely surface dopant sites of the NCs in water, all of which have nearly the same local environment. The phen-sensitized Eu(3+)-emission of the NCs in water remains stable even upon addition of various buffer solutions at physiological pH, as well as upon addition of water-miscible organic solvents. Furthermore, the two-photon excitation (λex. = 720 nm) of these water-soluble phen-capped NCs produces bright red Eu(3+) emission, which reveals that these NCs are promising for potential applications in biological imaging.

Deposition of GdVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles on silica nanospheres by a simple sol gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Guixia; Hong, Guangyan; Wang, Jinxian; Dong, Xiangting

2006-07-01

The deposition and coating of GdVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles on spherical silica was carried out using a simple sol-gel method at low temperature. The GdVO4:Eu3+-coated silica composites obtained were characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence spectra, and kinetic decay. It is found that the ~5 nm GdVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles coating the silica spheres are crystal in the as-prepared samples and the crystallinity increases with increasing annealing temperature. The composites obtained are spherical in shape with an average size of 100 nm. The GdVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles are linked with silica cores by a chemical bond. The photoluminescence spectra of the obtained GdVO4:Eu3+-coated silica composites are similar to those of the bulk GdVO4:Eu3+ phosphors. The strongest peak is near 617 nm, which indicates that Eu3+ is located in the low symmetry site with non-inversion centre.

Single crystal growth and physical properties of BiS2-layered compound Eu3Bi2S4F4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higashinaka, Ryuji; Endo, Hideaki; Kajitani, Joe; Matsuda, Tatsuma D.; Aoki, Yuji

2018-05-01

We have for the first time succeeded in growing single crystals of Eu3Bi2S4F4 by CsCl-flux method and performed magnetic property measurements. Magnetization measurements ascertained that the antiferromagnetic transition appears at TN = 2.2 K. The effective moment estimated from a Curie-Weiss (CW) fitting above 150 K is smaller than the free ion value for Eu2+, indicating that the average valence of Eu ions deviates from divalent. Weak magnetic anisotropy develops below 20 K. From CW fitting at low temperatures, we found the difference in Curie Weiss temperature between H∥ [001] and H ⊥ [ 100 ] , indicating the anisotropy of magnetic interaction between Eu ions. In the magnetization curve at 2 K (below TN), a metamagnetic anomaly appears only for the [001] direction around 0.7 T. Since this anomaly disappears above TN, this transition originates from the spin flip of Eu magnetic moments by applying magnetic field. This finding indicates that the ordered moments in the antiferromagnetic state are parallel to the [001] direction, being consistent with the anisotropic Weiss temperature, which is 20% larger for this direction.

Dynamic visualisation of municipal waste management performance in the EU using Ternary Diagram method.

PubMed

Pomberger, R; Sarc, R; Lorber, K E

2017-03-01

This contribution describes the dynamic visualisation of European (EU 28) municipal waste management performance, using the Ternary Diagram Method. Municipal waste management performance depends primarily on three treatment categories: recycling & composting, incineration and landfilling. The framework of current municipal waste management including recycling targets, etc. is given by the Waste Framework Directive - 2008/98/EC. The proposed Circular Economy Package should stimulate Europe's transition towards more sustainable resources and energy oriented waste management. The Package also includes a revised legislative proposal on waste that sets ambitious recycling rates for municipal waste for 2025 (60%) and 2030 (65%). Additionally, the new calculation method for monitoring the attainment of the targets should be applied. In 2014, ca. 240 million tonnes of municipal waste were generated in the EU. While in 1995, 17% were recycled and composted, 14% incinerated and 64% landfilled, in 2014 ca. 71% were recovered but 28% landfilled only. Considering the treatment performance of the individual EU member states, the EU 28 can be divided into three groups, namely: "Recovery Countries", "Transition Countries" and "Landfilling Countries". Using Ternary Diagram Method, three types of visualization for the municipal waste management performance have been investigated and extensively described. Therefore, for better understanding of municipal waste management performance in the last 20years, dynamic visualisation of the Eurostat table-form data on all 28 member states of the EU has been carried out in three different ways: 1. "Performance Positioning" of waste management unit(s) at a specific date; 2. "Performance dynamics" over a certain time period and; 3. "Performance development" expressed as a track(s). Results obtained show that the Ternary Diagram Method is very well suited to be used for better understanding of past developments and coherences, for monitoring of current situations and prognosis of future paths. One of the interesting coherences shown by the method is the linked development of recycling & composting (60-65%) with incineration (40-35%) performance over the last 20years in the EU 28. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Agricultural Extension Services and Market Regulation: Learning from a Comparison of Six EU Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laurent, Catherine; Cerf, Marianne; Labarthe, Pierre

2006-01-01

If farmers are to meet the new challenges facing agriculture (environment, rural development, etc.), appropriate knowledge has to be produced. But observations in six EU countries (France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK) show that unexpected problems arise when technical support for agriculture is linked to market regulation,…

Influence of Gd3+ concentration on luminescence properties of Eu3+ ions in sol-gel materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szpikowska-Sroka, Barbara; Pawlik, Natalia; Pisarski, Wojciech A.

2016-12-01

The sol-gel powders doubly-doped with Gd3+/Eu3+ ions with different concentration of Gd3+ have been successfully obtained. The spectroscopic characterization of prepared samples was conducted based on excitation and emission spectra as well as luminescence decay analysis. Upon direct excitation of Eu3+ active ions, the characteristic 5D0 → 7F1 (orange) and 5D0 → 7F2 (red) emission bands were observed. The energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+ ions was registered upon λexc = 273 nm excitation. An efficient conversion of ultraviolet radiation (UV) into visible luminescence was successfully observed. The energy transfer process from Gd3+ to Eu3+ led to longer luminescence decay from the 5D0 state in comparison to that obtained under direct excitation of Eu3+ ions (λexc = 393 nm). Generally, obtained results clearly indicated the beneficial influence of increasing concentration of Gd3+ ions on luminescence properties of Eu3+ in studied silica sol-gel phosphors.

Magnetic properties and effect of pressure on the electronic state of EuCo2Ge2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashitomi, Y.; Kakihana, M.; Honda, F.; Nakamura, A.; Aoki, D.; Uwatoko, Y.; Nakashima, M.; Amako, Y.; Takeuchi, T.; Kida, T.; Tahara, T.; Hagiwara, M.; Haga, Y.; Hedo, M.; Nakama, T.; Ōnuki, Y.

2018-05-01

EuCo2Ge2 with the tetragonal structure is a Eu-divalent antiferromagnet with the Néel temperature TN = 23 K. The magnetic easy-axis corresponds to the [100] direction (a-axis), while the [001] direction (c-axis) is a hard-axis. The magnetization for H∥ [ 100 ] indicates a metamagnetic transition at 25 kOe and saturates above 75 kOe. On the other hand, the hard-axis magnetization increases approximately linearly and saturates above 110 kOe. The magnetic phase diagram was constructed. A characteristic feature in EuCo2Ge2 is known as a valence transition under pressure, from Eu 2+δ to Eu 3 - δ ‧(δ, δ ‧ < 1). We also clarified the valence transition by measuring the electrical resistivity under pressure. The valence transition occurs at 3 GPa, with a hysteresis, and terminates at about 4.5 GPa. Further increasing pressure, the electronic state is changed into a moderate heavy fermion state and approaches the nearly trivalent electronic state.

The PHARMINE study on the impact of the European Union directive on sectoral professions and of the Bologna declaration on pharmacy education in Europe

PubMed Central

Atkinson, Jeffrey; Rombaut, Bart

The Bologna declaration and the European Union (EU) directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications influence the mobility of pharmacy students and pharmacy professionals, respectively. In addition the Bologna declaration aims at tuning higher education degrees including pharmacy throughout the EU in order to prepare for a harmonised European Higher Education Area. The directive outlines the knowledge, skills and qualifications required for the pursuit of the professional activity of a pharmacy in the EU. The PHARMINE project (Pharmacy Education in Europe, www.pharmine.org) looked at how the Bologna declaration and the directive influence modern-day pharmacy education and training in Europe. PMID:24198855

Induced spin-polarization of EuS at room temperature in Ni/EuS multilayers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Poulopoulos, P., E-mail: poulop@upatras.gr; Materials Science Department, University of Patras, 26504 Patras; Goschew, A.

2014-03-17

Ni/EuS multilayers with excellent multilayer sequencing are deposited via e-beam evaporation on the native oxide of Si(100) wafers at 4 × 10{sup −9} millibars. The samples have very small surface and interface roughness and show sharp interfaces. Ni layers are nanocrystalline 4–8 nm thick and EuS layers are 2–4 nm thick and are either amorphous or nanocrystalline. Unlike for Co/EuS multilayers, all Eu ions are in divalent (ferromagnetic) state. We show a direct antiferromagnetic coupling between EuS and Ni layers. At room temperature, the EuS layers are spin-polarized due to the proximity of Ni. Therefore, Ni/EuS is a candidate for room-temperature spintronics applications.

Strategic environmental noise mapping: methodological issues concerning the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive and their policy implications.

PubMed

Murphy, E; King, E A

2010-04-01

This paper explores methodological issues and policy implications concerning the implementation of the EU Environmental Noise Directive (END) across Member States. Methodologically, the paper focuses on two key thematic issues relevant to the Directive: (1) calculation methods and (2) mapping methods. For (1), the paper focuses, in particular, on how differing calculation methods influence noise prediction results as well as the value of the EU noise indicator L(den) and its associated implications for comparability of noise data across EU states. With regard to (2), emphasis is placed on identifying the issues affecting strategic noise mapping, estimating population exposure, noise action planning and dissemination of noise mapping results to the general public. The implication of these issues for future environmental noise policy is also examined. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive: Opportunities and Challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zīgurs, A.; Sarma, U.

2015-12-01

Discussions in Latvia are ongoing regarding the optimum solution to implementing Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC (Directive 2012/27/EU). Without a doubt, increased energy efficiency contributes significantly to energy supply security, competitive performance, increased quality of life, reduced energy dependence and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, Directive 2012/27/EU should be implemented with careful planning, evaluating every aspect of the process. This study analyses a scenario, where a significant fraction of target energy efficiency is achieved by obliging energy utilities to implement user-end energy efficiency measures. With implementation of this scheme towards energy end-use savings, user payments for energy should be reduced; on the other hand, these measures will require considerable investment. The energy efficiency obligation scheme stipulates that these investments must be paid by energy utilities; however, they will actually be covered by users, because the source of energy utilities' income is user payments for energy. Thus, expenses on such measures will be included in energy prices and service tariffs. The authors analyse the ways to achieve a balance between user gains from energy end-use savings and increased energy prices and tariffs as a result of obligations imposed upon energy utilities. Similarly, the suitability of the current regulatory regime for effective implementation of Directive 2012/27/EU is analysed in the energy supply sectors, where supply tariffs are regulated.

Potential for Introduction of Bat-Borne Zoonotic Viruses into the EU: A Review

PubMed Central

Simons, Robin R. L.; Gale, Paul; Horigan, Verity; Snary, Emma L.; Breed, Andrew C.

2014-01-01

Bat-borne viruses can pose a serious threat to human health, with examples including Nipah virus (NiV) in Bangladesh and Malaysia, and Marburg virus (MARV) in Africa. To date, significant human outbreaks of such viruses have not been reported in the European Union (EU). However, EU countries have strong historical links with many of the countries where NiV and MARV are present and a corresponding high volume of commercial trade and human travel, which poses a potential risk of introduction of these viruses into the EU. In assessing the risks of introduction of these bat-borne zoonotic viruses to the EU, it is important to consider the location and range of bat species known to be susceptible to infection, together with the virus prevalence, seasonality of viral pulses, duration of infection and titre of virus in different bat tissues. In this paper, we review the current scientific knowledge of all these factors, in relation to the introduction of NiV and MARV into the EU. PMID:24841385

A project-based system for including farmers in the EU ETS.

PubMed

Brandt, Urs Steiner; Svendsen, Gert Tinggaard

2011-04-01

Farmers in the EU do not trade greenhouse gases under the Kyoto agreement. This is an empirical puzzle because agriculture is a significant contributor of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the EU and may harvest private net gains from trade. Furthermore, the US has strongly advocated land-use practices as 'the missing link' in past climate negotiations. We argue that farmers have relatively low marginal reduction costs and that consequences in terms of the effect on permit price and technology are overall positive in the EU Emission Trading System (ETS). Thus, we propose a project-based system for including the farming practices in the EU ETS that reduces the uncertainty from measuring emission reduction in this sector. The system encourages GHG reduction either by introducing a new and less polluting practice or by reducing the polluting activity. When doing so, farmers will receive GHG permits corresponding to the amount of reduction which can be stored for later use or sold in the EU ETS. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

European Union pharmacovigilance capabilities: potential for the new legislation

PubMed Central

Tanti, Amy; Kouvelas, Dimitrios; Lungu, Calin; Pirozynski, Michal; Serracino-Inglott, Anthony; Aislaitner, George

2015-01-01

European Directives and Regulations introduced between late 2010 and 2012 have substantially overhauled pharmacovigilance processes across the European Union (EU). In this review, the implementation of the pharmacovigilance legislative framework by EU regulators is examined with the aim of mapping Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation EC No. 1235/2010 against their aspired objectives of strengthening and rationalizing pharmacovigilance in the EU. A comprehensive review of the current state of affairs of the progress made by EU regulators is presented in this paper. Our review shows that intense efforts by regulators and industry to fulfil legislative obligations have resulted in major positive shifts in pharmacovigilance. Harmonized decision making, transparency in decision processes with patient involvement, information accessibility to the public, patient adverse drug reaction reporting, efforts in communication and enhanced cooperation between member states to maximize resource utilization and minimize duplication of efforts are observed. PMID:26301067

Direct access and patient/client self-referral to physiotherapy: a review of contemporary practice within the European Union.

PubMed

Bury, T J; Stokes, E K

2013-12-01

Direct access refers to service users being able to refer themselves to physiotherapy without a third-party referral. It represents a model of practice supported globally by the profession, growing research evidence and health policy in some health systems. To the authors' knowledge, no research has been reported to ascertain the extent to which direct access is available within the physiotherapy profession within the European Union (EU). To survey member organisations of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT); establish the number of member states within the EU where it is possible for individuals seeking physiotherapy services to self-refer; describe the legislative/regulatory and reimbursement contexts in which physiotherapy services are delivered; examine if physiotherapy practice is different in member states where direct access is permitted compared with member states where direct access is not permitted; and to describe the barriers and facilitators to direct access perceived by member organisations of the WCPT. Cross-sectional, online survey using a purposive sample. Member organisations of the WCPT in the EU. Direct access is not available in all member states of the EU, despite the majority having legislation to regulate the profession, and entry-level education programmes that produce graduates with the requisite competencies. Key barriers perceived are those that can influence policy development, including the views of the medical profession and politicians. Support of service users and politicians, as well as professional autonomy, are seen as key facilitators. These results represent the first report of a comprehensive mapping of direct access to physiotherapy and contexts within the EU. In over half of member states, service users can self-refer to physiotherapists. These results provide insights to further individuals' understanding about the similarities and differences in working practices and service delivery factors, such as reimbursement across and within EU member states. The synergies between barriers and facilitators indicate the importance of targeted advocacy strategies in the introduction of direct access/self-referral to physiotherapy. Copyright © 2013 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measuring the Contribution of Higher Education to Innovation Capacity in the EU. Final Report: Revised Version

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

European Commission, 2017

2017-01-01

This current study is part of the actions taken aiming to analyse the links between the operations and effects of higher-education institutions on the capacity to innovate in the economies in Europe. Providing insights into the contribution of higher education to the innovative capacity of the EU economies is crucial for policy making and the…

Measuring the Contribution of Higher Education to Innovation Capacity in the EU. Executive Summary of the Final Report

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

European Commission, 2017

2017-01-01

This current study is part of the actions taken aiming to analyse the links between the operations and effects of higher-education institutions on the capacity to innovate in the economies in Europe. Providing insights into the contribution of higher education to the innovative capacity of the EU economies is crucial for policy making and the…

European Higher Education, the Inclusion of Students from Under-Represented Groups and the Bologna Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riddell, Sheila; Weedon, Elisabet

2014-01-01

The central questions addressed in this paper are the following: (1) In the context of the (European Union) EU's goal of severing the link between social class background and higher education participation, what progress has been made in widening access over the past two decades? (2) Has the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) helped EU countries to…

Temporary Work in Transnational Labor Regulation: SER-Centrism and the Risk of Exacerbating Gendered Precariousness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vosko, Leah F.

2008-01-01

This article explores the transnational regulation of temporary work. Analyzing the terms of the EU "Directive on Fixed-Term Work (1999), the ILO "Convention on Private Employment Agencies" (1997), the ILO "Recommendation on the Employment Relationship" (2006), and a draft EU Directive on "Temporary Agency Work"…

Varying Eu2+ magnetic order by chemical pressure in EuFe2(As1-xPx)2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zapf, S.; Wu, D.; Bogani, L.; Jeevan, H. S.; Gegenwart, P.; Dressel, M.

2011-10-01

Based on low-field magnetization measurements on a series of single crystals, we present a scheme of the Eu2+ spin alignment in EuFe2(As1-xPx)2. We explain observations of the Eu2+ ordering previously reported, reconciling different existing phase diagrams. The magnetic moments of the Eu2+ ions are slightly canted, yielding a ferromagnetic contribution along the c direction that becomes stronger with pressure, until superconductivity sets in. The spin-density wave as well as the superconducting phase coexist with an antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling of the canted spins. Reducing the interlayer distance finally leads to a ferromagnetic Eu2+ interlayer coupling and to the suppression of superconductivity.

Why should we publish Linked Data?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blower, Jon; Riechert, Maik; Koubarakis, Manolis; Pace, Nino

2016-04-01

We use the Web every day to access information from all kinds of different sources. But the complexity and diversity of scientific data mean that discovering accessing and interpreting data remains a large challenge to researchers, decision-makers and other users. Different sources of useful information on data, algorithms, instruments and publications are scattered around the Web. How can we link all these things together to help users to better understand and exploit earth science data? How can we combine scientific data with other relevant data sources, when standards for describing and sharing data vary so widely between communities? "Linked Data" is a term that describes a set of standards and "best practices" for sharing data on the Web (http://www.w3.org/standards/semanticweb/data). These principles can be summarised as follows: 1. Create unique and persistent identifiers for the important "things" in a community (e.g. datasets, publications, algorithms, instruments). 2. Allow users to "look up" these identifiers on the web to find out more information about them. 3. Make this information machine-readable in a community-neutral format (such as RDF, Resource Description Framework). 4. Within this information, embed links to other things and concepts and say how these are related. 5. Optionally, provide web service interfaces to allow the user to perform sophisticated queries over this information (using a language such as SPARQL). The promise of Linked Data is that, through these techniques, data will be more discoverable, more comprehensible and more usable by different communities, not just the community that produced the data. As a result, many data providers (particularly public-sector institutions) are now publishing data in this way. However, this area is still in its infancy in terms of real-world applications. Data users need guidance and tools to help them use Linked Data. Data providers need reassurance that the investments they are making in publishing Linked Data will result in tangible user benefits. This presentation will address a number of these issues, using real-world experience gathered from four recent European projects: MELODIES (http://melodiesproject.eu), LEO (http://linkedeodata.eu), CHARMe (http://linkedeodata.eu) and TELEIOS (http://www.earthobservatory.eu). These projects have all applied Linked Data techniques in practical, real-world situations involving the use of diverse data (including earth science data) by both industrial and academic users. Specifically, we will: • Identify a set of practical and valuable uses for Linked Data, focusing on areas where Linked Data fills gaps left by other technologies. These uses include: enabling the discovery of earth science data using mass-market search engines, helping users to understand data and its uses, combining data from multiple sources and enabling the annotation of data by users. • Enumerate some common challenges faced by developers of data-driven services who wish to use Linked Data in their applications. • Describe a new suite of tools for managing, processing and visualising Linked Data in earth science applications (including geospatial Linked Data).

The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine syllabus for postgraduate education and training for Specialists in Laboratory Medicine: version 5 - 2018.

PubMed

Jassam, Nuthar; Lake, Jennifer; Dabrowska, Milena; Queralto, Jose; Rizos, Demetrios; Lichtinghagen, Ralf; Baum, Hannsjörg; Ceriotti, Ferruccio; O'Mullane, John; Homšak, Evgenija; Charilaou, Charis; Ohlson, Mats; Rako, Ivana; Vitkus, Dalius; Kovac, Gustav; Verschuure, Pauline; Racek, Jaroslav; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen; Wieringa, Gilbert

2018-06-05

Although laboratory medicine practise varies across the European Union's (EU) member states, the extent of overlap in scope is such that a common syllabus describing the education and training associated with high-quality, specialist practise can be identified. In turn, such a syllabus can help define the common set of skills, knowledge and competence in a Common Training Framework (CTF) for non-medical Specialists in Laboratory Medicine under EU Directive 2013/55/EU (The recognition of Professional Qualifications). In meeting the requirements of the directive's CTF patient safety is particularly enhanced when specialists seek to capitalise on opportunities for free professional migration across EU borders. In updating the fourth syllabus, the fifth expands on individual discipline requirements, new analytical techniques and use of statistics. An outline structure for a training programme is proposed together with expected responsibilities of trainees and trainers; reference is provided to a trainee's log book. In updating the syllabus, it continues to support national programmes and the aims of EU Directive 2013/55/EU in providing safeguards to professional mobility across European borders at a time when the demand for highly qualified professionals is increasing in the face of a disparity in their distribution across Europe. In support of achieving a CTF, the syllabus represents EFLM's position statement for the education and training that underpins the framework.

Marine conservation and accession: the future for the Croatian Adriatic.

PubMed

Mackelworth, Peter; Holcer, Draško; Jovanović, Jelena; Fortuna, Caterina

2011-04-01

The European Union (EU) is the world's largest trading bloc and the most influential supra-national organisation in the region. The EU has been the goal for many eastern European States, for Croatia accession remains a priority and underpins many of its national policies. However, entry into the EU requires certain commitments and concessions. In October 2003 the Croatian parliament declared an ecological and fisheries protection zone in the Adriatic. Under pressure the zone was suspended, finally entering into force in March 2008 exempting EU States. There are other marine conflicts between Croatia and the EU, particularly the contested maritime border with Slovenia, and the development of the Croatian fishing fleet in opposition to the Common Fisheries Policy. Conversely, attempts to harmonise Croatian Nature Protection with the EU Habitats Directive, facilitated by pre-accession funding, has galvanised conservation policy. Since 2005 two marine protected areas have been declared, significantly increasing the marine ecosystem under protection. Finally, the development of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is the latest EU attempt to integrate environmental policy in the maritime realm. This will have an effect not only on member States but neighbouring countries. For marine nature protection to be effective in the region the Adriatic Sea needs to be viewed as a mutually important shared and limited resource not a bargaining chip. Negotiations of the EU and Croatia have been watched closely by the other Balkan States and precedents set in this case have the potential to affect EU expansion to the East.

Marine Conservation and Accession: The Future for the Croatian Adriatic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mackelworth, Peter; Holcer, Draško; Jovanović, Jelena; Fortuna, Caterina

2011-04-01

The European Union (EU) is the world's largest trading bloc and the most influential supra-national organisation in the region. The EU has been the goal for many eastern European States, for Croatia accession remains a priority and underpins many of its national policies. However, entry into the EU requires certain commitments and concessions. In October 2003 the Croatian parliament declared an ecological and fisheries protection zone in the Adriatic. Under pressure the zone was suspended, finally entering into force in March 2008 exempting EU States. There are other marine conflicts between Croatia and the EU, particularly the contested maritime border with Slovenia, and the development of the Croatian fishing fleet in opposition to the Common Fisheries Policy. Conversely, attempts to harmonise Croatian Nature Protection with the EU Habitats Directive, facilitated by pre-accession funding, has galvanised conservation policy. Since 2005 two marine protected areas have been declared, significantly increasing the marine ecosystem under protection. Finally, the development of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is the latest EU attempt to integrate environmental policy in the maritime realm. This will have an effect not only on member States but neighbouring countries. For marine nature protection to be effective in the region the Adriatic Sea needs to be viewed as a mutually important shared and limited resource not a bargaining chip. Negotiations of the EU and Croatia have been watched closely by the other Balkan States and precedents set in this case have the potential to affect EU expansion to the East.

Implementation of direct LSC method for diesel samples on the fuel market.

PubMed

Krištof, Romana; Hirsch, Marko; Kožar Logar, Jasmina

2014-11-01

The European Union develops common EU policy and strategy on biofuels and sustainable bio-economy through several documents. The encouragement of biofuel's consumption is therefore the obligation of each EU member state. The situation in Slovenian fuel market is presented and compared with other EU countries in the frame of prescribed values from EU directives. Diesel is the most common fuel for transportation needs in Slovenia. The study was therefore performed on diesel. The sampling net was determined in accordance with the fuel consumption statistics of the country. 75 Sampling points were located on different types of roads. The quantity of bio-component in diesel samples was determined by direct LSC method through measurement of C-14 content. The measured values were in the range from 0 up to nearly 6 mass percentage of bio-component in fuel. The method has proved to be appropriate, suitable and effective for studies on the real fuel market. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Data Resource Profile: The European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC).

PubMed

Arora, Vishal S; Karanikolos, Marina; Clair, Amy; Reeves, Aaron; Stuckler, David; McKee, Martin

2015-04-01

Social and economic policies are inextricably linked with population health outcomes in Europe, yet few datasets are able to fully explore and compare this relationship across European countries. The European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey aims to address this gap using microdata on income, living conditions and health. EU-SILC contains both cross-sectional and longitudinal elements, with nationally representative samples of individuals 16 years and older in 28 European Union member states as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Data collection began in 2003 in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Luxembourg and Austria, with subsequent expansion across Europe. By 2011, all 28 EU member states, plus three others, were included in the dataset. Although EU-SILC is administered by Eurostat, the data are output-harmonized so that countries are required to collect specified data items but are free to determine sampling strategies for data collection purposes. EU-SILC covers approximately 500,000 European residents for its cross-sectional survey annually. Whereas aggregated data from EU-SILC are publicly available [http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/income-and-living-conditions/data/main-tables], microdata are only available to research organizations subject to approval by Eurostat. Please refer to [http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/microdata/eu_silc] for further information regarding microdata access. © The Author 2015; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association.

Deterioration in health: What is the role of unemployment and poverty?

PubMed

Vaalavuo, Maria

2016-06-01

There is powerful evidence on the association between ill health and low income or low socioeconomic position of the individual. In this article we study the deterioration in self-assessed health and its determinants, focusing on unemployment and poverty status of the person. A special focus on worsening health status gives more information on the link between health and socioeconomic characteristics than static analysis of health status. The longitudinal EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) data covering years from 2008 to 2013 for 26 EU Member States is used to follow people for whom we have data for 4 consecutive years. We will use information on the self-rated health status of the person. Logistic regression analysis is employed to study the determinants of transition to worse health status. The results show that unemployment (OR 1.23) and poverty (OR 1.19) before the health transition are significantly associated with worsening health even when controlled for the prior health status of the person. CONCLUSIONS THE RESULTS SUPPORT CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY STATUS AND SUBSEQUENT HEALTH STATUS, WHILE WE CANNOT EXCLUDE THE ROLE OF SELECTION IN THE MECHANISM UNDERSTANDING BETTER THE LINK BETWEEN HEALTH AND UNEMPLOYMENT OR POVERTY IS IMPORTANT FOR BETTER DESIGN OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL POLICIES. © 2016 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.

A project on groundwater research inventory and classification to make groundwater visible

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cseko, Adrienn; Petitta, Marco; van der Keur, Peter; Fernandez, Isabel; Garcia Alibrandi, Clint; Hinsby, Klaus; Hartai, Eva; Garcia Padilla, Mercedes; Szucs, Peter; Mikita, Viktoria; Bisevac, Vanja; Bodo, Balazs

2017-04-01

Hydrogeology related research activities cover a wide spectrum of research areas at EU and national levels. The European knowledge base on this important topic is widespread and fragmented into broader programs generally related to waterresources, environment or ecology. In order to achieve a comprehensive understanding on the groundwater theme, the KINDRA project (Knowledge Inventory for Hydrogeology Research - www.kindraproject.eu) seeks to carry out an accurate assessment of the state of the art in hydrogeology research and to create a critical mass for scientific knowledge exchange of hydrogeology research, to ensure wide accessibility and applicability of research results, including support of innovation and development, and to reduce unnecessary duplication of efforts. The first two years of the project have focused its efforts in developing the concept of a Harmonized Terminology and Methodology for Classification and Reporting Hydrogeology related Research in Europe (HRCSYS) as well as its implementation in the European Inventory of Groundwater Research (EIGR). For developing the common terminology, keywords characterizing research on groundwater have been identified from two main sources: the most important EU directives and policy documents and from groundwater related scientific literature. To assess the importance and pertinence of the keywords, these have been ranked by performing searches via the Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar search engines. The complete merged list of keywords consisting of more than 200 terms has been organized in a tree hierarchy, identifying three main categories: Societal Challenges (SC), Operational Actions (OA) and Research Topics (RT). The relationships among these main categories expressed by a 3D approach, identifying single intersections among 5 main overarching groups for each category. The EIGR itself contains metadata (about 1800 records at the moment) of research efforts and topic related knowledge deliverables (scientific reports, articles, projects, etc.) illustrating and providing links to research efforts carried out through Europe since 2000, indicating where data can be retrieved, and following their classification according to the proposed methodology. Both the HRC-SYS classification approach and the EIGR tool, are fundamental to achieve the main aim of the KINDRA project: to create an overview of the scientific knowledge covering European countries by means of an accurate assessment of hydrogeology research in various geographical and geo-environmental settings, and to allow for a direct comparison and exploit existing synergies. The scope of the project also includes identification of future trends, critical challenges and research gaps, to improve management and policy development for groundwater resources on a EU level coherently with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and Groundwater Directive (GWD). As part of the work to be carried out in 2017, the identified research gaps will be converted into specific recommendations for the further development of EU level policies and research programmes. The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 642047.

Fuzzy risk explicit interval linear programming model for end-of-life vehicle recycling planning in the EU.

PubMed

Simic, Vladimir

2015-01-01

End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) are vehicles that have reached the end of their useful lives and are no longer registered or licensed for use. The ELV recycling problem has become very serious in the last decade and more and more efforts are made in order to reduce the impact of ELVs on the environment. This paper proposes the fuzzy risk explicit interval linear programming model for ELV recycling planning in the EU. It has advantages in reflecting uncertainties presented in terms of intervals in the ELV recycling systems and fuzziness in decision makers' preferences. The formulated model has been applied to a numerical study in which different decision maker types and several ELV types under two EU ELV Directive legislative cases were examined. This study is conducted in order to examine the influences of the decision maker type, the α-cut level, the EU ELV Directive and the ELV type on decisions about vehicle hulks procuring, storing unprocessed hulks, sorting generated material fractions, allocating sorted waste flows and allocating sorted metals. Decision maker type can influence quantity of vehicle hulks kept in storages. The EU ELV Directive and decision maker type have no influence on which vehicle hulk type is kept in the storage. Vehicle hulk type, the EU ELV Directive and decision maker type do not influence the creation of metal allocation plans, since each isolated metal has its regular destination. The valid EU ELV Directive eco-efficiency quotas can be reached even when advanced thermal treatment plants are excluded from the ELV recycling process. The introduction of the stringent eco-efficiency quotas will significantly reduce the quantities of land-filled waste fractions regardless of the type of decision makers who will manage vehicle recycling system. In order to reach these stringent quotas, significant quantities of sorted waste need to be processed in advanced thermal treatment plants. Proposed model can serve as the support for the European vehicle recycling managers in creating more successful ELV recycling plans. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Euros vs. Yuan: Comparing European and Chinese Fishing Access in West Africa

PubMed Central

Belhabib, Dyhia; Sumaila, U. Rashid; Lam, Vicky W. Y.; Zeller, Dirk; Le Billon, Philippe; Abou Kane, Elimane; Pauly, Daniel

2015-01-01

We compare the performance of European Union (EU) and Chinese fisheries access agreements with West African countries in terms of illegal and unreported fishing, economic equity, and patterns of exploitation. Bottom-up re-estimations of catch reveal that the EU (1.6 million t•year-1) and China (2.3 million t•year-1) report only 29% and 8%, respectively, of their estimated total catches (including estimated discards whenever possible) from West African countries between 2000 and 2010. EU catches are declining, while Chinese catches are increasing and are yet to reach the historic maximum level of EU catches (3 million t•year-1 on average in the 1970s-1980s). The monetary value of EU fishing agreements, correlated in theory with reported catches, is straightforward to access, in contrast to Chinese agreements. However, once quantified, the value of Chinese agreements is readily traceable within the African economy through the different projects they directly cover, in contrast to the funds disbursed [to host governments] by the EU. Overall, China provides resources equivalent to about 4% of the ex-vessel value [value at landing] of the catch taken by Chinese distant-water fleets from West African waters, while the EU pays 8%. We address the difficulties of separating fees directly related to fishing from other economic or political motivations for Chinese fees, which could introduce a bias to the present findings as this operation is not performed for EU access fees officially related to fishing. Our study reveals that the EU and China perform similarly in terms of illegal fishing, patterns of exploitation and sustainability of resource use, while under-reporting by the EU increases and that by China decreases. The EU agreements provide, in theory, room for improving scientific research, monitoring and surveillance, suggesting a better performance than for Chinese agreements, but the end-use of the EU funds are more difficult, and sometime impossible to ascertain. PMID:25793775

The patentability of living organisms between science, law and ethics.

PubMed

Frati, L; Foà, R; Frati, P

1999-01-01

The approval on May 1998 of the European Union (EU) directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions has aligned Europe to the international trend about the patenting of biotechnologies. Many questions are still unresolved, i.e. the differences between the article 53b of the European Patent Convention (EPC), which prohibits patenting of plants and animal varieties, whereas the directive states that Oinvention whose object are plants or animals may be patented if the practicability of the invention is not technically confined to a particular plant or animal varietyO (article 12). Again, the interpretation of plants or animal species specificity and that on the threatening public order and morality (which inhibits patenting) may have doubtful interpretations, according to the different EU States morality and law (e.g. Denmark does not admit patentability of transgenic animals). Despite difficulties, biotechnology Research and Development for applications to medicine, veterinary sciences, agriculture and foods is continuously growing. Bioethical independent evaluations of the applications of biotechnologies and of their side-effects (risk for biodiversity of plants and animals, safety of procedures to save mankind, respect of human dignity and of fundamental human rights, etc.) are mandatory to link the interests of science and industrial productions together with those of mankind. This is the original meaning given by van Potter to the word bioethics, as a bridge to the future.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis in the European Union: opportunities and challenges for control.

PubMed

Fears, Robin; Kaufmann, Stefan; Ter Meulen, Volker; Zumla, Alimuddin

2010-05-01

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death globally. TB had been considered conquered in Europe but has re-emerged as a significant problem, partly because of poor TB control programs and the link with HIV infection, migrants and other vulnerable populations, but also because a mood of complacency led to declining investment in research and public health infrastructure. In the European Union (EU), efforts initiated by the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) now assess how research can better inform policy development and indicate the gaps and uncertainties in the scientific evidence base. A growing number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains are now resistant to the first-line anti-TB drugs, necessitating use of second-line drugs which are more expensive, less effective and more toxic. The presence of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB in the EU illustrates that there are problems with TB management and control. In the EU, the aggregated rate of notified TB is approximately 18 cases per 100,000 population (range 4-120 cases/100,000 in different Member States). The highest rates are found in Eastern European countries. Only about half of EU countries routinely perform drug susceptibility testing linked to notification of TB cases. It is important for the European Commission (EC) to network regional reference laboratories to support molecular epidemiology and exchange of data via creation of interactive international databases of Mtb genotypic and phenotypic information. EU countries should help develop TB laboratory services by investing in training and provision of assistance to maintain quality control in neighbouring Eastern European countries. Improved TB care necessitates research across the spectrum to include fundamental and epidemiological science, research and development (R&D) for new drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and operational research. Total R&D investment in TB by the EC and Member States is low by comparison with the USA despite Europe being on the frontline of the epidemic. Thus, alternative funding models for targeting TB research priorities by the EU are required. Increasing the visibility of TB as a priority issue for the EU requires the scientific community, with the academies of science, as appropriate, to communicate to politicians, healthcare providers, funders and the public at large about the current threat posed by drug-resistant TB. Any global strategy for TB control must also take into account measures to address the social, environmental and economic issues which are inextricably linked with TB. The academies conclude that, overall, the EU has failed so far to respond sufficiently to the global TB threat but can still draw on considerable strengths in its science. The EU also has a humanitarian responsibility to support TB control in developing countries. It remains very important for the EC that neither biomedical research nor investment in health services should become a casualty of the current economic recession. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of 6s{sup 2} lone pair electrons of Bi{sup 3+} on its preferential site occupancy in fluorapatite, NaCa{sub 3}Bi(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F – An insight from Eu{sup 3+} luminescent probe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lakshminarasimhan, N., E-mail: nlnsimha@gmail.com; Varadaraju, U.V.

2014-12-15

Graphical abstract: Eu{sup 3+} structural probe – difference in Eu{sup 3+} PL emission in (a) NaCa{sub 3}Bi{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F and (b) NaCa{sub 3}La{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F suggests Bi{sup 3+} with preferential site occupancy at M(II) site directing Eu{sup 3+} to M(I) site. - Highlights: • Eu{sup 3+} luminescent probe used for establishing the role of 6s{sup 2} lone pair electrons of Bi{sup 3+} in fluorapatite. • Difference in Eu{sup 3+} PL emission spectral features in NaCa{sub 3}Bi{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F and NaCa{sub 3}La{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F. • Preferential site occupancy of Bi{sup 3+} in M(II)more » site directs Eu{sup 3+} to M(I) site in NaCa{sub 3}Bi{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F. - Abstract: Eu{sup 3+} luminescence was used as a structural probe in understanding the preferential site occupancy of lone pair cation, Bi{sup 3+}, in fluorapatite by comparing the photoluminescence (PL) emission spectral features with that of in analogous La{sup 3+} based fluorapatite. The fluorapatites, NaCa{sub 3}Bi{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F and NaCa{sub 3}La{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F, were synthesized by conventional high temperature solid state reaction method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FT-IR spectroscopy. The Eu{sup 3+} PL results revealed a difference in the emission spectral features in NaCa{sub 3}Bi{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F and NaCa{sub 3}La{sub 0.95}Eu{sub 0.05}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}F. This difference in Eu{sup 3+} PL emission can be attributed to the difference in its site occupancy in the studied fluorapatites.« less

Using a linked data approach to aid development of a metadata portal to support Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Chris

2016-04-01

Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), EU Member States are mandated to achieve or maintain 'Good Environmental Status' (GES) in their marine areas by 2020, through a series of Programme of Measures (PoMs). The Celtic Seas Partnership (CSP), an EU LIFE+ project, aims to support policy makers, special-interest groups, users of the marine environment, and other interested stakeholders on MSFD implementation in the Celtic Seas geographical area. As part of this support, a metadata portal has been built to provide a signposting service to datasets that are relevant to MSFD within the Celtic Seas. To ensure that the metadata has the widest possible reach, a linked data approach was employed to construct the database. Although the metadata are stored in a traditional RDBS, the metadata are exposed as linked data via the D2RQ platform, allowing virtual RDF graphs to be generated. SPARQL queries can be executed against the end-point allowing any user to manipulate the metadata. D2RQ's mapping language, based on turtle, was used to map a wide range of relevant ontologies to the metadata (e.g. The Provenance Ontology (prov-o), Ocean Data Ontology (odo), Dublin Core Elements and Terms (dc & dcterms), Friend of a Friend (foaf), and Geospatial ontologies (geo)) allowing users to browse the metadata, either via SPARQL queries or by using D2RQ's HTML interface. The metadata were further enhanced by mapping relevant parameters to the NERC Vocabulary Server, itself built on a SPARQL endpoint. Additionally, a custom web front-end was built to enable users to browse the metadata and express queries through an intuitive graphical user interface that requires no prior knowledge of SPARQL. As well as providing means to browse the data via MSFD-related parameters (Descriptor, Criteria, and Indicator), the metadata records include the dataset's country of origin, the list of organisations involved in the management of the data, and links to any relevant INSPIRE-compliant services relating to the dataset. The web front-end therefore enables users to effectively filter, sort, or search the metadata. As the MSFD timeline requires Member States to review their progress on achieving or maintaining GES every six years, the timely development of this metadata portal will not only aid interested stakeholders in understanding how member states are meeting their targets, but also shows how linked data can be used effectively to support policy makers and associated legislative bodies.

Direct transparent electrode patterning on layered GaN substrate by screen printing of indium tin oxide nanoparticle ink for Eu-doped GaN red light-emitting diode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kashiwagi, Y., E-mail: kasiwagi@omtri.or.jp; Yamamoto, M.; Saitoh, M.

2014-12-01

Transparent electrodes were formed on Eu-doped GaN-based red-light-emitting diode (GaN:Eu LED) substrates by the screen printing of indium tin oxide nanoparticle (ITO np) inks as a wet process. The ITO nps with a mean diameter of 25 nm were synthesized by the controlled thermolysis of a mixture of indium complexes and tin complexes. After the direct screen printing of ITO np inks on GaN:Eu LED substrates and sintering at 850 °C for 10 min under atmospheric conditions, the resistivity of the ITO film was 5.2 mΩ cm. The fabricated LED up to 3 mm square surface emitted red light when the on-voltage was exceeded.

Direct transparent electrode patterning on layered GaN substrate by screen printing of indium tin oxide nanoparticle ink for Eu-doped GaN red light-emitting diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashiwagi, Y.; Koizumi, A.; Takemura, Y.; Furuta, S.; Yamamoto, M.; Saitoh, M.; Takahashi, M.; Ohno, T.; Fujiwara, Y.; Murahashi, K.; Ohtsuka, K.; Nakamoto, M.

2014-12-01

Transparent electrodes were formed on Eu-doped GaN-based red-light-emitting diode (GaN:Eu LED) substrates by the screen printing of indium tin oxide nanoparticle (ITO np) inks as a wet process. The ITO nps with a mean diameter of 25 nm were synthesized by the controlled thermolysis of a mixture of indium complexes and tin complexes. After the direct screen printing of ITO np inks on GaN:Eu LED substrates and sintering at 850 °C for 10 min under atmospheric conditions, the resistivity of the ITO film was 5.2 mΩ cm. The fabricated LED up to 3 mm square surface emitted red light when the on-voltage was exceeded.

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of CsCaI3:Eu and CsSrBr3:Eu scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loyd, Matthew; Lindsey, Adam; Patel, Maulik; Koschan, Merry; Melcher, Charles L.; Zhuravleva, Mariya

2018-01-01

The distorted-perovskite scintillator materials CsCaI3:Eu and CsSrBr3:Eu prepared as single crystals have shown promising potential for use in radiation detection applications requiring a high light yield and excellent energy resolution. We present a study using high temperature powder X-ray diffraction experiments to examine a deleterious high temperature phase transition. High temperature phases were identified through sequential diffraction pattern Rietveld refinement in GSAS II. We report the linear coefficients of thermal expansion for both high and low temperature phases of each compound. Thermal expansion for both compositions is greatest in the [0 0 1] direction. As a result, Bridgman growth utilizing a seed oriented with the [0 0 1] along the growth direction should be used to mitigate thermal stress.

National Differences in Requirements for Ethical and Competent Authority Approval for a Multinational Vaccine Trial under the EU Directive 2001/20/EC

PubMed Central

van Doorn, Eva; Hak, Eelko; Wilffert, Bob

2015-01-01

Obtaining approval for a multinational vaccine trial from an ethics committee and the national competent authority of different Member States of the European Union (EU) is challenging under clinical trial Directive 2001/20/EC because of the differences in the implementation of the directive in national laws of Member States. In this review the national differences in requirements for ethical and competent authority approval are illustrated. The national ethical and competent authority review procedures in Finland, Hungary, The Netherlands, Norway and Slovenia are described under the EU trial directive after discussing the provisions of the trial directive related to both review procedures. The review illustrates the differences between the countries in the documents that have to be submitted for the review procedures, the submission procedures and the language requirements of the documents, the organization of the ethics committees and the role of the competent authority in the approval procedure. PMID:26343188

National Differences in Requirements for Ethical and Competent Authority Approval for a Multinational Vaccine Trial under the EU Directive 2001/20/EC.

PubMed

van Doorn, Eva; Hak, Eelko; Wilffert, Bob

2015-04-14

Obtaining approval for a multinational vaccine trial from an ethics committee and the national competent authority of different Member States of the European Union (EU) is challenging under clinical trial Directive 2001/20/EC because of the differences in the implementation of the directive in national laws of Member States. In this review the national differences in requirements for ethical and competent authority approval are illustrated. The national ethical and competent authority review procedures in Finland, Hungary, The Netherlands, Norway and Slovenia are described under the EU trial directive after discussing the provisions of the trial directive related to both review procedures. The review illustrates the differences between the countries in the documents that have to be submitted for the review procedures, the submission procedures and the language requirements of the documents, the organization of the ethics committees and the role of the competent authority in the approval procedure.

European information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jol, A.; Isoard, S.

2010-09-01

Vulnerability to natural and technological disasters is increasing due to a combination of intensifying land use, increasing industrial development, further urban expansion and expanding infrastructure and also climate change. At EU level the European Commission's White Paper on adaptation to climate change (published in 2009) highlights that adaptation actions should be focused on the most vulnerable areas and communities in Europe (e.g. mountains, coastal areas, river flood prone areas, Mediterranean, Arctic). Mainstreaming of climate change into existing EU policies will be a key policy, including within the Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Nature protection and biodiversity policies, integrated coastal zone management, other (sectoral) policies (agriculture, forestry, energy, transport, health) and disaster risk prevention. 2010 is the international year on biodiversity and the Conference of Parties of the biodiversity convention will meet in autumn 2010 (Japan) to discuss amongst other post-2010 strategies, objectives and indicators. Both within the Biodiversity Convention (CBD) and the Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) there is increasing recognition of the need for integration of biodiversity conservation into climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. Furthermore a number of European countries and also some regions have started to prepare and/or have adopted national adaptation plans or frameworks. Sharing of good practices on climate change vulnerability methods and adaptation actions is so far limited, but is essential to improve such plans, at national, sub national and local level where much of the adaptation action is already taking place and will be expanding in future, also involving increasingly the business community. The EU Clearinghouse on CC impacts, vulnerability and adaptation should address these needs and it is planned to be operational end of 2011. The EEA is expected to have a role in its development in 2010 and is likely to manage the system after 2011. The European Commission in its Communication in 2009 on disaster risk prevention also calls for improving and better sharing of data on disasters, disaster risk mapping and disaster risk management, in the context of the EU civil protection mechanism. Such information might also be linked to the planned EU Clearinghouse on climate change adaptation. The activities of EEA on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation (including disaster risk reduction) include indicators of the impacts of climate change; a regularly updated overview of national assessments and adaptation plans on the EEA web site and specific focused reports, e.g. on adaptation to the challenges of changing water resources in the Alps (2009) and on analysis of past trends in natural disasters (due in 2010) and regular expert meetings and workshops with EEA member countries. The ECAC presentation will include the latest developments in the EU Clearinghouse on adaptation and progress in relevant EEA activities.

Determination of genetic toxicity and potential carcinogenicity in vitro--challenges post the Seventh Amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive.

PubMed

Tweats, D J; Scott, A D; Westmoreland, C; Carmichael, P L

2007-01-01

Genetic toxicology and its role in the detection of carcinogens is currently undergoing a period of reappraisal. There is an increasing interest in developing alternatives to animal testing and the three R's of reduction, refinement and replacement are the basis for EU and national animal protection laws the Seventh Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive will ban the marketing of cosmetic/personal care products that contain ingredients that have been tested in animal models. Thus in vivo tests such as the bone marrow micronucleus test, which has a key role in current testing strategies for genotoxicity, will not be available for this class of products. The attrition rate for new, valuable and safe chemicals tested in an in vitro-only testing battery, using the in vitro tests currently established for genotoxicity screening, will greatly increase once this legislation is in place. In addition there has been an explosion of knowledge concerning the cellular and molecular events leading to carcinogenesis. This knowledge has not yet been fully factored into screening chemicals for properties that are not directly linked to mutation induction. Thus there is a pressing need for new, more accurate approaches to determine genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. However, a considerable challenge is presented for these new approaches to be universally accepted and new tests sufficiently validated by March 2009 when the animal testing and marketing bans associated with the Seventh Amendment are due to come into force. This commentary brings together ideas and approaches from several international workshops and meetings to consider these issues.

Connecting Family Learning and Active Citizenship

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flanagan, Mary

2009-01-01

In Ireland family learning and active citizenship has not been linked together until 2006. It was while the Clare Family Learning Project was involved in a family learning EU learning network project, that a suggestion to create a new partnership project linking both areas was made and FACE IT! was born (Families and Active Citizenship…

REE Partition Coefficients from Synthetic Diogenite-Like Enstatite and the Implications of Petrogenetic Modeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schwandt, C. S.; McKay, G. A.

1996-01-01

Determining the petrogenesis of eucrites (basaltic achondrites) and diogenites (orthopyroxenites) and the possible links between the meteorite types was initiated 30 years ago by Mason. Since then, most investigators have worked on this question. A few contrasting theories have emerged, with the important distinction being whether or not there is a direct genetic link between eucrites and diogenites. One theory suggests that diogenites are cumulates resulting from the fractional crystallization of a parent magma with the eucrites crystallizing, from the residual magma after separation from the diogenite cumulates. Another model proposes that diogenites are cumulates formed from partial melts derived from a source region depleted by the prior generation of eucrite melts. It has also been proposed that the diogenites may not be directly linked to the eucrites and that they are cumulates derived from melts that are more orthopyroxene normative than the eucrites. This last theory has recently received more analytical and experimental support. One of the difficulties with petrogenetic modeling is that it requires appropriate partition coefficients for modeling because they are dependent on temperature, pressure, and composition. For this reason, we set out to determine minor- and trace-element partition coefficients for diogenite-like orthopyroxene. We have accomplished this task and now have enstatite/melt partition coefficients for Al, Cr, Ti, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Er, Yb, and La.

Bridging the Gap. European C4ISR Capabilities and Transatlantic Interoperability

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-10-01

Messagerie Universelle Sécurisée, or MUSE), and the Airborne Laser Optical Link (Liaison Optique Laser Aéroportée, or LOLA), a demonstrator that in 2006...system) Future naval intranet system Messagerie Universelle Sécurisée (MUSE) (secure e-mail system for French MOD) Secure e-mail system...EU/NATO relationship so progress can continue in both frameworks. In addition, whether through the EU or NATO, a failure to allocate European fiscal

EU landfill waste acceptance criteria and EU Hazardous Waste Directive compliance testing of incinerated sewage sludge ash.

PubMed

Donatello, S; Tyrer, M; Cheeseman, C R

2010-01-01

A hazardous waste assessment has been completed on ash samples obtained from seven sewage sludge incinerators operating in the UK, using the methods recommended in the EU Hazardous Waste Directive. Using these methods, the assumed speciation of zinc (Zn) ultimately determines if the samples are hazardous due to ecotoxicity hazard. Leaching test results showed that two of the seven sewage sludge ash samples would require disposal in a hazardous waste landfill because they exceed EU landfill waste acceptance criteria for stabilised non-reactive hazardous waste cells for soluble selenium (Se). Because Zn cannot be proven to exist predominantly as a phosphate or oxide in the ashes, it is recommended they be considered as non-hazardous waste. However leaching test results demonstrate that these ashes cannot be considered as inert waste, and this has significant implications for the management, disposal and re-use of sewage sludge ash.

Understanding the Giant Enhancement of Exchange Interaction in Bi 2 Se 3 - EuS Heterostructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Jeongwoo; Kim, Kyoung-Whan; Wang, Hui

2017-07-01

A recent experiment indicated that a ferromagnetic EuS film in contact with a topological insulator Bi 2 Se 3 might show a largely enhanced Curie temperature and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy [F. Katmis et al., Nature (London) 533, 513 (2016).]. Through systematic density functional calculations, we demonstrate that in addition to the factor that Bi 2 Se 3 has a strong spin orbit coupling, the topological surface states are crucial to make these unusual behaviors robust as they hybridize with EuS states and extend rather far into the magnetic layers. The magnetic moments of Eu atoms are nevertheless not much enhanced,more » unlike what was reported in the experiment. Our results and model analyses provide useful insights for how these quantities are linked, and pave a way for the control of properties of magnetic films via contact with topological insulators.« less

Interface Engineering to Create a Strong Spin Filter Contact to Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caspers, C.; Gloskovskii, A.; Gorgoi, M.; Besson, C.; Luysberg, M.; Rushchanskii, K. Z.; Ležaić, M.; Fadley, C. S.; Drube, W.; Müller, M.

2016-03-01

Integrating epitaxial and ferromagnetic Europium Oxide (EuO) directly on silicon is a perfect route to enrich silicon nanotechnology with spin filter functionality. To date, the inherent chemical reactivity between EuO and Si has prevented a heteroepitaxial integration without significant contaminations of the interface with Eu silicides and Si oxides. We present a solution to this long-standing problem by applying two complementary passivation techniques for the reactive EuO/Si interface: (i) an in situ hydrogen-Si (001) passivation and (ii) the application of oxygen-protective Eu monolayers-without using any additional buffer layers. By careful chemical depth profiling of the oxide-semiconductor interface via hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, we show how to systematically minimize both Eu silicide and Si oxide formation to the sub-monolayer regime-and how to ultimately interface-engineer chemically clean, heteroepitaxial and ferromagnetic EuO/Si (001) in order to create a strong spin filter contact to silicon.

The potential of using the Ecosystem Approach in the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.

PubMed

Vlachopoulou, M; Coughlin, D; Forrow, D; Kirk, S; Logan, P; Voulvoulis, N

2014-02-01

The Ecosystem Approach provides a framework for looking at whole ecosystems in decision making to ensure that society can maintain a healthy and resilient natural environment now and for future generations. Although not explicitly mentioned in the Water Framework Directive, the Ecosystem Approach appears to be a promising concept to help its implementation, on the basis that there is a connection between the aims and objectives of the Directive (including good ecological status) and the provision of ecosystem services. In this paper, methodological linkages between the Ecosystem Approach and the Water Framework Directive have been reviewed and a framework is proposed that links its implementation to the Ecosystem Approach taking into consideration all ecosystem services and water management objectives. Individual River Basin Management Plan objectives are qualitatively assessed as to how strong their link is with individual ecosystem services. The benefits of using this approach to provide a preliminary assessment of how it could support future implementation of the Directive have been identified and discussed. Findings also demonstrate its potential to encourage more systematic and systemic thinking as it can provide a consistent framework for identifying shared aims and evaluating alternative water management scenarios and options in decision making. Allowing for a broad consideration of the benefits, costs and tradeoffs that occur in each case, this approach can further improve the economic case for certain measures, and can also help restore the shift in focus from strict legislative compliance towards a more holistic implementation that can deliver the wider aims and intentions of the Directive. © 2013.

A new process for NOx reduction in combustion systems for the generation of energy from waste.

PubMed

Gohlke, Oliver; Weber, Toralf; Seguin, Philippe; Laborel, Yann

2010-07-01

In the EU, emissions from energy from waste plants are largely reduced by applying the Waste Incineration Directive with its limit of 200 mg/m3(s) for NO(x) emissions. The need for further improvement is reflected by new German legislation effective as of 27 January 2009, requiring 100 mg/m3(s). Other countries are expected to follow this example due to the national emission ceilings of the Gothenburg protocol and the concluding EU directive 2001/81/EC. On the other hand, an increase in energy efficiency will be encouraged by the EU Waste Framework Directive. This is why there is a need for new technologies that make it possible to reconcile both requirements: reduced emissions and increased energy efficiency. A new process combining the internal recirculation of flue gas with ammonia or urea injection in order to achieve less then 80 mg/m3(s) of NO(x) is described. Important additional features of the process are an R1 efficiency above the required 0.65 of the EU Waste Framework Directive even with standard steam parameters of 40 bar/380 degrees C as well as low ammonia slip in the flue gas at the boiler outlet of below 10 mg/m3(s). Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Endocrine Disruptors

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Law and science combine in the estimation of risks from endocrine disruptors (EDs) and actions for their regulation. For both, dose–response models are the causal link between exposure and probability (or percentage change) of adverse response. The evidence that leads to either regulations or judicial decrees is affected by uncertainty and limited knowledge, raising difficult policy issues that we enumerate and discuss. In the United States, some courts have dealt with EDs, but causation based on animal studies has been a stumbling block for plaintiffs seeking compensation, principally because those courts opt for epidemiological evidence. The European Union (EU) has several regulatory tools and ongoing research on the risks associated with bisphenol A, under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation and other regulations or directives. The integration of a vast (in kind and in scope) number of research papers into a statement of causation for either policy or to satisfy legal requirements, in both the United States and the EU, relies on experts. We outline the discursive dilemma and issues that may affect consensus-based results and a Bayesian causal approach that accounts for the evolution of information, yielding both value of information and flexibility associated with public choices. PMID:26740809

The EuPA Biobank Initiative: Meeting the future challenges of biobanking in proteomics & systems medicine.

PubMed

Wheelock, Åsa M; Paulson, Linda; Litton, Jan-Eric

2015-09-08

In this News & Reviews Discussion, the recently launched EuPA (European Proteomics Association) Biobank Initiative is introduced in the context of current and future challenges in biobanking. The purpose of the initiative is to provide a forumand knowledge platform for integrating the extensive experiences collected by the EuPA community, and link it to the European and international biobanking communities at large. The specific impact of providing a forum and easy access to this type of information to the EuPA community is the potential of improving the quality of future sample collections and biobanks, the quality of the research produced from these sample collections, as well as the output and productivity from existing biobanks. The underutilization of biobanks has recently been identified as an emerging issue of biobankingworldwide. Measures to improve our ability to locate and access appropriate sample collections for a wide range of research purposes may enhance both the scientific quality and biobank sustainability, thereby contributing to the important task of moving our research beyond basic findings and mere publications, into clinical practice. This manuscript is intended as a Discussion piece, and represents a recollection of the presentation under the “EuPA Initiative” session at HUPO/EuPA 2014 in Madrid. The launch of the EuPA (European Proteomics Association) Biobank Initiative in the context of current and future challenges in biobanking is discussed. The purpose of the initiative is to provide a forum and knowledge base for integrating the extensive experiences collected by the EuPA community, and link it to the European and international biobanking communities at large. The specific impact of providing a forumand easy access to this type of information to the EuPA community is the potential of improving the quality of future sample collections and biobanks, the quality of the research produced from these sample collections, aswell as the output and productivity fromexisting biobanks. The underutilization of biobanks has recently been identified as a challenge to the well-being and economic sustainability of biobanking worldwide. Measures to improve our ability to localize and access appropriate sample collections for validation studies and other research purposes is thus of benefit bothto scientific quality and biobank sustainability, thereby contributing to the important task of moving our research beyond basic findings and mere publications, into clinical practice. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: HUPO 2014.

Spectroscopy Study on the Location and Distribution of Eu3+ Ions in TiO2 Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuboi, Taiju; Setiawati, Elly; Kawano, Katsuyasu

2008-09-01

Eu3+- and non-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method at sintering temperatures of 500 or 900 °C. The photoluminescence spectra of these nanoparticles have been investigated at various temperatures between 290 and 12 K. Two kinds of Eu3+ photoluminescence spectra were observed. One spectrum consists of sharp lines; the other consists of broad bands. The former was obtained by indirect excitation into Eu3+ with light of wavelengths shorter than 330 nm, while the latter was obtained by direct excitation into Eu3+ with light of wavelengths longer than 380 nm which correspond to the Eu3+ absorption bands. In the latter case, different spectra were obtained depending on the excitation wavelength even in the same absorption band. It is suggested that the sharp line spectrum is caused by Eu3+ ions substituted for Ti4+ but with some distortion around the Eu3+ ions in the matrix of TiO2 due to the large difference in ionic radius between the Ti4+ and Eu3+ ions, which are mainly present in the interior region of the nanoparticle. The broad band spectrum is caused by the disordered Eu3+ ions with Eu-O-Ti bonds which are predominantly present in the near surface region.

EU alerting and reporting systems for potential chemical public health threats and hazards.

PubMed

Orford, R; Crabbe, H; Hague, C; Schaper, A; Duarte-Davidson, R

2014-11-01

A number of European and international IT platforms are used to notify competent authorities of new potential chemical exposures. Recently the European Parliament and the Council of European Union adopted new legislation that aims to improve the co-ordinated response to cross border health threats (Decision 1082/2013/EU). The Decision, inter alia, sets provisions on notification, ad hoc monitoring and coordination of public health measures following serious cross border threats to health from biological, chemical and environmental events as well as events that have an unknown origin. The legal instrument applies to all European Union Member States and is comparable to the International Health Regulations in its content, requirements and adoption of a multiple hazards approach. An inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary response to events with potentially dangerous cross border exposure pathways is often required. For example, European Poisons Centres may be aware of cases of toxic exposure to a product and, in parallel, trading standards may be aware of the same product due to a breach of consumer product standards. Whilst both cases would have been recorded for separate purposes in different alerting systems, they relate to the same exposure pathway; therefore a process for linking these records would allow a more robust approach to risk assessment and risk mitigation. The Decision seeks to reconcile this issue for serious threats by linking relevant platforms into one overarching higher level risk management IT platform called the Early Warning Response System (EWRS). This system will serve to link other sectors within the European Commission (EC) to public health (e.g. medicines), as well as other EU agencies and international bodies via co-notification features. Other European alert systems will be linked to EWRS to facilitate information sharing at both the assessment and management levels. This paper provides a timely overview of the main systems run by the EC and other international organisations that provide alerts following chemical incidents that have, or may have, the potential to affect public health. The advantages and further considerations of linking these different systems and sectors are also highlighted. Recommendations are made with the purpose of ensuring that modifications to these systems made to satisfy with EU legislation enable a more timely coordinated response and greater awareness of events in Europe, thereby reducing the public health impact from chemical exposures. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eu(III) Complexes of Octadentate 1-Hydroxy-2-pyridinones: Stability and Improved Photophysical Performance[].

PubMed

Moore, Evan G; D'Aléo, Anthony; Xu, Jide; Raymond, Kenneth N

2009-10-13

The luminescence properties of lanthanoid ions can be dramatically enhanced by coupling them to antenna ligands that absorb light in the UV/visible and then efficiently transfer the energy to the lanthanoid center. The synthesis and the complexation of Ln(III) cations (Ln=Eu; Gd) for a ligand based on four 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone (1,2-HOPO) chelators appended to a ligand backbone derived by linking two L-lysine units (3LI-bis-LYS) is described. This octadentate Eu(III) complex ([Eu(3LI-bis-LYS-1,2-HOPO)](-)) has been evaluated in terms of its thermodynamic stability, UV/visible absorption and luminescence properties. For this complex the conditional stability constant (pM) is 19.9, which is an order of magnitude higher than diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) at pH= 7.4. This Eu(III) complex also shows an almost two-fold increase in its luminescence quantum yield in aqueous solution (pH= 7.4) when compared to other octadentate ligands. Hence, despite a slight decrease of the molar absorption coefficient, a much higher brightness is obtained for [Eu(3LI-bis-LYS-1,2-HOPO)](-). This overall improvement was achieved by saturating the coordination sphere of the Eu(III) cation, yielding an increased metal centered efficiency by excluding solvent water molecules from the metal's inner sphere.

Mitigation of CO2 emissions from the EU-15 building stock: beyond the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings.

PubMed

Petersdorff, Carsten; Boermans, Thomas; Harnisch, Jochen

2006-09-01

GOAL SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: The European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings which came into force 16 December 2002 will be implemented in the legislation of Member States by 4 January 2006. In addition to the aim of improving the overall energy efficiency of new buildings, large existing buildings will become a target for improvement, as soon as they undergo significant renovation. The building sector is responsible for about 40% of Europe's total end energy consumption and hence this Directive is an important step for the European Union in order that it should reach the level of saving required by the Kyoto Agreement. In this the EU is committed to reduce CO2 emissions relative to the base year of 1990 by 8 per cent, by 2010. But what will be the impact of the new Directive, how large could be the impacts of extending the obligation for energy efficiency retrofitting towards smaller buildings? Can improvement of the insulation offset or reduce the growing energy consumption from the increasing installation of cooling installations? EURIMA, the European Insulation Manufacturers Association and EuroACE, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, asked Ecofys to address these questions. The effect of the EPB Directive on the emissions associated with the heating energy consumption of the total EU 15 building stock has been examined in a model calculation, using the Built Environment Analysis Model (BEAM), which was developed by Ecofys to investigate energy saving measures in the building stock. The great complexity of the EU-15 building stock had to be simplified by examining five standard buildings with eight insulation standards, which are assigned to building age and renovation status. Furthermore, three climatic regions (cold, moderate, warm) were distinguished for the calculation of the heating energy demand. This gave a basic 210 building types for which the heating energy demand and CO2 emissions from heating were calculated according to the principles of the European Norm EN 832. The model calculations demonstrates that the main contributor to the total heating related CO2 emissions of 725 Mt/a from the EU building stock in 2002 is the residential sector (77%) while the remaining 23% originates from non-residential buildings. In the residential sector, single-family houses represent the largest group responsible for 60% of the total CO2 emissions equivalent to 435 Mt/a. THE TECHNICAL POTENTIAL: If all retrofit measures in the scope of the Directive were realised immediately for the complete residential and non-residential building stock the overall CO2 emission savings would add up to 82 Mt/a. An additional saving potential compared to the Directive of 69 Mt/a would be created if the scope of the Directive was extended to cover retrofit measures in multi-family dwellings (200-1000 m2) and non-residential buildings smaller than 1000 m2 used floor space. In addition including the large group of single-family dwellings would lead to a potential for additional CO2 emission reductions compared to the Directive of 316 Mt/a. TEMPORAL MOBILIZATION OF THE POTENTIAL: Calculations based on the building stock as it develops over time with average retrofit rates demonstrated that regulations introduced following the EPB Directive result in a CO2 emissions decrease of 34 Mt/a by the year 2010 compared to the business as usual scenario. Extending the scope of the EPB Directive to all residential buildings (including single and multi-family dwellings), the CO2 emission savings potential over the 'business as usual' scenario could be doubled to 69 Mt/a in the year 2010. This creates an additional saving potential compared to the Directive of 36 Mt/a. COOLING DEMAND: The analysis demonstrated that in warm climatic zones the cooling demand can be reduced drastically by a combination of lowering the internal heat loads and by improved insulation. With the reduction of the heat loads to a moderate level the cooling demand, e.g. of a terraced house located in Madrid, can be reduced by an additional 85% if the insulation level is improved appropriately. This study demonstrates that the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings will have a significant impact on the CO2 emissions of the European building stock. The main saving potential lies in insulation of the existing building stock. Beyond this, CO2 emissions could, however, be greatly reduced if the scope of the Directive were to be extended to include retrofit of smaller buildings. The reductions should be seen in relation to the remaining gap of 190 Mt CO2 eq. per annum between the current emission levels of EU-15 and the target under the Kyoto-Protocol for the year 2010. The energy and industrial sector will probably contribute only a fraction of this reduction via the newly established EU emissions trading scheme and connected projects under the flexible mechanism. In addition, the traffic sector is likely to continue its growth path leading to a widening of the gap. Thus, there is likely to be considerable pressure on the EU building sector to contribute to the EU climate targets beyond what will be achieved by means of the current EPB Directive. Legislators on the EU and national level are therefore advised to take accelerated actions to tap the very significant emission reduction potentials available in the EU building stock.

Alternatives to the use of animals in safety testing as required by the EU-Cosmetics Directive 2009.

PubMed

Vogel, Richard

2009-01-01

Ingredients of cosmetic products are no longer allowed to be tested by animal experimentation (EU-Cosmetics Directive 76/768 EEC). For several toxicological endpoints this testing ban applies since March 11, 2009, while repeated dose toxicity tests and the test on skin sensitisation will follow on March 11, 2013. All currently available alternatives meeting the requirements of the first deadline are compiled in the following.

Aggressive behaviour in childhood and adolescence: the role of smoking during pregnancy, evidence from four twin cohorts in the EU-ACTION consortium.

PubMed

Malanchini, Margherita; Smith-Woolley, Emily; Ayorech, Ziada; Rimfeld, Kaili; Krapohl, Eva; Vuoksimaa, Eero; Korhonen, Tellervo; Bartels, Meike; van Beijsterveldt, Toos C E M; Rose, Richard J; Lundström, Sebastian; Anckarsäter, Henrik; Kaprio, Jaakko; Lichtenstein, Paul; Boomsma, Dorret I; Plomin, Robert

2018-06-11

Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) has been linked to offspring's externalizing problems. It has been argued that socio-demographic factors (e.g. maternal age and education), co-occurring environmental risk factors, or pleiotropic genetic effects may account for the association between MSDP and later outcomes. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the association between MSDP and a single harmonized component of externalizing: aggressive behaviour, measured throughout childhood and adolescence. Data came from four prospective twin cohorts - Twins Early Development Study, Netherlands Twin Register, Childhood and Adolescent Twin Study of Sweden, and FinnTwin12 study - who collaborate in the EU-ACTION consortium. Data from 30 708 unrelated individuals were analysed. Based on item level data, a harmonized measure of aggression was created at ages 9-10; 12; 14-15 and 16-18. MSDP predicted aggression in childhood and adolescence. A meta-analysis across the four samples found the independent effect of MSDP to be 0.4% (r = 0.066), this remained consistent when analyses were performed separately by sex. All other perinatal factors combined explained 1.1% of the variance in aggression across all ages and samples (r = 0.112). Paternal smoking and aggressive parenting strategies did not account for the MSDP-aggression association, consistent with the hypothesis of a small direct link between MSDP and aggression. Perinatal factors, including MSDP, account for a small portion of the variance in aggression in childhood and adolescence. Later experiences may play a greater role in shaping adolescents' aggressive behaviour.

Development of a fluorescent label tool based on lanthanide nanophosphors for viral biomedical application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le, Quoc Minh; Huong Tran, Thu; Huong Nguyen, Thanh; Khuyen Hoang, Thi; Binh Nguyen, Thanh; Do, Khanh Tung; Tran, Kim Anh; Hien Nguyen, Dang; Luan Le, Thi; Quy Nguyen, Thi; Dung Dang, Mai; Thu Nguyen, Nu Anh; Nguyen, Van Man

2012-09-01

We report for the first time the preparation of luminescent lanthanide nanomaterial (LLN) linked bioconjugates and their application as a label tool for recognizing virus in the processing line of vaccine industrial fabrication. Several LLNs with the nanostructure forms of particles or rods/wires with europium (III) and terbium (III) ions in lattices of vanadate, phosphate and metal organic complex were prepared to develop novel fluorescent conjugates able to be applied as labels in fluorescence immunoassay analysis of virus/vaccine. With regard to the LLNs, we have successfully synthesized nanoparticles around 10 nm of YVO4:Eu(III), with high emission in the red spectral region, nanorod and nanowire of TbPO4·H2O and Eu1-xTbxPO4·H2O, width 5-7 nm and length 300 nm, showing very bright luminescence in green, and core/shell nanosized Eu(III) and Tb(III)/Eu(III) complexes with naphthoyl trifluoroacetone and tri-n-octylphosphineoxide (Eu.NTA.TOPO@PVP, EuXTb1-X.NTA.TOPO). The appropriated core/shell structures can play a double role, one for enhancing luminescence efficiency and another for providing nanophosphors with better stability in water media for facilitating the penetration of nanophosphor core into a biomedical environment. The organic functionalizations of the obtained LLNs were done through their surface encapsulation with a functional polysiloxane including active groups such as amine (NH2), thiocyanate (SCN) or mecarpto (SH). The properties of functional sol-gel matrix have great influence on the luminescence properties, especially luminescence intensity of YVO4:Eu(III), Eu.NTA.TOPO@PVP, TbPO4·H2O and EuxTb1-xPO4·H2O. Bioconjugation processes of the functionalized LLNs have been studied with some bioactive molecules such as biotin, protein immunoglobulin G (IgG) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results of LLN-bioconjugate linking with IgG for recognizing virus (vaccine) will be presented in brief. It is consistent to state that the LLN bioconjugates prepared from YVO4:Eu(III)-nanoparticles, TbPO4·H2O nanorod or wire and EuNTA.TOPO@PVP nanosized core/shell complex could be used as labels for recognizing virus in diagnosis or in vaccine production by use of the fluorescence immunoassay (FIA) method. The fluorescence images of the incubated specimens consisting of LLN bioconjugate and vaccine fabricate could be obtained well in terms of sharpness, reproductivity and stability. However, much work still needs to be done to develop an ordinary LLN-conjugate using the FIA method for analysis of virus and, moreover, to extend the study of biomedical cell processes at nano/microscale in practical application.

Nickel on the Swedish market: follow-up 10 years after entry into force of the EU Nickel Directive.

PubMed

Biesterbos, Jacqueline; Yazar, Kerem; Lidén, Carola

2010-12-01

The EU Nickel Directive, aimed at primary and secondary prevention of nickel allergy by limitation of nickel release from certain items, came fully into force in July 2001. To assess the prevalence on the market of items with nickel release and to compare the outcome with previous studies performed in Sweden in 1999 and 2002-2003. Nickel release from 659 items covered by the EU Nickel Directive was assessed with the dimethylglyoxime (DMG) test. Special attention, as compared with the previous surveys, was given to cheap jewellery in street markets and sewing materials in haberdashery shops. Nickel release was shown for 9% of the tested items, all of which were intended for direct and prolonged contact with the skin. A high proportion of items bought at haberdashery shops and street markets, 34% and 61%, respectively, showed nickel release. The Swedish market for products intended for direct and prolonged contact with the skin has largely adapted to the Nickel Directive. It is suggested that authorities should monitor the market regularly and give attention to areas where compliance with the requirements is poor, for protection of public health. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Regulations applicable to plant food supplements and related products in the European Union.

PubMed

Silano, Vittorio; Coppens, Patrick; Larrañaga-Guetaria, Ainhoa; Minghetti, Paola; Roth-Ehrang, René

2011-12-01

This paper deals with the current regulatory and legal settings of traditional plant food supplements and herbal medicinal products in the European Union (EU). Marketing of botanicals in foods and food supplements in the EU is subject to several provisions of food law, which cover aspects of safety, production, labelling and product composition, including the use of additives and maximum levels of contaminants and residues. However, due to limited harmonization at the EU level, specific national regulations adopted at a Member State level also apply and mutual recognition is the mechanism through which such products can be marketed in EU countries other than those of origin. Unlike food supplements, marketing of traditional herbal medicinal products is regulated by an ad hoc Directive (i.e. Directive 2004/24/EC) covering in detail all the relevant aspects of these products, including a facilitated registration procedure at national level. However, by distinguishing traditional herbal medicinal products from plant food supplements and establishing selective marketing modalities for these two product categories, the EU has been confronted with implementation difficulties for traditional herbal medicinal products and a lack of homogeneity in the regulatory approaches adopted in different EU Member States. In fact, currently the nature of the commercial botanical products made available to consumers as traditional medicinal products or food supplements, depends largely on the EU Member State under consideration as a consequence of how competent National Authorities and manufacturing companies interpret and apply current regulations rather than on the intrinsic properties of the botanical products and their constituents. When the EU approach is compared with approaches adopted in some non-European countries to regulate these product categories, major differences become evident.

Interface Engineering to Create a Strong Spin Filter Contact to Silicon

PubMed Central

Caspers, C.; Gloskovskii, A.; Gorgoi, M.; Besson, C.; Luysberg, M.; Rushchanskii, K. Z.; Ležaić, M.; Fadley, C. S.; Drube, W.; Müller, M.

2016-01-01

Integrating epitaxial and ferromagnetic Europium Oxide (EuO) directly on silicon is a perfect route to enrich silicon nanotechnology with spin filter functionality. To date, the inherent chemical reactivity between EuO and Si has prevented a heteroepitaxial integration without significant contaminations of the interface with Eu silicides and Si oxides. We present a solution to this long-standing problem by applying two complementary passivation techniques for the reactive EuO/Si interface: (i) an in situ hydrogen-Si (001) passivation and (ii) the application of oxygen-protective Eu monolayers–without using any additional buffer layers. By careful chemical depth profiling of the oxide-semiconductor interface via hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, we show how to systematically minimize both Eu silicide and Si oxide formation to the sub-monolayer regime–and how to ultimately interface-engineer chemically clean, heteroepitaxial and ferromagnetic EuO/Si (001) in order to create a strong spin filter contact to silicon. PMID:26975515

1D structure of Y2O3:Eu nanorods: controllable synthesis, growth mechanisms and luminescence properties.

PubMed

Wang, Qin; Guo, Jing; Jia, Wenjing; Liul, Baocang; Liu, Yongxin; Xu, Guangran; Liu, Yang; Hu, Wenting; Zhang, Jun

2014-05-01

Y2O3O:Eu nanorods were successfully synthesized by a facile and effective hydrothermal method in the presence of P123 (EO106PO70EO106) as the surfactant followed by a subsequent heat treatment process. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that the as-prepared samples consist of nanorods with diameters ranging from 80 nm to 100 nm and grow along the (100) direction. The growth mechanism of the as-obtained Y2O3:Eu nanorods was proposed on the basis of pH-dependent experiments. It is found that the pH is a crucial factor in determining the phase, morphology and luminescence properties of Y2O3:Eu nanorods. The luminescent spectra of Y2O3:Eu nanorods show the strong characteristic dominant emission of the Eu3+ ions at 613 nm.

Dietary Supplements: Foods, Medicines, or Both? A Controversial Designation with Unspecific Legislation.

PubMed

Pereira, Carla; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C F R

2017-01-01

Dietary supplements have been widely used among the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) population not only as a form of nutrition but also for medicinal purposes. Still, the legislation regulating these supplements remains unclear due to the fact that they can be considered as foodstuffs and/or medicinal products depending on various factors. The present review article intends to provide information concerning the variations on the definition of dietary supplements, the allowable substances on it, as well as the marketing and labelling requirements among the USA and the EU legislation. In fact, several discrepancies can be found between regulations in the USA (mainly regulated by the Food and Drugs Administration) and in the EU (principally regulated by the Food Supplements Directive or by the Directive 2001/83/EC), and even between the different Member States of the EU, with the main differences observed in new products marketing requirements. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Immunisation Information Systems – useful tools for monitoring vaccination programmes in EU/EEA countries, 2016

PubMed Central

Derrough, Tarik; Olsson, Kate; Gianfredi, Vincenza; Simondon, Francois; Heijbel, Harald; Danielsson, Niklas; Kramarz, Piotr; Pastore-Celentano, Lucia

2017-01-01

Immunisation Information Systems (IIS) are computerised confidential population based-systems containing individual-level information on vaccines received in a given area. They benefit individuals directly by ensuring vaccination according to the schedule and they provide information to vaccine providers and public health authorities responsible for the delivery and monitoring of an immunisation programme. In 2016, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) conducted a survey on the level of implementation and functionalities of IIS in 30 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. It explored the governance and financial support for the systems, IIS software, system characteristics in terms of population, identification of immunisation recipients, vaccinations received, and integration with other health record systems, the use of the systems for surveillance and programme management as well as the challenges involved with implementation. The survey was answered by 27 of the 30 EU/EEA countries having either a system in production at national or subnational levels (n = 16), or being piloted (n = 5) or with plans for setting up a system in the future (n = 6). The results demonstrate the added-value of IIS in a number of areas of vaccination programme monitoring such as monitoring vaccine coverage at local geographical levels, linking individual immunisation history with health outcome data for safety investigations, monitoring vaccine effectiveness and failures and as an educational tool for both vaccine providers and vaccine recipients. IIS represent a significant way forward for life-long vaccination programme monitoring. PMID:28488999

Immunisation Information Systems - useful tools for monitoring vaccination programmes in EU/EEA countries, 2016.

PubMed

Derrough, Tarik; Olsson, Kate; Gianfredi, Vincenza; Simondon, Francois; Heijbel, Harald; Danielsson, Niklas; Kramarz, Piotr; Pastore-Celentano, Lucia

2017-04-27

Immunisation Information Systems (IIS) are computerised confidential population based-systems containing individual-level information on vaccines received in a given area. They benefit individuals directly by ensuring vaccination according to the schedule and they provide information to vaccine providers and public health authorities responsible for the delivery and monitoring of an immunisation programme. In 2016, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) conducted a survey on the level of implementation and functionalities of IIS in 30 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. It explored the governance and financial support for the systems, IIS software, system characteristics in terms of population, identification of immunisation recipients, vaccinations received, and integration with other health record systems, the use of the systems for surveillance and programme management as well as the challenges involved with implementation. The survey was answered by 27 of the 30 EU/EEA countries having either a system in production at national or subnational levels (n = 16), or being piloted (n = 5) or with plans for setting up a system in the future (n = 6). The results demonstrate the added-value of IIS in a number of areas of vaccination programme monitoring such as monitoring vaccine coverage at local geographical levels, linking individual immunisation history with health outcome data for safety investigations, monitoring vaccine effectiveness and failures and as an educational tool for both vaccine providers and vaccine recipients. IIS represent a significant way forward for life-long vaccination programme monitoring. This article is copyright of The Authors, 2017.

Could EU herbal monographs contribute to Malta's treatment armamentarium?

PubMed

Micallef, B; Attard, E; Serracino-Inglott, A; Borg, J J

2015-03-15

Ten years have passed since Directive 2004/24/EC regulating herbal medicinal products across the EU were published. The directive created the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products within the European Medicines Agency whose remit includes the creation and publishing of official EU monographs on herbal medicinal products. These monographs include the official uses of the products and their evidence for efficacy and safety. To this effect, we are interested in analysing the potential impact herbal product EU monographs could have on the therapeutic treatment options available for prescribers in Malta. Therefore our aim was two-fold. First, to rationalise the spread of indications of the herbal substances listed in the community herbal monograph inventory and subsequently determine if these herbal substances could potentially contribute to the treatment options available in our local scenario (Malta). 128 EU monographs were analysed resulting in a total of 230 indications which subsequently codified into 42 unique ATC codes. The Malta Medicines List contains 1456 unique ATC codes. Comparative analysis of the Malta Medicines List revealed that the 21 therapeutic areas had 4 or less pharmaceutically used substances (5th level ATC codes) registered and therefore in our opinion are areas with limited therapeutic choice. The following 4 therapeutic areas, A05 bile and liver therapy, A13 tonics, A15 appetite stimulants and D03 preparations for treatment of wounds and ulcers, could potentially benefit from the registration of herbal medicinal products according to the EU herbal monographs. If such registration is effected the aforementioned areas would no longer be considered limited because more than 4 therapeutic choices would be available to prescribers. This study is the first study across the EU to analyse the potential impact of published EU herbal monographs on therapeutic coverage in an EU member state and confirms the notion that herbal products could potentially increase the treatment options available in areas where few medical products have been registered due to Malta's small market size. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Bulk Superconductivity Induced by In-Plane Chemical Pressure Effect in Eu0.5La0.5FBiS2-xSex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinno, Gen; Jha, Rajveer; Yamada, Akira; Higashinaka, Ryuji; Matsuda, Tatsuma D.; Aoki, Yuji; Nagao, Masanori; Miura, Osuke; Mizuguchi, Yoshikazu

2016-12-01

We have investigated the Se substitution effect on the superconductivity of optimally doped BiS2-based superconductor Eu0.5La0.5FBiS2. Eu0.5La0.5FBiS2-xSex samples with x = 0-1 were synthesized. With increasing x, in-plane chemical pressure is enhanced. For x ≥ 0.6, superconducting transitions with a large shielding volume fraction are observed in magnetic susceptibility measurements, and the highest Tc is 3.8 K for x = 0.8. From low-temperature electrical resistivity measurements, a zero-resistivity state is observed for all the samples, and the highest Tc is observed for x = 0.8. With increasing Se concentration, the characteristic electrical resistivity changes from semiconducting-like to metallic, suggesting that the emergence of bulk superconductivity is linked with the enhanced metallicity. A superconductivity phase diagram of the Eu0.5La0.5FBiS2-xSex superconductor is established.

Triboluminescence and crystal structure of the complex [Eu(NО3 )3 (HMPA)3 ]: role of cleavage planes.

PubMed

Bukvetskii, B V; Mirochnik, A G; Zhikhareva, P A

2017-05-01

The atomic structure of crystals of the [Eu(NО 3 ) 3 (HMPA) 3 ] [hexamethylphosphotriamide (HMPA)] complex characterized by an intensive luminescence and triboluminescence was determined using X-ray structural analysis. Noncentrosymmetric crystals have a monoclinic syngony: a = 16.0686 (3), b = 11.0853 (2), c = 20.9655 Å (4), β = 93.232° (1), space group P2 1 , Z = 4, ρ calc  = 1.560 g/cm 3 . The crystal structure is represented by individual С 18 Н 54 EuN 12 O 12 P 3 complexes linked through van der Waals interactions with clearly expressed cleavage planes. The Eu(III) atom coordination polyhedron reflected the state of a distorted square antiprism. Structural aspects of the suggested model, including formation of triboluminescence properties, were considered and the role of the cleavage planes was discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Twentieth anniversary of the European Union health mandate: taking stock of perceived achievements, failures and missed opportunities - a qualitative study.

PubMed

Rosenkötter, Nicole; Clemens, Timo; Sørensen, Kristine; Brand, Helmut

2013-11-14

The European Union (EU) health mandate was initially defined in the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. The twentieth anniversary of the Treaty offers a unique opportunity to take stock of EU health actions by giving an overview of influential public health related EU-level policy outputs and a summary of policy outputs or actions perceived as an achievement, a failure or a missed opportunity. Semi-structured expert interviews (N = 20) were conducted focusing on EU-level actions that were relevant for health. Respondents were asked to name EU policies or actions that they perceived as an achievement, a failure or a missed opportunity. A directed content analysis approach was used to identify expert perceptions on achievements, failures and missed opportunities in the interviews. Additionally, a nominal group technique was applied to identify influential and public health relevant EU-level policy outputs. The ranking of influential policy outputs resulted in top positions of adjudications and legislations, agencies, European Commission (EC) programmes and strategies, official networks, cooperative structures and exchange efforts, the work on health determinants and uptake of scientific knowledge. The assessment of EU health policies as being an achievement, a failure or a missed opportunity was often characterized by diverging respondent views. Recurring topics that emerged were the Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO), EU agencies, life style factors, internal market provisions as well as the EU Directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. Among these recurring topics, expert perceptions on the establishment of DG SANCO, EU public health agencies, and successes in tobacco control were dominated by aspects of achievements. The implementation status of the Health in All Policy approach was perceived as a missed opportunity. When comparing the emerging themes from the interviews conducted with the responsibilities defined in the EU health mandate, one can identify that these responsibilities were only partly fulfilled or acknowledged by the respondents. In general, the EU is a recognized public health player in Europe which over the past two decades, has begun to develop competencies in supporting, coordinating and supplementing member state health actions. However, the assurance of health protection in other European policies seems to require further development.

Twentieth anniversary of the European Union health mandate: taking stock of perceived achievements, failures and missed opportunities – a qualitative study

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The European Union (EU) health mandate was initially defined in the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. The twentieth anniversary of the Treaty offers a unique opportunity to take stock of EU health actions by giving an overview of influential public health related EU-level policy outputs and a summary of policy outputs or actions perceived as an achievement, a failure or a missed opportunity. Methods Semi-structured expert interviews (N = 20) were conducted focusing on EU-level actions that were relevant for health. Respondents were asked to name EU policies or actions that they perceived as an achievement, a failure or a missed opportunity. A directed content analysis approach was used to identify expert perceptions on achievements, failures and missed opportunities in the interviews. Additionally, a nominal group technique was applied to identify influential and public health relevant EU-level policy outputs. Results The ranking of influential policy outputs resulted in top positions of adjudications and legislations, agencies, European Commission (EC) programmes and strategies, official networks, cooperative structures and exchange efforts, the work on health determinants and uptake of scientific knowledge. The assessment of EU health policies as being an achievement, a failure or a missed opportunity was often characterized by diverging respondent views. Recurring topics that emerged were the Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO), EU agencies, life style factors, internal market provisions as well as the EU Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. Among these recurring topics, expert perceptions on the establishment of DG SANCO, EU public health agencies, and successes in tobacco control were dominated by aspects of achievements. The implementation status of the Health in All Policy approach was perceived as a missed opportunity. Conclusions When comparing the emerging themes from the interviews conducted with the responsibilities defined in the EU health mandate, one can identify that these responsibilities were only partly fulfilled or acknowledged by the respondents. In general, the EU is a recognized public health player in Europe which over the past two decades, has begun to develop competencies in supporting, coordinating and supplementing member state health actions. However, the assurance of health protection in other European policies seems to require further development. PMID:24225055

European regulation model for herbal medicine: The assessment of the EU monograph and the safety and efficacy evaluation in marketing authorization or registration in Member States.

PubMed

Qu, Liping; Zou, Wenjun; Wang, YiTao; Wang, Mei

2018-03-15

The European Union (EU) has created a regulatory framework for herbal medicinal products (HMPs) since the enforcement of Directive 2004/24/EC. Substantial achievements have been made, with 1719 traditional use marketing registrations (TURs) and 859 well-established use marketing authorizations (WEU-MAs) for HMPs granted by the end of 2016. Apparently, the European regulation model has worked out well and in that the essential feature is the use of EU herbal monographs into those granted WEU-MAs and TURs. A systematic analysis of the European regulation model for HMPs and the EU herbal monograph's part of this model are undertaken to assist understanding of the EU legislation particularly for interested parties those from outside EU area, and afterwards, to help in decision-making in the HMPs registration in European market for pharmaceutical companies, as well as in the establishment of legislation in countries with strong traditional use of herbal remedies. A search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, the European Medicines Agency website and the Heads of Medicines Agencies website was conducted (up to December 2017), and the available information on regulation of HMPs in the EU was collected. The evaluation of applications by National Competent Authorities (NCAs) at a national level together with the assessment of EU monographs by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) at the European level constitute the European regulation framework for HMPs. As the scientific opinion about the safety and efficacy of HMPs from HMPC, the EU herbal monographs have been given a constitutional-based meaning to the TURs and WEU-MAs of HMPs and play a supportive function in the marketing procedure in Member States. The European framework has provided a powerful regulation model for harmonization of scientific assessment and facilitation of product marketing. For the pharmaceutical industries particularly those outside the EU, optimal use of the EU herbal monograph in their marketing procedure in Europe could be of great benefit. Furthermore, this model is well worth learning from for other countries and regions outside the EU to help the establishment of legislation in countries with strong traditional use of herbal remedies and contribute to the safe use of traditional herbal medicine. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Eu(III)-Fulvic Acid Complexation: Evidence of Fulvic Acid Concentration Dependent Interactions by Time-Resolved Luminescence Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Kouhail, Yasmine Z; Benedetti, Marc F; Reiller, Pascal E

2016-04-05

Europium speciation is investigated by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy (TRLS) in the presence of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA). From complexation isotherms built at different total Eu(III) concentrations, pH values, ionic strength, and SRFA concentrations, it appears that two luminescence behaviors of Eu(III) are occurring. The first part, at the lowest CSRFA values, is showing the typical luminescence evolution of Eu(III) complexed by humic substances--that is, the increase of the asymmetry ratio between the (5)D0 → (7)F2 and (5)D0 → (7)F1 transitions up to a plateau--, and the occurrence of a biexponential decay--the first decay being faster than free Eu(3+). At higher CSRFA, a second luminescence mode is detected as the asymmetry ratio is increasing again after the previous plateau, and could correspond to the formation of another type of complex, and/or it can reflect a different spatial organization of complexed europium within the SRFA structure. The luminescence decay keeps on evolving but link to hydration number is not straightforward due to quenching mechanisms. The Eu(III) chemical environment evolution with CSRFA is also ionic strength dependent. These observations suggest that in addition to short-range interactions--intraparticulate complexation--, there might be interactions at longer range--interparticulate repulsion--between particles that are complexing Eu(III) at high CSRFA. These interactions are not yet accounted by the different complexation models.

Understanding the links between composition, polyhedral distortion, and luminescence properties in green-emitting β-Si 6–zAl zO zN 8–z:Eu 2+ phosphors

DOE PAGES

Cozzan, Clayton; Laurita, Geneva; Gaultois, Michael W.; ...

2017-09-21

Inorganic phosphor materials play a crucial role in the creation of white light from blue and near-UV solid-state light-emitting diodes. Understanding the intricacies of the phosphor structure is key for setting the stage for improved, more efficient functionality. Average structure and coordination environment analysis of the robust and efficient green-emitting phosphor, β-SiAlON:Eu 2+ (β-Si 6–zAl zO zN 8–zEu 0.009), is combined here with a range of property measurements to elucidate the role of Al content ( z) in luminescence properties, including the red shift of emission and the thermal quenching of luminescence as a function of increasing Al content z.more » Average structure techniques reveal changes in polyhedral distortion with increasing z for the 9-coordinate Eu site in β-SiAlON:Eu 2+. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is used to confirm that the majority of the activator Eu is in the Eu 2+ state, exhibiting the symmetry-allowed and efficient 4f 75d 0 → 4f 65d 1 transitions. As a result, room temperature and temperature-dependent luminescence indicate a curious increase in thermal stability with increasing z over a small range due to an increasing barrier for thermal ionization, which is correlated to an increase in the quantum yield of the phosphor.« less

Understanding the links between composition, polyhedral distortion, and luminescence properties in green-emitting β-Si 6–zAl zO zN 8–z:Eu 2+ phosphors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cozzan, Clayton; Laurita, Geneva; Gaultois, Michael W.

Inorganic phosphor materials play a crucial role in the creation of white light from blue and near-UV solid-state light-emitting diodes. Understanding the intricacies of the phosphor structure is key for setting the stage for improved, more efficient functionality. Average structure and coordination environment analysis of the robust and efficient green-emitting phosphor, β-SiAlON:Eu 2+ (β-Si 6–zAl zO zN 8–zEu 0.009), is combined here with a range of property measurements to elucidate the role of Al content ( z) in luminescence properties, including the red shift of emission and the thermal quenching of luminescence as a function of increasing Al content z.more » Average structure techniques reveal changes in polyhedral distortion with increasing z for the 9-coordinate Eu site in β-SiAlON:Eu 2+. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) is used to confirm that the majority of the activator Eu is in the Eu 2+ state, exhibiting the symmetry-allowed and efficient 4f 75d 0 → 4f 65d 1 transitions. As a result, room temperature and temperature-dependent luminescence indicate a curious increase in thermal stability with increasing z over a small range due to an increasing barrier for thermal ionization, which is correlated to an increase in the quantum yield of the phosphor.« less

Relationship between Eu{sup 3+} reduction and glass polymeric structure in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-modified borate glasses under air atmosphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiao, Qing; Yu, Xue; Xu, Xuhui

2013-06-15

The reduction of Eu{sup 3+} to Eu{sup 2+} is realized efficiently in Eu{sub 2}O{sub 3}-doped borate glasses prepared under air condition by melting-quenching method. Luminescent spectra show an increasing tendency of Eu{sup 2+} emission with increasing Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} concentration in B{sub 2}O{sub 3}–Na{sub 2}O glasses. It is interesting that significant enhancement appeared of Eu{sup 2+} luminescence in the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-rich sample comparing to the samples of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} less than 6 mol%. FTIR and Raman scattering measurements indicated that some new vibration modes assigned to the low-polymerized structure groups decomposed from the slight Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} dopantmore » samples. These results demonstrated that the polymerization of the glass structure decreased with increasing incorporation of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} into the borate glasses, linking to the efficiency of Eu{sup 3+} self-reduction in air at high temperature. - graphical abstract: A novel europium valence reduction phenomenon occurred in Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} modified borate glasses, FTIR and Raman measurements revealed that high polymeric groups were destroyed to low polymery structures with Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} addition. - Highlights: • The efficient reduction of Eu{sup 3+} to Eu{sup 2+} is observed in the B{sub 2}O{sub 3}–Na{sub 2}O glasses. • Eu{sup 2+} luminescence is significant enhanced in the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-rich glasses. • The introduction of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} changed the network structure of the borate glasses. • High polymeric borate groups in the glass matrix may be destroyed to the lower ones.« less

Juridification, medicalisation, and the impact of EU Law: patient mobility and the allocation of scarce NHS resources.

PubMed

Veitch, Kenneth

2012-01-01

This article explores the relationship between EU Law and the allocation of scarce NHS resources in the context of the EU's objective of facilitating access to health care for patients within the EU. Focusing on the Watts case and the recently adopted EU Patients' Rights Directive, the article addresses the political and economic aspects of the implications of EU Law for, inter alia, domestic law, medicine, and the NHS. It does so through developing an analytical framework comprising the notions of juridification and medicalisation. Those notions, which are drawn here from the work of Jürgen Habermas, Ivan Illich, and Sheila McLean, are not only helpful as means of thinking through the nature of the specific EU laws considered in the article; by virtue of their broader focus on, and critique of, the welfare state, they offer an opportunity to reflect more generally on the implications of these laws for the role of the welfare state and medical and legal professionals in the development of the EU's internal market in health care services. Having undertaken this analysis, the article argues that, in order to capture the developments and implications of EU Law on patient mobility, it is necessary to update and partially reformulate the notions of medicalisation and juridification.

Red/blue-shift dual-directional regulation of α-(Ca, Sr)2SiO4:Eu(2+) phosphors resulting from the incorporation content of Eu(2+)/Sr(2+) ions.

PubMed

Lu, Zhijuan; Mao, Zhiyong; Chen, Jingjing; Wang, Dajian

2015-09-21

In this work, tunable emission from green to red and the inverse tuning from red to green in α-(Ca, Sr)2SiO4:Eu(2+) phosphors were demonstrated magically by varying the incorporation content of Eu(2+) and Sr(2+) ions, respectively. The tunable emission properties and the tuning mechanism of red-shift resulting from the Eu(2+) content as well as that of blue-shift induced by the Sr(2+) content were investigated in detail. As a result of fine-controlling the incorporation content of Eu(2+), the emission peak red-shifts from 541 nm to 640 nm. On the other hand, the emission peak inversely blue-shifts from 640 nm to 546 nm through fine-adjusting the incorporation content of Sr(2+). The excellent tuning characteristics for α-(Ca, Sr)2SiO4:Eu(2+) phosphors presented in this work exhibited their various application prospects in solid-state lighting combining with a blue chip or a near-UV chip.

Photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped HfO2 coatings formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation of hafnium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stojadinović, Stevan; Tadić, Nenad; Ćirić, Aleksandar; Vasilić, Rastko

2018-03-01

Plasma electrolytic oxidation was used for synthesis of Eu3+ doped monoclinic HfO2 coatings on hafnium substrate. Results of photoluminescence (PL) measurements show the existence of two distinct regions: one that is related to the blue emission originating from oxygen vacancy defects in HfO2 and the other one characterized with a series of sharp orange-red emission peaks related to f-f transitions of Eu3+ from excited level 5D0 to lower levels 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4). PL peaks appearing in excitation spectra of obtained coatings are attributed either to charge transfer state of Eu3+ or to direct excitation of the Eu3+ ground state 7F0 into higher levels of the 4f-manifold. PL of formed coatings increases with PEO time due to an increase of oxygen vacancy defects and the content of Eu3+. Acquired experimental data suggest that hypersensitive electrical dipole transition is much more intense than the magnetic dipole transition, indicating that Eu3+ ions occupy a non-inversion symmetry sites.

[Cross-border healthcare in European Union and Czech Republic].

PubMed

Barták, Miroslav; Rogalewicz, Vladimír; Jílková, Jiřina; Jeřábková, Silvie

Currently, the cross-border healthcare still represents a marginal part of the Czech healthcare system's performance, though. Compared to the total healthcare expenditures in the Czech Republic that accounted for CZK 299.9 billion in 2014, the costs of the treatment provided to Czech patients abroad constitute mere 0.27%, and the (subsequently refunded) costs of the treatment provided to foreign patients in the Czech Republic 0.24%.Although data on changes in the volume and reimbursements of healthcare due to the Directive 2011/24/EU have not been published yet, we can expect rather evolutionary than revolutionary development of cross-border healthcare volumes. Taking into account all available data, we can conclude that the cross-border healthcare, as specified by the directive currently in force, is important in our conditions above all in relation to our neighbours, i. e. Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland.Key words: cross-border healthcare, patient mobility, international reimbursements EU health policy, Directive 2011/24/EU.

Marine legislation--the ultimate 'horrendogram': international law, European directives & national implementation.

PubMed

Boyes, Suzanne J; Elliott, Michael

2014-09-15

The EU is a pre-eminent player in sustainable development, adopting more than 200 pieces of legislation that have direct repercussions for marine environmental policy and management. Over five decades, measures have aimed to protect the marine environment by tackling the impact of human activities, but maritime affairs have been dealt with by separate sectoral policies without fully integrating all relevant sectors. Such compartmentalisation has resulted in a patchwork of EU legislation and resultant national legislation leading to a piecemeal approach to marine protection. These are superimposed on international obligations emanating from UN and other bodies and are presented here as complex 'horrendograms' showing the complexity across vertical governance. These horrendograms have surprised marine experts despite them acknowledging the many uses and users of the marine environment. Encouragingly since 2000, the evolution in EU policy has progressed to more holistic directives and here we give an overview of this change. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of certain alternative fuels in road transport in Poland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gis, W.; Pielecha, J.; Waśkiewicz, J.; Gis, M.; Menes, M.

2016-09-01

The development of biomethane and hydrogen technology in the road transport in the EU countries is recommended, among the others, in the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2014/94/EU of 22 October 2014. Under the provisions of the said Directive, it is recommended to EU countries to use biomethane and progressively ensure accessibility to hydrogen cars on their territories, and above all to ensure the possibility of driving hydrogen vehicles between the member States. The territorial accessibility for biomethane vehicles is determined by the availability of biomethane refuelling infrastructure in the first place in cities and then on the road network distances recommended in this directive. The territorial accessibility for hydrogen vehicles is determined by the availability of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, in the first place along the TEN-T network. The article presents the possibilities of using these alternative fuels in Poland, presenting some of the results of research and analysis in this area.

Remarkable changes in the photoluminescent properties of Y2Ce2O7:Eu(3+) red phosphors through modification of the cerium oxidation states and oxygen vacancy ordering.

PubMed

Raj, Athira K V; Prabhakar Rao, P; Sreena, T S; Sameera, S; James, Vineetha; Renju, U A

2014-11-21

A new series of red phosphors based on Eu(3+)-doped yttrium cerate [Y1.9Ce2O7:0.1Eu(3+), Y2Ce1.9O7:0.1Eu(3+) and Y2Ce2-xO7:xEu(3+) (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.50)] was prepared via a conventional solid-state method. The influence of the substitution of Eu(3+) at the aliovalent site on the photoluminescent properties was determined by powder X-ray diffraction, FT Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and lifetime measurements. The substitution of Eu(3+) at the Ce(4+) site induces a structural transition from a defect fluorite to a C-type structure, which increases the oxygen vacancy ordering and the distortion of the Eu(3+) environment, and decreases the formation of Ce(3+) states. In contrast, phosphors with isovalent substitution at the Y(3+) site exhibit the biphasic nature of defect fluorite and a C-type structure, thereby increasing the number of Ce(3+) oxidation states. These modifications resulted in remarkable changes in the photoluminescent properties of Y2Ce1.9O7:0.1Eu(3+) red phosphors, with emission intensities 3.8 times greater than those of the Ce0.9O2:0.1Eu(3+) and Y1.9Ce2O7:0.1Eu(3+). The photoluminescent properties of Y2Ce2-xO7:xEu(3+) were studied at different Eu(3+) concentrations under excitation with blue light. These phosphors emit intense red light due to the (5)D0-(7)F2 transition under excitation at 466 nm and no concentration quenching is observed with up to 50 mol% Eu(3+). They show increased lifetimes in the range 0.62-0.72 ms at Eu(3+) concentrations. The cation ordering linked to the oxygen vacancy ordering led to the uniform distribution of Eu(3+) ions in the lattice, thus allowing higher doping concentrations without quenching and consequently increasing the lifetime of the (5)D0 states. Our results demonstrate that significant improvements in the photoluminescence properties can be achieved by the structural alteration of a fluorite CeO2 to a C-type lattice.

The impact of the EU general data protection regulation on scientific research.

PubMed

Chassang, Gauthier

2017-01-01

The use of personal data is critical to ensure quality and reliability in scientific research. The new Regulation [European Union (EU)] 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data [general data protection regulation (GDPR)], repealing Directive 95/46/EC, strengthens and harmonises the rules for protecting individuals' privacy rights and freedoms within and, under certain conditions, outside the EU territory. This new and historic legal milestone both prolongs and updates the EU acquis of the previous Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. The GDPR fixes both general rules applying to any kind of personal data processing and specific rules applying to the processing of special categories of personal data such as health data taking place in the context of scientific research, this including clinical and translational research areas. This article aims to provide an overview of the new rules to consider where scientific projects include the processing of personal health data, genetic data or biometric data and other kinds of sensitive information whose use is strictly regulated by the GDPR in order to give the main key facts to researchers to adapt their practices and ensure compliance to the EU law to be enforced in May 2018.

The impact of the EU general data protection regulation on scientific research

PubMed Central

Chassang, Gauthier

2017-01-01

The use of personal data is critical to ensure quality and reliability in scientific research. The new Regulation [European Union (EU)] 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data [general data protection regulation (GDPR)], repealing Directive 95/46/EC, strengthens and harmonises the rules for protecting individuals’ privacy rights and freedoms within and, under certain conditions, outside the EU territory. This new and historic legal milestone both prolongs and updates the EU acquis of the previous Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC. The GDPR fixes both general rules applying to any kind of personal data processing and specific rules applying to the processing of special categories of personal data such as health data taking place in the context of scientific research, this including clinical and translational research areas. This article aims to provide an overview of the new rules to consider where scientific projects include the processing of personal health data, genetic data or biometric data and other kinds of sensitive information whose use is strictly regulated by the GDPR in order to give the main key facts to researchers to adapt their practices and ensure compliance to the EU law to be enforced in May 2018. PMID:28144283

Contrasting Granite Metallogeny through the Zircon Record: A Case Study from Myanmar.

PubMed

Gardiner, Nicholas J; Hawkesworth, Chris J; Robb, Laurence J; Whitehouse, Martin J; Roberts, Nick M W; Kirkland, Christopher L; Evans, Noreen J

2017-04-07

Granitoid-hosted mineral deposits are major global sources of a number of economically important metals. The fundamental controls on magma metal fertility are tectonic setting, the nature of source rocks, and magma differentiation. A clearer understanding of these petrogenetic processes has been forged through the accessory mineral zircon, which has considerable potential in metallogenic studies. We present an integrated zircon isotope (U-Pb, Lu-Hf, O) and trace element dataset from the paired Cu-Au (copper) and Sn-W (tin) magmatic belts in Myanmar. Copper arc zircons have juvenile εHf (+7.6 to +11.5) and mantle-like δ 18 O (5.2-5.5‰), whereas tin belt zircons have low εHf (-7 to -13) and heavier δ 18 O (6.2-7.7‰). Variations in zircon Hf and U/Yb reaffirm that tin belt magmas contain greater crustal contributions than copper arc rocks. Links between whole-rock Rb/Sr and zircon Eu/Eu* highlight that the latter can monitor magma fractionation in these systems. Zircon Ce/Ce* and Eu/Eu* are sensitive to redox and fractionation respectively, and here are used to evaluate zircon sensitivity to the metallogenic affinity of their host rock. Critical contents of Sn in granitic magmas, which may be required for the development of economic tin deposits, are marked by zircon Eu/Eu* values of ca. ≤0.08.

Optimization of Time-Resolved Fluorescence Assay for Detection of Eu-DOTA-labeled Ligand-Receptor Interactions

PubMed Central

De Silva, Channa R.; Vagner, Josef; Lynch, Ronald; Gillies, Robert J.; Hruby, Victor J.

2010-01-01

Lanthanide-based luminescent ligand binding assays are superior to traditional radiolabel assays due to improved sensitivity and affordability in high throughput screening while eliminating the use of radioactivity. Despite significant progress using lanthanide(III)-coordinated chelators such as DTPA derivatives, dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassays (DELFIA) have not yet been successfully used with more stable chelators, e.g. DOTA derivatives, due to the incomplete release of lanthanide(III) ions from the complex. Here, a modified and an optimized DELFIA procedure incorporating an acid treatment protocol is introduced for use with Eu(III)-DOTA labeled peptides. Complete release of Eu(III) ions from DOTA labeled ligands was observed using hydrochloric acid (2.0 M) prior to the luminescent enhancement step. NDP-α-MSH labeled with Eu(III)-DOTA was synthesized and the binding affinity to cells overexpressing the human melanocortin-4 receptors (hMC4R) was evaluated using the modified protocol. Binding data indicate that the Eu(III)-DOTA linked peptide bound to these cells with an affinity similar to its DTPA analogue. The modified DELFIA procedure was further used to monitor the binding of an Eu(III)-DOTA labeled heterobivalent peptide to the cells expressing both hMC4R and CCK-2 (Cholecystokinin) receptors. The modified assay provides superior results and is appropriate for high-throughput screening of ligand libraries. PMID:19852924

Workers' health surveillance: implementation of the Directive 89/391/EEC in Europe.

PubMed

Colosio, C; Mandic-Rajcevic, S; Godderis, L; van der Laan, G; Hulshof, C; van Dijk, F

2017-10-01

European Union (EU) Directive 89/391 addressed occupational health surveillance, which recommends to provide workers with 'access to health surveillance at regular intervals', aiming to prevent work-related and occupational diseases. To investigate how EU countries adopted this Directive. We invited one selected representative per member state to complete a questionnaire. All 28 EU countries implemented the Directive in some form. Workers' health surveillance (WHS) is available to all workers in 15 countries, while in 12, only specific subgroups have access. In 21 countries, workers' participation is mandatory, and in 22, the employer covers the cost. In 13 countries, access to WHS is not available to all workers but depends on exposure to specific risk factors, size of the enterprise or belonging to vulnerable groups. In 26 countries, the employer appoints and revokes the physician in charge of WHS. Twelve countries have no recent figures, reports or cost-benefit analyses of their WHS programmes. In 15 countries where reports exist, they are often in the native language. Coverage and quality of occupational health surveillance should be evaluated to facilitate learning from good practice and from scientific studies. We propose a serious debate in the EU with the aim of protecting workers more effectively, including the use of evidence-based WHS programmes. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

[National system of protection against electromagnetic fields 0 Hz-300 GHz in the light of current legal regulations].

PubMed

Aniołczyk, Halina

2006-01-01

Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) occurs when man is exposed to the effect of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields and contact currents different from those resulting from physiological processes in the organism or other natural phenomena. In Poland, the system of protection against EMF has been functioning for over 35 years. In 2001, when the Minister of Labor and Social Policy issued the regulation introducing the maximum admissible intensities (MAI) for electromagnetic fields and radiation within the range of 0 Hz-300 GHz, the system was directed mainly towards evaluation of exposure to EMF occurring in the occupational environment. The system is linked via MAI values with human protection in the natural environment. In this paper, the background, principles and the range of the national system of protection against EMF and its monitoring are presented. The project of implementation of EU directives, following Poland's accession to the European Union is also discussed.

Support for international trade law: The US and the EU compared.

PubMed

Eckhardt, Jappe; Elsig, Manfred

2015-10-01

In this article we compare US and EU support for bilateral and multilateral international trade law. We assess the support for international law of both trading blocs by focusing on the following four dimensions: leadership, consent, compliance and internalization. Although we find strong support for international trade law from both the US and the EU in general, we also witness some variation, most notably in relation to the design of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) law. Turning to explaining these (moderate) differences, we argue that outcomes in US trade policy can best be explained by a domestic political factor, namely the direct influence of interest groups. Although the involvement of societal interests also goes a long way in explaining EU behavior, it does not tell the entire story. We posit that, in EU trade policy, institutions are a particular conditioning factor that needs to be stressed. Moreover, we suggest that foreign policy considerations in managing trade relations have characterized EU's support for international trade law.

Perceptions of pesticides exposure risks by operators, workers, residents and bystanders in Greece, Italy and the UK.

PubMed

Remoundou, K; Brennan, M; Sacchettini, G; Panzone, L; Butler-Ellis, M C; Capri, E; Charistou, A; Chaideftou, E; Gerritsen-Ebben, M G; Machera, K; Spanoghe, P; Glass, R; Marchis, A; Doanngoc, K; Hart, A; Frewer, L J

2015-02-01

The EU Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides (EU128/2009/EC) requires European Member States to develop training activities targeting occupational exposure to pesticides, and communication material aimed at residents and bystanders. Risk perceptions, knowledge and attitudes associated with passive and occupational exposure to pesticide potentially influence the extent to which different stakeholders adopt self-protective behaviour. A methodology for assessing the link between attitudes, adoption of self-protective behaviours and exposure was developed and tested. A survey was implemented in the Greece, Italy and the UK, and targeted stakeholders associated with pesticide exposure linked to orchards, greenhouse crops and arable crops respectively. The results indicated that the adoption of protective measures is low for residents and bystanders, with the exception of residents in Greece, when compared to operators and workers, who tend to follow recommended safety practices. A regression analysis was used to examine the factors affecting the probability of adopting protective measures as well the as the level of exposure in the case of operators and workers where data are available. The results indicate that the likelihood of engaging in self-protective behaviour is not significantly affected by perceptions of own health being affected by pesticides for residents and bystanders. However, operators who perceive that their heath has been negatively affected by the use of pesticides are found to be more likely to adopt self-protective behaviours. Gender and country differences, in perceptions, attitudes and self-protection are also observed. Recommendations for improved communication, in particular for vulnerable groups, are provided. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evolution in biodiversity policy – current gaps and future needs

PubMed Central

Santamaría, Luis; Méndez, Pablo F

2012-01-01

The intensity and speed of human alterations to the planet's ecosystems are yielding our static, ahistorical view of biodiversity obsolete. Human actions frequently trigger fast evolutionary responses, affect extant genetic variation and result in the establishment of new communities and co-evolutionary networks for which we lack past analogues. Contemporary evolution interplays with ecological changes to determine the response of organisms and ecosystems to anthropogenic pressures. Examples on wild species include responses to harvest (e.g. fisheries, hunting, angling), habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g. genetic effects of isolation), biotic exchange (e.g. evolutionary responses to control measures), climate change (e.g. local adaptation and its interplay with dispersal processes) and the responses of endangered species to conservation measures. A review of international and EU biodiversity policies showed numerous opportunities for the integration of evolutionary knowledge, with the realistic prospect of improving their efficacy. Such opportunities should be extended to other sectoral policies of direct relevance for biodiversity – notably nature conservation, fisheries, agriculture, water resources, spatial planning and climate change. These avenues for improvement are, however, challenged by the low level of enforcement of biodiversity policies, linked to the nonbinding nature of most biodiversity-policy documents, and the decreasing representation of biodiversity in EU's research policy. PMID:25568042

Electron tunneling transport across heterojunctions between europium sulfide and indium arsenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kallaher, Raymond L.

This dissertation presents research done on utilizing the ferromagnetic semiconductor europium sulfide (EuS) to inject spin polarized electrons into the non-magnetic semiconductor indium arsenide (InAs). There is great interest in expanding the functionality of modern day electronic circuits by creating devices that depend not only on the flow of charge in the device, but also on the transport of spin through the device. Within this mindset, there is a concerted effort to establish an efficient means of injecting and detecting spin polarized electrons in a two dimensional electron system (2DES) as the first step in developing a spin based field effect transistor. Thus, the research presented in this thesis has focused on the feasibility of using EuS, in direct electrical contact with InAs, as a spin injecting electrode into an InAs 2DES. Doped EuS is a concentrated ferromagnetic semiconductor, whose conduction band undergoes a giant Zeeman splitting when the material becomes ferromagnetic. The concomitant difference in energy between the spin-up and spin-down energy bands makes the itinerant electrons in EuS highly spin polarized. Thus, in principle, EuS is a good candidate to be used as an injector of spin polarized electrons into non-magnetic materials. In addition, the ability to adjust the conductivity of EuS by varying the doping level in the material makes EuS particularly suited for injecting spins into non-magnetic semiconductors and 2DES. For this research, thin films of EuS have been grown via e-beam evaporation of EuS powder. This growth technique produces EuS films that are sulfur deficient; these sulfur vacancies act as intrinsic electron donors and the resulting EuS films behave like heavily doped ferromagnetic semiconductors. The growth parameters and deposition procedures were varied and optimized in order to fabricate films that have minimal crystalline defects. Various properties and characteristics of these EuS films were measured and compared to those characteristics found in previous reported work on doped EuS crystals. In particular, the magnetic switching behavior of individual micro-fabricated EuS structures was investigated to determine what types of spintronic devices EuS is best suited for. These studies found that the crystalline anisotropy of EuS dominates the switching behavior in EuS thin film structures with minimum feature sizes greater than ˜5 mum. This, in conjunction with the relatively high resistance of junctions between EuS and semiconductors, restricts the use of two tandem EuS electrodes in all semiconductor spintronic devices that require independently switching ferromagnetic electrodes. Spin transport studies in InAs 2DES are particularly interesting because of the heterostructure's high electron mobility and tunable spin-orbit interactions. Detailed measurements of the electrical transport characteristics across the heterojunction formed between EuS and InAs were taken in order to investigate the spin transport characteristics across the junction. These measurements show that the electrical transport across the heterojunction, below the ferromagnetic transition temperature, is directly related to the magnetization of the EuS layer and thus the transport is dominated by the spin-dependent Schottky barrier formed in EuS. Using a simple theory developed for these junctions, the magnitude of the change in barrier height---half the Zeeman splitting of the conduction band in EuS---as found to be ˜0.22 eV. The electrical transport measurements of the heterojunction between EuS and InAs at temperatures well above the ferromagnetic transition temperature of EuS shows that there are at least two separate scattering mechanisms in these junctions. As expected, critical scattering is the dominate scattering mechanism in the strongly paramagnetic regime; however, unexpectedly, the data show that critical scattering is not the dominate mechanism at temperatures greater than ˜100 K. The high temperature electrical transport measurements of the EuS/InAs heterojunction, in conjunction with low temperature zero-bias conductance measurements on junctions between EuS and gold (Au), suggest that there exists an interfacial layer in series with the magnetic Schottky barrier in these EuS junctions. This interfacial layer is modeled and explained as resulting from a rather high concentration of defects at the interface between EuS and the counter electrode.

77 FR 1778 - U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-11

... Commission President Barroso, and European Council President Von Rompuy directed the Transatlantic Economic... measures to increase U.S.-EU trade and investment to support mutually beneficial job creation, economic... development of rules and principles on global issues of common concern and also for the achievement of shared...

Internationalisation and Standardisation of European Environmental Assessment. Relevance to India

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gazzola, Paola; Jha-Thakur, Urmila

2009-01-01

This paper discusses the rationale underlying "PENTA", an EU funded Erasmus Mundus project. In doing so, it explores the challenges of internationalising and standardising European environmental assessment (EA) practice and education to a third country audience, looking at India as a case study. It is argued that the EU EA Directives are…

[Recent developments on the European ban on animal experiments for cosmetics].

PubMed

Ruhdel, I W

2001-01-01

For the second time the European Commission has postponed the sales ban on cosmetics products that have been developed and tested in animal experiments now until 2002. In the meantime the Commission wants to adopt the Seventh Amendment of the EU Cosmetics Directive. In its draft the Commission proposes to scrap the sales ban and replace it with an animal testing ban. This change would avoid possible conflicts with the WTO, however, from the animal welfare point of view would result in animal testing moving into third countries instead of avoiding them. This is because cosmetics products tested on animals outside the EU could be sold in the EU without any restrictions. As a consequence this measure would take the pressure from authorities and industry to further develop and adopt alternative methods. Other proposed measures are not acceptable from the animal welfare point of view, e.g. because they contradict Directive 86/609 and would result in a delay of the application of validated alternative methods. The Deutscher Tierschutzbund therefore still demands an immediate and complete sales ban in connection with an animal testing ban within the EU.

The European Union's Adequacy Approach to Privacy and International Data Sharing in Health Research.

PubMed

Stoddart, Jennifer; Chan, Benny; Joly, Yann

2016-03-01

The European Union (EU) approach to data protection consists of assessing the adequacy of the data protection offered by the laws of a particular jurisdiction against a set of principles that includes purpose limitation, transparency, quality, proportionality, security, access, and rectification. The EU's Data Protection Directive sets conditions on the transfer of data to third countries by prohibiting Member States from transferring to such countries as have been deemed inadequate in terms of the data protection regimes. In theory, each jurisdiction is evaluated similarly and must be found fully compliant with the EU's data protection principles to be considered adequate. In practice, the inconsistency with which these evaluations are made presents a hurdle to international data-sharing and makes difficult the integration of different data-sharing approaches; in the 20 years since the Directive was first adopted, the laws of only five countries from outside of the EU, Economic Area, or the European Free Trade Agreement have been deemed adequate to engage in data transfers without the need for further administrative safeguards. © 2016 American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics.

Linking European Environmental Policies with the new CAP after 2020.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouma, Johan

2017-04-01

Linking European Environmental Policies with the new CAP after 2020. J.Bouma Em.prof soil science, Wageningen University, the Netherlands EU policy guidelines have been quite successful during the last decades to improve environmental quality of air, water and soil. This deserves credit. For example, the nitrate guideline of 1992 was introduced to deal with an emergency condition of groundwater in many areas of Europa and its quality has greatly improved. Comparable conclusions can be reached for other environmental components. As much new information and technologies have emerged and stakeholders become much more knowlegeable in the modern internet society, it is necessary and possible at this point in time to shift to more local approaches that are fine-tuned to local conditions and that approach land users as partners rather than as adversaries. A unique opportunity arises as the Common Agricultural Policy is being revised and a new policy will be introduced after 2020. Some suggestions will be made, based on the subsidiarity principle where the detail of measures should be in balance with the spatiale level at which they will be enforced: very general at EU level and more specific as one moves down to the level of individual enterprises. The UN Sustainable Development Goals would be an excellent guiding principle at EU level.

The impact of the Nitrates Directive on nitrogen emissions from agriculture in the EU-27 during 2000-2008.

PubMed

Velthof, G L; Lesschen, J P; Webb, J; Pietrzak, S; Miatkowski, Z; Pinto, M; Kros, J; Oenema, O

2014-01-15

A series of environmental policies have been implemented in the European Union (EU) to decrease nitrogen (N) emissions from agriculture. The Nitrates Directive (ND) is one of the main policies; it aims to reduce nitrate leaching from agriculture through a number of measures. A study was carried out to quantify the effects of the ND in the EU-27 on the leaching and runoff of nitrate (NO3(-)) to groundwater and surface waters, and on the emissions of ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) and dinitrogen (N2) to the atmosphere. We formulated a scenario with and a scenario without implementation of the ND. The model MITERRA-Europe was used to calculate N emissions on a regional level in the EU-27 for the period 2000-2008. The calculated total N loss from agriculture in the EU-27 was 13 Mton N in 2008, with 53% as N2, 22% as NO3, 21% as NH3, 3% as N2O, and 1% as NO(x). The N emissions and leaching in the EU-27 slightly decreased in the period 2000-2008. Total emissions in the EU in 2008 were smaller with implementation of the ND than without the ND, by 3% for NH3, 6% for N2O, 9% for NO(x), and 16% for N leaching and runoff in 2008. However, regional differences were large. The lower emissions with ND were mainly due to the lower N inputs by fertilizers and manures. In conclusion, implementation of the ND decreased both N leaching losses to ground and surface waters, and gaseous emissions to the atmosphere. It is expected that the ND will result in a further decrease in N emissions in EU-27 in the near future, because the implementation of the measures for the ND is expected to become more strict. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The management of household hazardous waste in the United Kingdom.

PubMed

Slack, R J; Gronow, J R; Voulvoulis, N

2009-01-01

Waste legislation in the United Kingdom (UK) implements European Union (EU) Directives and Regulations. However, the term used to refer to hazardous waste generated in household or municipal situations, household hazardous waste (HHW), does not occur in UK, or EU, legislation. The EU's Hazardous Waste Directive and European Waste Catalogue are the principal legislation influencing HHW, although the waste categories described are difficult to interpret. Other legislation also have impacts on HHW definition and disposal, some of which will alter current HHW disposal practices, leading to a variety of potential consequences. This paper discusses the issues affecting the management of HHW in the UK, including the apparent absence of a HHW-specific regulatory structure. Policy and regulatory measures that influence HHW management before disposal and after disposal are considered, with particular emphasis placed on disposal to landfill.

Growth and scintillation properties of Eu doped BaCl2/LiF eutectic scintillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamada, Kei; Hishinuma, Kosuke; Kurosawa, Shunsuke; Yamaji, Akihiro; Shoji, Yasuhiro; Pejchal, Jan; Yokota, Yuui; Ohashi, Yuji; Yoshikawa, Akira

2015-12-01

Eu doped BaCl2/LiF eutectics were grown by the micro-pulling down method and their directionally solidified eutectic (DSE) system has been investigated. The grown eutectic showed main phases of cubic LiF and orthorhombic BaCl2. In these eutectics, the 399 nm emission of Eu2+ 4f5d was obtained. It shows the intrinsic decay time of about 410 ns. The light yield of the 1-mm-thick eutectic showed 7000 ph/5.5 MeV alpha-ray.

Highly sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric determination of metoclopramide hydrochloride in pharmaceutical tablets and serum samples using Eu3+ ion doped in sol-gel matrix.

PubMed

Attia, M S; Aboaly, M M

2010-06-30

A simple, sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of Metoclopramide hydrochloride (MCP) is developed. The MCP can remarkably enhances the luminescence intensity of the Eu(3+) ion doped in sol-gel matrix at lambda(ex)=380 nm in DMSO at pH 8.7. The intensity of the emission band of Eu(3+) ion doped in sol-gel matrix increases due to energy transfer from MCP to Eu(3+) in the excited state. The enhancement of the emission band of Eu(3+) ion doped in sol-gel matrix at 617 nm was found to be directly proportional to the concentration of MCP with a dynamic range of 5 x 10(-9) - 1.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1) and detection limit of 2.2 x10(-11) mol L(-1). Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Analysis of difficult problems on European Union laws and regulations of traditional herbal medicinal products].

PubMed

Qu, Li-Ping; Zhang, Xiao-Qun; Xiong, Yan; Wang, Yi-Tao; Zou, Wen-Jun

2017-10-01

Registration of Chinese patent medicine in European Union (EU) is of great significance to the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine as EU market acts as an important position in the global botanical market. In retrospect, the domestic studies on EU regulations of traditional herbal medicinal products have been conducted for more than 10 years, but there is still some cognitive bias and lack of research. In this paper, a review of the relevant research progress and the main misunderstanding problems about Directive 2004/24/EC, like the centralized and decentralized supervision system of traditional herbal medicinal products in the EU, marketing authorization procedures for traditional herbal medicinal products, Community Herbal Monograph and List Entries, would be systematically analyzed, so as to provide reference for the registration of Chinese patent medicine in EU. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Simultaneous multi-wavelength ultraviolet excited single-phase white light emitting phosphor Ba1-x(Zr,Ti)Si3O9:xEu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Zhenzhen; Liu, Guanghui; Ni, Jia; Liu, Wanlu; Liu, Qian

2018-05-01

A kind of novel compound Ba1-x(Zr,Ti)Si3O9:xEu simultaneously activated by different-valence Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions has been successfully synthesized. The existence of Ti4+-O2- charge transfer (CT) transitions in Ba1-xZrSi3O9:xEu is proved by the photoluminescence spectra and first principle calculations, and the Ti4+ ions come from the impurities in commercial ZrO2 raw materials. Under the excitation of multi-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (λEX = 392, 260, 180 nm), Ba1-xZrSi3O9:xEu (x = 0.15) can directly emit nearly white light. The coexistence of multiple luminescent centers and the energy transfer among Zr4+-O2- CT state, Ti4+-O2- CT state, Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions play important roles in the white light emission. Ba1-xZrSi3O9:xEu (x = 0.15) has good thermal stability, in particular, the intensity of emission spectrum (λEX = 392 nm) at 150 °C is ∼96% of that at room temperature. In general, the multi-wavelength ultraviolet-excited single-phase white light emitting phosphor Ba1-x(Zr,Ti)Si3O9:xEu possesses a promise for applications in white light emitting diodes (WLEDs), agriculture, medicine and other photonic fields.

Unraveling the distinct luminescence thermal quenching behaviours of A/B-site Eu3+ ions in double perovskite Sr2CaMoO6:Eu3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunhao; Ye, Shi; Zhang, Qinyuan

2018-01-01

Eu3+-doped Sr2CaMoO6 phosphors have a broad excitation band at around 350-425 nm, which meets the demand of Near-ultraviolet (NUV, 365-410 nm) absorption when applied in NUV-excitable phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes (WLEDs). The luminescence thermal quenching effects of Eu3+ ions at A/B sites (612 nm/593 nm) in Sr2CaMoO6 might be distinct with resultant emission colour variation, which is less studied but of significance for a scientific perspective. This research investigates on the temperature-dependent luminescence and decay curves of the nominal Sr1.9Li0.05Eu0.05CaMoO6 and Sr2Ca0.9Li0.05Eu0.05MoO6 phosphors. Results indicate that the luminescence of B-site Eu3+ ions is quenched more easily than that of A-site Eu3+ ions, directly evidenced by the fast and slow decay components in the decay curves. A distortion of B-site octahedron with elevating temperature and strong coupling with phonons may be partially responsible for the relatively poor thermal quenching behaviors of B-site Eu3+ ions. The research gives perspective on the thermal quenching of emissive lanthanide ions at different sites in phosphors.

Hexagonal spherical Ln3+-doped NaGdF4: A facile double solvent hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Kelu; Huang, Zhuanzhuan; Yu, Qiao-He; Wang, Yi-Yan; Xia, Tian-Long

2017-04-01

Different sizes of hexagonal spherical NaGdF4:Eu3+ particles are synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method with the use of ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG) or butylene glycol (BG) as another solvent. The particle size decreases with the addition of EG, PG or BG and the decreasing trend in BG/H2O system is significantly more than that in the other two systems. Meanwhile, results show that luminescent properties of NaGdF4:Eu3+ are enhanced along with the decrease of particle size. Besides, the energy transfer from Dy3+ to Eu3+ is directly observed in the PL spectra of NaGdF4:Eu3+/Dy3+.

Vibrationally induced center reconfiguration in co-doped GaN:Eu, Mg epitaxial layers: Local hydrogen migration vs. activation of non-radiative channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, B.; Lee, D.; Lee, D.; Fujiwara, Y.; Dierolf, V.

2013-12-01

Europium doped gallium nitride (GaN:Eu) is a promising candidate as a material for red light emitting diodes. When Mg was co-doped into GaN:Eu, additional incorporation environments were discovered that show high excitation efficiency at room temperature and have been attributed to the coupling of Mg-H complexes to the majority Eu site. Electron beam irradiation, indirect and resonant (direct) laser excitation were found to modify these complexes, indicating that vibrational energy alone can trigger the migration of the H while the presence of additional charges and excess energy controls the type of reconfiguration and the activation of non-radiative decay channels.

Europium anomalies in plagioclase-free deep arc cumulates constrain the redox evolution of arc magmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, M.; Erdman, M.; Eldridge, G.; Lee, C. T.

2017-12-01

Arc lavas are generally more oxidized than mid-ocean-ridge basalts, but how arc lavas acquire their oxidized signatures remains poorly understood. Iron oxidation state in melts have been used to suggest that fluids released from subducted slab may oxidize the sub-arc mantle and produce oxidized arc magmas from the source (e.g., Carmichael, 1991; Kelley and Cottrell), but redox-sensitive trace element and Fe isotope signatures of basalts also suggest that oxidation may happen during magma differentiation (e.g., Dauphas et al., 2009; Lee et al., 2005, 2010). One potential problem, however, is that all of these studies, represent indirect constraints on the primary, pre-erupted magma oxidation state. Here, we examine the Eu systematics of primitive, deep-seated (>45-80 km) arc cumulates, which provide the most direct constraint on arc magmas before they rise into the crust. The ratio of Eu2+/Eu3+ is a function of fo2, temperature and composition. Eu2+ is more incompatible than Eu3+ except in plagioclase. Combining Eu partitioning in minerals and experimentally calibrated Eu oxybarometer (Burnham et al., 2015) allows the application of mineral Eu anomalies in constraining magma redox conditions. The cumulates are represented by garnet-bearing pyroxenites from Arizona, USA and are arc cumulates. Because they derive from depths > 60 km, plagioclase was never present during their petrogenesis, hence any Eu anomalies reflect the effects of oxygen fugacity. We find that the most primitive cumulates have negative Eu anomalies in garnet and clinopyroxene (Eu/Eu*<1), despite the fact that depths of differentiation were too high to stabilize plagioclase. We further show that garnet and clinopyroxene Eu/Eu* increases with differentiation (decreasing Mg#), consistent with Eu2+ being more incompatible than Eu3+. Based on the Eu oxybarometer calibrated by Burnham et al. (2015), the Eu deficits in the most primitive cumulate (Mg# = 77) suggest crystallization at Dlogfo2 of FMQ-1, similar to that of mid-ocean-ridge basalts. Crystal fractionation modelling shows that the increasing Eu/Eu* in the evolved cumulates require fo2 to increase by at least 2 log units as the fractionated cumulate Mg# decreases from 77 to 53. These observations suggest that the oxidized nature of arc magmas occurs during intracrustal differentiation.

Assessment of HIV molecular surveillance capacity in the European Union, 2016.

PubMed

Keating, Patrick; Pharris, Anastasia; Leitmeyer, Katrin; De Angelis, Stefania; Wensing, Annemarie; Amato-Gauci, Andrew J; Broberg, Eeva

2017-12-01

IntroductionExpanding access to HIV antiretroviral treatment is expected to decrease HIV incidence and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) mortality. However, this may also result in increased HIV drug resistance (DR). Better monitoring and surveillance of HIV DR is required to inform treatment regimens and maintain the long term effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs. As there is currently no formal European Union (EU)-wide collection of HIV DR data, this study aimed to assess the current HIV molecular surveillance capacity in EU/European Economic Area (EEA) countries in order to inform the planning of HIV DR monitoring at EU level. Methods: Thirty EU/EEA countries were invited to participate in a survey on HIV molecular surveillance capacity, which also included laboratory aspects. Results: Among 21 responding countries, 13 reported using HIV sequence data (subtype and/or DR) for surveillance purposes at national level. Of those, nine stated that clinical, epidemiological and sequence data were routinely linked for analysis. Discussion/conclusion : We identified similarities between existing HIV molecular surveillance systems, but also found important challenges including human resources, data ownership and legal issues that would need to be addressed.Information on capacities should allow better planning of the phased introduction of HIV DR surveillance at EU/EEA level.

Multi-Level Steering and Institution Building: The European Union's Approach to Research Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Young, Mitchell

2012-01-01

Adopting the conception of the university as a primary driver of innovation and economic growth has brought increased pressure for the European Union (EU) to actively steer university-based research policy, despite its being outside of the EU's direct jurisdiction. While the open method of coordination (OMC) was developed for such situations, the…

Subnational responsibilities for healthcare and Austria's rejection of the EU's patients' rights directive.

PubMed

Kostera, Thomas

2013-07-01

In 2011, Member States and the European Parliament brought into force a Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare within the EU. Austria voted against this directive even though its national legislation was already in line with the rulings of the European Court of Justice which had triggered the negotiations on the directive. Why then, in the absence of any legal constraints on adapting to it, did Austria vote against the directive? The article argues that it was the federal structure of financing hospital infrastructure and the subnational level's influence on national position building which led to the rejection of the directive. The article retraces the process of position building by analyzing the interaction between the national and the subnational levels and concludes that Austria's position mirrors the national struggle between both levels of government over control of the hospital sector. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

First-principles calculation on electronic structure and optical property of BaSi{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sup 2+} phosphor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tong, Zhi-Fang, E-mail: tongzhifang1998@126.com; Wei, Zhan-Long; Xiao, Cheng

The crystal structure, electronic structure and optical properties of BaSi{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sup 2+} with varying Eu doping concentrations are computed by the density functional theory (DFT) and compared with experimental results. The results show that the lattice parameters of primitive cells of Ba{sub 1−x}Si{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sub x} become smaller and Eu–N bond length shortens as Eu concentration increases. The band structure of Ba{sub 1−x}Si{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sub x} exhibits a direct optical band gap and it's propitious to luminescence. The energy differences from the lowest Eu 5d state to the lowest Eu 4f state decrease with increasing Eumore » concentrations. The analysis of simulative absorption spectra indicates that the electron transition from Eu 4f states to 5d states of both Eu and Ba atoms contributes to the absorption of Ba{sub 1−x}Si{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sub x}. Under the coupling effect between Eu and Ba, Ba in BaSi{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2} exhibits longer wavelength absorption and increases absorption efficiency. The emission wavelength is deduced by measuring energy differences from the lowest Eu 5d state to the lowest Eu 4f state, and the result is in good agreement with experimental value within experimental Eu{sup 2+} doping range. - Graphical abstract: The structure and optical property of BaSi{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sup 2+} are computed by DFT and its absorption mechanism is analysed. Results show that absorption peak α is from the host lattice absorption. The absorption peaks β, γ and δ are from Eu 4f to Eu 5d and Ba 6s 5d states. The absorption is attributed to the coupling effect of Eu and Ba atom. - Highlights: • The crystal, electronic structure and optical properties of BaSi{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sup 2+} are computed by DFT. • The lattice parameters of primitive cells reduces and Eu–N bond length shortens as Eu{sup 2+} increases. • The energy gap from Eu 5d state to Eu 4f state decrease with increasing Eu concentrations. • Both Eu and Ba atoms contributes to the absorption of Ba{sub 1−x}Si{sub 2}O{sub 2}N{sub 2}:Eu{sub x}. • The deduced emission wavelength is in good agreement with experimental value.« less

Temporal bone bank: complying with European Union directives on human tissue and cells.

PubMed

Van Rompaey, Vincent; Vandamme, Wouter; Muylle, Ludo; Van de Heyning, Paul H

2012-06-01

Availability of allograft tympano-ossicular systems (ATOS) provides unique reconstructive capabilities, allowing more radical removal of middle ear pathology. To provide ATOS, the University of Antwerp Temporal Bone Bank (UATB) was established in 1988. ATOS use was stopped in many countries because of safety issues concerning human tissue transplantation. Our objective was to maintain an ATOS tissue bank complying with European Union (EU) directives on human tissues and cells. The guidelines of the Belgian Superior Health Council, including EU directive requirements, were rigorously applied to UATB infrastructure, workflow protocols and activity. Workflow protocols were updated and an internal audit was performed to check and improve consistency with established quality systems and changing legislations. The Belgian Federal Agency of Medicines and Health Products performed an inspection to examine compliance with national legislatives and EU directives on human tissues and cells. A sample of important procedures was meticulously examined in its workflow setting next to assessment of the infrastructure and personnel. Results are reported on infrastructure, personnel, administrative workflow, procurement, preparation, processing, distribution, internal audit and inspection by the competent authority. Donors procured: 2006, 93 (45.1%); 2007, 64 (20.6%); 2008, 56 (13.1%); 2009, 79 (6.9%). The UATB was approved by the Minister of Health without critical or important shortcomings. The Ministry accords registration each time for 2 years. An ATOS tissue bank complying with EU regulations on human allografts is feasible and critical to assure that the patient receives tissue, which is safe, individually checked and prepared in a suitable environment.

Comparison of China's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) law with the European Union (EU) EIA Directive.

PubMed

Chen, Qiaoling; Zhang, Yuanzhi; Ekroos, Ari

2007-09-01

In this paper, we first review the development of China's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in the past 30 years. Then we compare the framework and operational procedures of China's new EIA law with those of the EU EIA Directive. We also compare public participation, as well as sanctions and control in the two EIA systems. In addition, we identify where the processes in both EIA systems are similar or different from one another. By comparison, we noted that there are at least three obvious weaknesses in China's EIA system: (1) the application of new models for EIA legislation; (2) the improvement of EIA guidance and education; and (3) the enhancement of public participation in EIA process. Our study indicates that these three major shortcomings should be overcome and improved in China's EIA system, when compared with the EU EIA system.

Does economic, financial and institutional developments matter for environmental quality? A comparative analysis of EU and MEA countries.

PubMed

Abid, Mehdi

2017-03-01

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) with a sample of 58 MEA (Middle East & African) and 41 EU (European Union) countries for the period 1990 to 2011. The empirical analysis is carried out using the GMM-system method to solve the problem of endogenous variables. We focused on direct and indirect effects of institutional quality (through the efficiency of public expenditure, financial development, trade openness and foreign direct investment) and the income-emission relationship. We found a monotonically increasing relationship between CO 2 emissions and GDP in both MEA and EU regions. The policy implication is clear: in order to have sustainable positive economic performance and to reduce carbon dioxide emission in the country at the same time, policy makers should regulate and enhance the role and efficiency of domestic institutions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Novel organic–inorganic amorphous photoactive hybrid films with rare earth (Eu{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+}) covalently embedded into silicon–oxygen network via sol–gel process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Qiang; Sheng, Ye; Zheng, Keyan

2015-10-15

Highlights: • The hybrids are prepared through the hydrolysis and condensation process. • The hybrids are amorphous and heat stabilized. • The hybrids containing Eu{sup 3+} and Tb{sup 3+} show the typical red and green emissions. - Abstract: Novel organic–inorganic hybrid amorphous thin films were synthesized by linking lanthanide (Tb{sup 3+}, Eu{sup 3+}) complexes through 3,4-bis(3-(triethoxysilyl)propylcarbamoyloxy)benzoic acid using sol–gel method. These inorganic–organic hybrids were characterized in detail by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction, themogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, and fluorescence spectra. The above research results indicate that the hybrids possess high thermal-stability, amorphous structure features and especiallymore » favorable luminescent performances, such as long luminescent decay lifetime, high quantum yield etc.« less

Assumptions in the European Union biofuels policy: frictions with experiences in Germany, Brazil and Mozambique.

PubMed

Franco, Jennifer; Levidow, Les; Fig, David; Goldfarb, Lucia; Hönicke, Mireille; Mendonça, Maria Luisa

2010-01-01

The biofuel project is an agro-industrial development and politically contested policy process where governments increasingly become global actors. European Union (EU) biofuels policy rests upon arguments about societal benefits of three main kinds - namely, environmental protection (especially greenhouse gas savings), energy security and rural development, especially in the global South. Each argument involves optimistic assumptions about what the putative benefits mean and how they can be fulfilled. After examining those assumptions, we compare them with experiences in three countries - Germany, Brazil and Mozambique - which have various links to each other and to the EU through biofuels. In those case studies, there are fundamental contradictions between EU policy assumptions and practices in the real world, involving frictional encounters among biofuel promoters as well as with people adversely affected. Such contradictions may intensify with the future rise of biofuels and so warrant systematic attention.

Eu2P7X and Ba2As7X (X = Br, I): Chiral double-Zintl salts containing heptapnictotricyclane clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolyniuk, Juli-Anna; Lee, Shannon; Tran, Nhon; Wang, Jian; Wang, Lin-Lin; Kovnir, Kirill

2018-07-01

Chiral double Zintl salts present tunable crystal structures with enhanced structural flexibilities and potential for applications requiring chiral control and enantioselectivity. To accompany the chiral Sr2P7I and Sr2P7Br double Zintl salts reported by us previously, six new chiral Zintl salts of the form Ba2-ySryAs7I (y = 0, 0.23, 2), Eu2P7I, Eu2P7Br, and Eu1.3Ba0.7P7Br have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS analyses. All new compounds crystallize in the Sohncke space group P213 (No. 198) with variations of P73- (heptaphosphanortricyclane) or As73- (heptaarsanortricyclane) clusters surrounded by alkaline-earth or Eu cations and halogen anions. Band structure calculations predict semiconducting properties for all synthesized compounds. Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy indicates that Eu2P7I is a direct bandgap semiconductor with Eg of 1.7 eV.

Exploring the link between environmental pollution and economic growth in EU-28 countries: Is there an environmental Kuznets curve?

PubMed Central

Armeanu, Daniel; Vintilă, Georgeta; Gherghina, Ştefan Cristian; Drăgoi, Mihaela Cristina; Teodor, Cristian

2018-01-01

This study examines the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis (EKC), considering the primary energy consumption among other country-specific variables, for a panel of the EU-28 countries during the period 1990–2014. By estimating pooled OLS regressions with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors in order to account for cross-sectional dependence, the results confirm the EKC hypothesis in the case of emissions of sulfur oxides and emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds. In addition to pooled estimations, the output of fixed-effects regressions with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors support the EKC hypothesis for greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas emissions intensity of energy consumption, emissions of nitrogen oxides, emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds and emissions of ammonia. Additionally, the empirical findings from panel vector error correction model reveal a short-run unidirectional causality from GDP per capita growth to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a bidirectional causal link between primary energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, since there occurred no causal link between economic growth and primary energy consumption, the neo-classical view was confirmed, namely the neutrality hypothesis. PMID:29742169

Exploring the link between environmental pollution and economic growth in EU-28 countries: Is there an environmental Kuznets curve?

PubMed

Armeanu, Daniel; Vintilă, Georgeta; Andrei, Jean Vasile; Gherghina, Ştefan Cristian; Drăgoi, Mihaela Cristina; Teodor, Cristian

2018-01-01

This study examines the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis (EKC), considering the primary energy consumption among other country-specific variables, for a panel of the EU-28 countries during the period 1990-2014. By estimating pooled OLS regressions with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors in order to account for cross-sectional dependence, the results confirm the EKC hypothesis in the case of emissions of sulfur oxides and emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds. In addition to pooled estimations, the output of fixed-effects regressions with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors support the EKC hypothesis for greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas emissions intensity of energy consumption, emissions of nitrogen oxides, emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds and emissions of ammonia. Additionally, the empirical findings from panel vector error correction model reveal a short-run unidirectional causality from GDP per capita growth to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a bidirectional causal link between primary energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, since there occurred no causal link between economic growth and primary energy consumption, the neo-classical view was confirmed, namely the neutrality hypothesis.

Applying standards to ICT models, tools and data in Europe to improve river basin networks and spread innovation on water sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pesquer, Lluís; Jirka, Simon; van de Giesen, Nick; Masó, Joan; Stasch, Christoph; Van Nooyen, Ronald; Prat, Ester; Pons, Xavier

2015-04-01

This work describes the strategy of the European Horizon 2020 project WaterInnEU. Its vision is to enhance the exploitation of EU funded ICT models, tools, protocols and policy briefs related to the water sector and to establish suitable conditions for new market opportunities based on these offerings. The main goals are: • Connect the research results and developments of previous EU funded activities with the already existing data available on European level and also with to the companies that are able to offer products and services based on these tools and data. • Offer an independent marketplace platform complemented by technical and commercial expertise as a service for users to allow the access to products and services best fitting their priorities, capabilities and procurement processes. One of the pillars of WaterInnEU is to stimulate and prioritize the application of international standards into ICT tools and policy briefs. The standardization of formats, services and processes will allow for a harmonized water management between different sectors, fragmented areas and scales (local, regional or international) approaches. Several levels of interoperability will be addressed: • Syntactic: Connecting system and tools together: Syntactic interoperability allows for client and service tools to automatically discover, access, and process data and information (query and exchange parts of a database) and to connect each other in process chains. The discovery of water related data is achieved using metadata cataloguing standards and, in particular, the one adopted by the INSPIRE directive: OGC Catalogue Service for the Web (CSW). • Semantic: Sharing a pan-European conceptual framework This is the ability of computer systems to exchange data with unambiguous, shared meaning. The project therefore addresses not only the packaging of data (syntax), but also the simultaneous transmission of the meaning with the data (semantics). This is accomplished by linking each data element to a controlled, shared vocabulary. In Europe, INSPIRE defines a shared vocabulary and its associated links to an ontology. For hydrographical information this can be used as a baseline. • Organizational: Harmonizing policy aspects This level of interoperability deals with operational methodologies and procedures that organizations use to administrate their own data and processing capabilities and to share those capabilities with others. This layer is addressed by the adoption of common policy briefs that facilitate both robust protocols and flexibility to interact with others. • Data visualization: Making data easy to see The WMS and WMTS standards are the most commonly used geographic information visualization standards for sharing information in web portals. Our solution will incorporate a quality extension of these standards for visualizing data quality as nested layers linked to the different data sets. In the presented approach, the use of standards can be seen twofold: the tools and products should leverage standards wherever possible to ensure interoperability between solution providers, and the platform itself must utilize standards as much as possible, to allow for example the integration with other systems through open APIs or the description of available items.

Optimization of the Sensitization Process and Stability of Octadentate Eu(III) 1,2-HOPO Complexes

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

The synthesis of a series of octadentate ligands containing the 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one (1,2-HOPO) group in complex with europium(III) is reported. Within this series, the central bridge connecting two diethylenetriamine units linked to two 1,2-HOPO chromophores at the extremities (5-LIN-1,2-HOPO) is varied from a short ethylene chain (H(2,2)-1,2-HOPO) to a long pentaethylene oxide chain (H(17O5,2)-1,2-HOPO). The thermodynamic stability of the europium complexes has been studied and reveals these complexes may be effective for biological measurements. Extension of the central bridge results in exclusion of the inner-sphere water molecule observed for [Eu(H(2,2)-1,2-HOPO)]− going from a nonacoordinated to an octacoordinated Eu(III) ion. With the longer chain length ligands, the complexes display increased luminescence properties in aqueous medium with an optimum of 20% luminescence quantum yield for the [Eu(H(17O5,2)-1,2-HOPO)]− complex. The luminescence properties for [Eu(H(14O4,2)-1,2-HOPO)]− and [Eu(H(17O5,2)-1,2-HOPO)]− are better than that of the model bis-tetradentate [Eu(5LINMe-1,2-HOPO)2]− complex, suggesting a different geometry around the metal center despite the geometric freedom allowed by the longer central chain in the H(mOn,2) scaffold. These differences are also evidenced by examining the luminescence spectra at room temperature and at 77 K and by calculating the luminescence kinetic parameters of the europium complexes. PMID:26151082

Comparative study of the methods used for treatment and final disposal of sewage sludge in European countries.

PubMed

Kelessidis, Alexandros; Stasinakis, Athanasios S

2012-06-01

Municipal wastewater treatment results to the production of large quantities of sewage sludge, which requires proper and environmentally accepted management before final disposal. In European Union, sludge management remains an open and challenging issue for the Member States as the relative European legislation is fragmentary and quite old, while the published data concerning sludge treatment and disposal in different European countries are often incomplete and inhomogeneous. The main objective of the current study was to outline the current situation and discuss future perspectives for sludge treatment and disposal in EU countries. According to the results, specific sludge production is differentiated significantly between European countries, ranging from 0.1 kg per population equivalent (p.e.) and year (Malta) to 30.8 kg per p.e. and year (Austria). More stringent legislations comparing to European Directive 86/278/EC have been adopted for sludge disposal in soil by several European countries, setting lower limit values for heavy metals as well as limit values for pathogens and organic micropollutants. A great variety of sludge treatment technologies are used in EU countries, while differences are observed between Member States. Anaerobic and aerobic digestion seems to be the most popular stabilization methods, applying in 24 and 20 countries, respectively. Mechanical sludge dewatering is preferred comparing to the use of drying beds, while thermal drying is mainly applied in EU-15 countries (old Member States) and especially in Germany, Italy, France and UK. Regarding sludge final disposal, sludge reuse (including direct agricultural application and composting) seems to be the predominant choice for sludge management in EU-15 (53% of produced sludge), following by incineration (21% of produced sludge). On the other hand, the most common disposal method in EU-12 countries (new Member States that joined EU after 2004) is still landfilling. Due to the obligations set by Directive 91/271/EC, a temporary increase of sludge amounts that are disposed in landfills is expected during the following years in EU-12 countries. Beside the above, sludge reuse in land and sludge incineration seem to be the main practices further adopted in EU-27 (all Member States) up to 2020. The reinforcement of these disposal practices will probably result to adoption of advanced sludge treatment technologies in order to achieve higher pathogens removal, odors control and removal of toxic compounds and ensure human health and environmental protection. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Luminescent Properties of Eu(III) Chelates on Metal Nanorods

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jian; Fu, Yi; Ray, Krishanu; Wang, Yuan; Lakowicz, Joseph. R.

2013-01-01

In this article, we report the change of optical properties for europium chelates on silver nanorods by near-field interactions. The silver rods were fabricated in a seed-growth method followed by depositing thin layers of silica on the surfaces. The europium chelates were physically absorbed in the silica layers on the silver rods. The silver rods were observed to exhibit two plasmon absorption bands from longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, centered at 394 and 675 nm, close to absorption and emission bands from the Eu(III) chelates. As a result, the immobilized Eu(III) chelates on the silver rods should have strong interactions with the silver nanorods and lead to greatly improved optical properties. The Eu–Ag rod complexes were observed to have enhanced emission intensity up to 240-fold in comparison with the Eu(III) chelates in the metal-free silica templates. This enhancement is much larger than the value for the Eu(III) chelates on the gold rods or silver spheres indicating the presence of stronger interactions for the Eu(III) chelates with the silver rods. The interactions of Eu(III) chelates with the silver rods were also proven by extremely reduced lifetime. Moreover, the Eu–Ag rod complexes exhibited a polarized emission, which was also due to strong interactions of the Eu(III) chelates with the silver rods. All of these features may promise that the Eu(III)–Ag rod complexes have great potential for use as fluorescence imaging agents in biological assays. PMID:24363816

Theoretical studies on structural, magnetic, and spintronic characteristics of sandwiched Eu(n)COT(n+1) (n = 1-4) clusters.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiuyun; Ng, Man-Fai; Wang, Yanbiao; Wang, Jinlan; Yang, Shuo-Wang

2009-09-22

Europium (Eu)-cyclootetatrene (COT = C(8)H(8)) multidecker clusters (Eu(n)COT(n+1), n = 1-4) are studied by relativistic density functional theory calculations. These clusters are found to be thermodynamically stable with freely rotatable COT rings, and their total magnetic moments (MMs) increase linearly along with the number of Eu atoms. Each Eu atom contributes about 7 mu(B) to the cluster. Meanwhile, the internal COT rings have little MM contribution while the external COT rings have about 1 mu(B) MM aligned in opposite direction to that of the Eu atoms. The total MM of the Eu(n)COT(n+1) clusters can thus be generalized as 7n - 2 mu(B) where n is the number of Eu atoms. Besides, the ground states of these clusters are ferromagnetic and energetically competitive with the antiferromagnetic states, meaning that their spin states are very unstable, especially for larger clusters. More importantly, we uncover an interesting bonding characteristic of these clusters in which the interior ionic structure is capped by two hybrid covalent-ionic terminals. We suggest that such a characteristic makes the Eu(n)COT(n+1) clusters extremely stable. Finally, we reveal that for the positively charged clusters, the hybrid covalent-ionic terminals will tip further toward the interior part of the clusters to form deeper covalent-ionic caps. In contrast, the negatively charged clusters turn to pure ionic structures.

The European Hands-On Universe project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferlet, Roger

2012-07-01

The EU-HOU project is a wide collaboration of teachers and scientists with the purpose of creating a way for pupils to get excited by science, primarily through the use of astronomy. EU-HOU gives pupils the chance to use real astronomical data to investigate research questions such as how to detect an extrasolar planet, identify the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, or discover the existence of dark matter. EU-HOU provides also the opportunity of real time sky observations through networks of robotic optical and radio telescopes via the Internet, together with pupil-friendly software to analyse the data. EU-HOU offers teachers incentives and advice through class-ready resources directly inspired from modern research, which can engage students in the wonder of scientific discovery and develop their creative thinking.

Methodology of Projecting Pedagogical Education Oriented toward Quality and Trends in Its Development in the EU Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Desiatov, Tymofii

2017-01-01

The main directions of evolution and trends in pedagogical education development in European countries have been analyzed. It has been found that modernization of pedagogical education in Ukraine is practically impossible without analyzing the development of pedagogical education in the EU countries. It has been proved that in order to study…

Technical assistance development soil management policy in Croatia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spruyt, Eva; Helsen, Stefan; Hambach, Patrick; Cuyvers, Lars

2014-05-01

As from the first of July 2013, Croatia became a EU member country and therefore has to comply with all the EU-rules (the "acquis") as defined in the European Council in Copenhagen in 1993. One of the aspects of this acquis is the protection and conservation of the soil and groundwater and the remediation of contaminated sites that cause human and environmental risks. On behalf of the Department of Environment, Nature and Energy of the Flemish government together with the Public Waste Agency of Flanders(OVAM), ECOREM was assigned to carry out this study. The scope of this study therefore focuses on the aspect of soil management that can be divided into two main policies, beïng the policy for the prevention of soil contamination from new activities(1) and the policy for the management and remediation of historical soil contamination from local sources like industrial sites(2). To form a soil management policy, Croatia must start from the legal obligations enforced by the European Union. One of the European Directives regulating the monitoring and protection of soil and groundwater is the new Industrial Emission Directive ('IED' - 2010/78/EU) from the 24th of November 2010. Whereas the framework of the Directive is larger than contamination of soil , the focus of this study was limited to soil contamination only. In order to comply with the existing EU policy contributing to soil protection, the regulations in the IED, the Croatian government needs to adapt existing legislations or apply new regulations regarding soil monitoring for the industrial activities. Also other EU Directives enforce actions contributing to soil protection. Therefore, a questionnaire with different sorts of questions was sent to the different stakeholders (environmental institutes, agencies, ministries,…). The results were interpreted and allowed Ecorem, being the environmental consultant, to evaluate the gaps in the environmental and soil management policy. This study gives advice on how to integrate these regulations in the existing legislation of Croatia within the current policy of Ministries and Agencies. Therefore an inventory study of the current environmental legislation and governmental organization has been carried out. The inventory study evaluates the process of implementing the EID and other Directives, within the new membership of Croatia in the EU. Taking into account the future Soil Framework Directive and the Proposal of 2010, the study makes suggestions to implement future regulations for the protection and monitoring of the soil and the groundwater for potentially soil-contaminating activities. Finally, the study makes suggestions on how to determine standards for contamination parameters, procedures, definitions, … Input for these needs were obtained through the stakeholders.

EU accession: A policy window opportunity for nursing?

PubMed

De Raeve, Paul; Rafferty, Anne-Marie; Bariball, Louise; Young, Ruth; Boiko, Olga

2017-03-01

European enlargement has been studied in a wide range of policy areas within and beyond health. Yet the impact of EU enlargement upon one of the largest health professions, nursing, has been largely neglected. This paper aims to explore nurse leadership using a comparative case study method in two former Communist countries, Romania and Croatia. Specifically, it considers the extent to which engagement in the EU accession policy-making process provided a policy window for the leaders to formulate and implement a professional agenda while negotiating EU accession. Findings of qualitative interviews and documentary analysis indicate that the mechanisms used to facilitate the accession process were not successful in achieving compliance with the education standards in the Community Acquis, as highlighted in the criteria on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications set out in Directive 2005/36/EC. EU accession capacity building and accession funds were not deployed efficiently to upgrade Romanian and Croatian nursing education towards meeting EU standards. Conflicting views on accession held by the various nursing stakeholders (nursing regulator, nursing union, governmental chief nurse and the professional association) inhibited the setting of a common policy agenda to achieve compliance with EU standards. The study findings suggest a need to critically review EU accession mechanisms and better align leadership at all governance levels. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantifying household waste of fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU.

PubMed

De Laurentiis, Valeria; Corrado, Sara; Sala, Serenella

2018-04-11

According to national studies conducted in EU countries, fresh fruit and vegetables contribute to almost 50% of the food waste generated by households. This study presents an estimation of this waste flow, differentiating between unavoidable and avoidable waste. The calculation of these two flows serves different purposes. The first (21.1 kg per person per year) provides a measure of the amount of household waste intrinsically linked to the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, and which would still be generated even in a zero-avoidable waste future scenario. The second (14.2 kg per person per year) is a quantity that could be reduced/minimised by applying targeted prevention strategies. The unavoidable waste was assessed at product level, by considering the inedible fraction and the purchased amounts of the fifty-one most consumed fruits and vegetables in Europe. The avoidable waste was estimated at commodity group level, based on the results of national studies conducted in six EU member states. Significant differences in the amounts of avoidable and unavoidable waste generated were found across countries, due to different levels of wasteful behaviours (linked to cultural and economic factors) and different consumption patterns (influencing the amount of unavoidable waste generated). The results of this study have implications for policies both on the prevention and the management of household food waste. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

The effect of the EU tissues and cells directive on bone banking in Denmark: a case study.

PubMed

Birk, Sofie Okkels; Hoeyer, Klaus

2010-08-01

As a result of the EU Tissues and Cells Directive (2004/23/EC), therapeutic tissue banking is currently being restructured throughout Europe. The stated objectives are to enhance a safe and stable supply of bone and tissue in Europe and to facilitate internal exchange. We conducted an interview study to explore the effect of the Directive on Danish bone banks in terms of (1) organizational restructuring, (2) supply and range of exchange, (3) economic costs. We found that the Directive stimulated extensive re-organization of bone banks with a substantial adjoining workload; that it is doubtful whether it will increase supply and range of exchange; and that the transposition of the Directive is associated with considerable extra cost. Additionally, we found that elements in the documentation of safety were fabricated by surgeons to avoid what was seen as unnecessary questioning of potential donors.

The EU Physical Agents (EMF) Directive and its impact on MRI imaging in animal experiments: a submission by FRAME to the HSE.

PubMed

Hudson, Michelle

2006-06-01

The EU Physical Agents (EMF) Directive, Directive 2004/40/EC, which threatens to greatly restrict the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in both clinical and research situations, will come into force on 30 April 2008. This could severely affect experimental animal welfare and scientific progress, as well as patient care. FRAME made a submission to a Health and Safety Executive round-table discussion about the Directive, held in January 2006, detailing concerns about the implications that the legislation would have on implementing the Three Rs in animal-based research and testing, and the subsequent consequences for animal welfare and the quality of scientific output. The submission is reproduced here, with additional comments on the outcome of the meeting and recommendations for further research into the consequences of the Directive.

Satellite skill in detecting extreme episodes in near-surface air quality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz, D. J.; Prather, M. J.

2017-12-01

Ozone (O3) contributes to ambient air pollution, adversely affecting public health, agriculture, and ecosystems. Reliable, long-term, densely distributed surface networks are required to establish the scale, intensity and repeatability of major pollution events (designated here in a climatological sense as air quality extremes, AQX as defined in Schnell's work). Regrettably, such networks are only available for North America (NA) and Europe (EU), which does not include many populated regions where the deaths associated with air pollution exposure are alarmingly high. Directly measuring surface pollutants from space without lidar is extremely difficult. Mapping of daily pollution events requires cross-track nadir scanners and these have limited sensitivity to surface O3 levels. This work examines several years of coincident surface and OMI satellite measurements over NA-EU, in combination with a chemistry-transport model (CTM) hindcast of that period to understand how the large-scale AQX episodes may extend into the free troposphere and thus be more amenable to satellite mapping. We show how extreme NA-EU episodes are measured from OMI and then look for such patterns over other polluted regions of the globe. We gather individual high-quality O3 surface site measurements from these other regions, to check on our satellite detection. Our approach with global satellite detection would avoid issues associated with regional variations in seasonality, chemical regime, data product biases; and it does not require defining a separate absolute threshold for each data product (surface site and satellite). This also enables coherent linking of the extreme events into large-scale pollution episodes whose magnitude evolves over 100's of km for several days. Tools used here include the UC Irvine CTM, which shows that much of the O3 surface variability is lost at heights above 2 km, but AQX local events are readily seen in a 0-3 km column average. The OMI data are taken from X. Liu's dataset using an improved algorithm for detection of tropospheric O3. Surface site observations outside NA and EU are taken from research stations where possible.

Regulatory impediments jeopardizing the conduct of clinical trials in Europe funded by the National Institutes of Health

PubMed Central

Neaton, James D; Babiker, Abdel; Bohnhorst, Mark; Darbyshire, Janet; Denning, Eileen; Frishman, Arnie; Grarup, Jesper; Larson, Gregg; Lundgren, Jens

2011-01-01

Background A number of reports have highlighted problems of conducting publicly funded trials in Europe as a consequence of the European Union (EU) Clinical Trials Directive. The impact of the EU Directive on multi-national trials, which include sites in Europe that are funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have not been described. Methods Four problems in the conduct of two international HIV treatment trials funded by NIH in the EU are described: (1) conflicting regulations on the continuing review of protocols by Institutional Review Boards/Research Ethics Committees; (2) US regulations requiring Federalwide Assurances for sites which are only partially funded by NIH; (3) EU guidance on the designation of studies as a trial of an investigational medicinal product; and (4) EU guidance on trial sponsorship and the requirements for insurance and indemnification. Following the description of the problems, recommendations for improving global collaborations are made to the US Office of Human Research Protections, to NIH, and to the EU and its Member States. Results A lack of harmonization of regulations at multiple levels caused enrollment in one study to be interrupted for several months and delayed for one year the initiation of another study aimed at obtaining definitive evidence to guide the timing of the initiation of antiretroviral therapy for individuals infected with HIV. The delays and the purchase of insurance resulted in substantial increases in trial costs and caused substantial disruption at clinical sites among staff and study participants. Limitations The problems cited and recommendations made pertain to trials funded by NIH and conducted by sites in the EU. There are many other challenges in the conduct of international research, public and private, that global harmonization would alleviate. Conclusions Disharmony, at multiple levels, in international regulations and guidelines is stifling publicly funded global research. International scientific organizations and government groups should make the documentation and solution of these problems a priority. PMID:20729252

A simple procedure for γ- γ lifetime measurements using multi-element fast-timing arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Régis, J.-M.; Dannhoff, M.; Jolie, J.

2018-07-01

The lifetimes of nuclear excited states are important observables in nuclear physics. Their precise measurement is of key importance for developing and testing nuclear models as they are directly linked with the quantum nature of the nuclear system. The γ- γ timing technique represents a direct lifetime determination by means of time-difference measurements between the γ rays which directly feed and decay from a nuclear excited state. Using arrays of very-fast scintillator detectors, picosecond-sensitive time-difference measurements can be performed. We propose to construct a symmetric energy-energy-time cube as is usually done to perform γ- γ coincidence analyses and lifetime determination with high-resolution germanium detectors. By construction, a symmetric mean time-walk characteristics is obtained, that can be precisely determined and used as a single time correction for all the data independently of the detectors. We present the results of timing characteristics measurements of an array with six LaBr3(Ce) detectors, as obtained using a 152Eu point γ-ray source. Compared with a single detector pair, the time resolution of the symmetrised time-difference spectra of the array is nearly unaffected.

European perspectives on pediatric formulations.

PubMed

Breitkreutz, Jörg

2008-11-01

The 2007 European Union (EU) regulation on medicinal products for pediatric use may change the present unsatisfying situation in the EU by stimulating research and development of medicines for use in children through rewards and incentives. This commentary reflects on the new EU regulations and guidelines, with special attention paid to the impact on pediatric formulation science. The focus of this article is on the EU perspective for pediatric formulations and highlights the differences compared with the pediatric drug formulation situation in the United States. Materials for this article were gathered during a literature search of MEDLINE and Chemical Abstracts (1970-October 2008) using the following terms: paediatric/pediatric drug formulations, age-appropriate dosage forms, child-appropriate medicines, and paediatric/pediatric regulation. Since the EU legislation on medicines for children came into force in 2007, a great emphasis has been placed on creating new organizations, scientific networks, and programs dealing with pediatric medicines and child-appropriate drug formulations. Although the US legislation was an appropriate model, the EU introduced some novel measures to improve the current situation, such as the Paediatric Investigation Plan and the Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation. For globally operating pharmaceutical companies, the peculiarities of the European market have a strong impact on their product development strategies. Because the European approach demands early investigations into drug formulations for children, various issues must be resolved, including the following: choosing formulations for each age group, determining which excipients may be used in the formulation and which delivery device is appropriate, and predicting the taste sensation of an oral formulation. Numerous initiatives and networks are evolving in Europe. An important future task will be the coordination of these activities and the linking to other groups working on pediatric formulations outside the EU. Similar to the research in pediatric drug formulations that was stimulated by the US legislation and incentives of the last decade, the 2007 EU legislation promises improvements in the availability of child-appropriate drugs in Europe.

Multilevel Governance and Shared Sovereignty: European Union, Member States, and the FCTC

PubMed Central

MAMUDU, HADII M.; STUDLAR, DONLEY T.

2010-01-01

The Westphalian idea of sovereignty in international relations has undergone recent transformation. “Shared sovereignty” through multilevel governance describes the responsibility of the European Union (EU) and its Member States in tobacco control policy. We examine how this has occurred on the EU level through directives and recommendations, accession rules for new members, tobacco control campaigns, and financial support for antitobacco nongovernmental organizations. In particular, the negotiation and ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the participation in the FCTC Conference of the Parties illustrates shared sovereignty. The EU Commission was the lead negotiator for Member States on issues over which it had jurisdiction, while individual Member States, through the EU presidency, could negotiate on issues on which authority was divided or remained with them. Shared sovereignty through multilevel governance has become the norm in the tobacco control policy area for EU members, including having one international organization negotiate within the context of another. PMID:20622934

Thermodynamic, spectroscopic, and computational studies of lanthanide complexation with Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acide: temperature effect and coordination modes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guoxin Tian; Leigh R. Martin; Zhiyong Zhang

2011-04-01

Stability constants of two DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) complexes with lanthanides (ML2- and MHL-, where M stands for Nd and Eu and L stands for diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) at 10, 25, 40, 55, and 70 degrees C were determined by potentiometry, absorption spectrophotometry, and luminescence spectroscopy. The enthalpies of complexation at 25 degrees C were determined by microcalorimetry. Thermodynamic data show that the complexation of Nd3þ and Eu3þ with DTPA is weakened at higher temperatures, a 10-fold decrease in the stability constants of ML2- and MHL- as the temperature is increased from 10 to 70 degrees C. The effect of temperature is consistentmore » with the exothermic enthalpy of complexation directly measured by microcalorimetry. Results by luminescence spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that DTPA is octa-dentate in both the EuL2- and EuHL- complexes and, for the first time, the coordination mode in the EuHL- complex was clarified by integration of the experimental data and DFT calculations. In the EuHL- complex, the Eu is coordinated by an octa-dentate H(DTPA) ligand and a water molecule, and the protonation occurs on the oxygen of a carboxylate group.« less

Impact of the European clinical trials directive on prospective academic clinical trials associated with BMT.

PubMed

Frewer, L J; Coles, D; van der Lans, I A; Schroeder, D; Champion, K; Apperley, J F

2011-03-01

The European Clinical Trials Directive (EU 2001; 2001/20/EC) was introduced to improve the efficiency of commercial and academic clinical trials. Concerns have been raised by interested organizations and institutions regarding the potential for negative impact of the Directive on non-commercial European clinical research. Interested researchers within the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) were surveyed to determine whether researcher experiences confirmed this view. Following a pilot study, an internet-based questionnaire was distributed to individuals in key research positions in the European haemopoietic SCT community. Seventy-one usable questionnaires were returned from participants in different EU member states. The results indicate that the perceived impact of the European Clinical Trials Directive has been negative, at least in the research areas of interest to the EBMT.

Complexation-induced supramolecular assembly drives metal-ion extraction.

PubMed

Ellis, Ross J; Meridiano, Yannick; Muller, Julie; Berthon, Laurence; Guilbaud, Philippe; Zorz, Nicole; Antonio, Mark R; Demars, Thomas; Zemb, Thomas

2014-09-26

Combining experiment with theory reveals the role of self-assembly and complexation in metal-ion transfer through the water-oil interface. The coordinating metal salt Eu(NO3)3 was extracted from water into oil by a lipophilic neutral amphiphile. Molecular dynamics simulations were coupled to experimental spectroscopic and X-ray scattering techniques to investigate how local coordination interactions between the metal ion and ligands in the organic phase combine with long-range interactions to produce spontaneous changes in the solvent microstructure. Extraction of the Eu(3+)-3(NO3(-)) ion pairs involves incorporation of the "hard" metal complex into the core of "soft" aggregates. This seeds the formation of reverse micelles that draw the water and "free" amphiphile into nanoscale hydrophilic domains. The reverse micelles interact through attractive van der Waals interactions and coalesce into rod-shaped polynuclear Eu(III) -containing aggregates with metal centers bridged by nitrate. These preorganized hydrophilic domains, containing high densities of O-donor ligands and anions, provide improved Eu(III) solvation environments that help drive interfacial transfer, as is reflected by the increasing Eu(III) partitioning ratios (oil/aqueous) despite the organic phase approaching saturation. For the first time, this multiscale approach links metal-ion coordination with nanoscale structure to reveal the free-energy balance that drives the phase transfer of neutral metal salts. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The prevalence and costs of obesity in the EU.

PubMed

Fry, James; Finley, Willa

2005-08-01

The present paper reports on results obtained as part of the economics module of the LIPGENE project. It reviews recent trends in obesity in the fifteen member states of the EU (the member states before enlargement in 2004) and concludes that in 2002 for both adult men and women at least half the fifteen member states of the EU had obesity levels of >20%. In the same year the total direct and indirect annual costs of obesity in the fifteen member states of the EU were 32,800 euro x 10(6). The provision of 'healthy' foods with an adapted lipid profile provides one means of mitigating the impact of obesity. However, there are extra costs associated with the supply of such foods, via additional costs of food ingredients, identity preservation costs for premium-value food products and the penalties caused by the inability to exploit economies of scale. The limited scale of the markets for healthy foods is caused by their high selling prices. Also presented is an analysis of the costs of subsidising, throughout the EU, ingredients that improve the fatty acid profile of beef, eggs, poultry meat and low-fat spreads, so that healthier versions of these products sell at the same price as traditional alternatives. The total costs of such subsidies for these four food products would have been 10 euro x 10(9)/year in 2002, which was 30% of the direct and indirect costs of obesity.

One common way - The strategic and methodological influence on environmental planning across Europe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiricka, Alexandra, E-mail: alexandra.jiricka@boku.ac.a; Proebstl, Ulrike, E-mail: ulrike.proebstl@boku.ac.a

In the last decades the European Union exerted influence on precautionary environmental planning by the establishment of several Directives. The most relevant were the Habitat-Directive, the EIA-Directive, the SEA-Directive and the Water Framework Directive. Comparing these EU policies in the area of environmental precaution it becomes obvious that there is a lot of common ground. Thus, the conclusion seems likely that the European Union, in doing so, has intended to establish general planning concepts through introducing several methodological steps indicated by the regulations. The goal of this article is firstly to point out, which are the common planning principles, convertedmore » by methodological elements and secondly examine the consideration of these planning concepts by the implementation and application in the member states. In this context it is analysed whether the connections and divergences between the directives lead to significant differences in the implementation process. To this aim the directives are shortly introduced and significant steps of the processes regulated by them are outlined. In the second steps the national legal implementation in the Alpine states and its consequences for the practical application are discussed. The results show a heterogeneous application of the EU principles. Within the comparative view on the four directives influence and causalities between the national implementation and the practical application were identified, which can be simplified as four types. Since a coherent strategic and methodological concept for improving environmental precaution planning from part of the EU is noticeable, more unity and comparability within the implementation is desirable, particularly in areas with comparable habitats such as the alpine space. Beyond this the trade-off between the directives poses an important task for the future.« less

Mixed valence and metamagnetism in a metal flux grown compound Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 3}Si{sub 5}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sarkar, Sumanta; Subbarao, Udumula; Joseph, Boby

A new compound Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 3}Si{sub 5} with plate shaped morphology has been grown from excess In flux. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic U{sub 2}Co{sub 3}Si{sub 5} structure type, Ibam space group and the lattice parameters are a=10.007(2) Å, b=11.666(2) Å and c=6.0011(12) Å. The crystal structure of this compound can be conceived as inter-twinned chains of [Pt{sub 2}Si{sub 2}] and [PtSi{sub 3}] tetrahedra connected along [100] direction to give rise to a complex three dimensional [Pt{sub 3}Si{sub 5}] network. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility data suggests that Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 3}Si{sub 5} undergoes a strong antiferromagnetic ordering (T{sub N}=19 K)more » followed by a weak ferromagnetic transition (T{sub C}=5.5 K). The effective magnetic moment/Eu obtained from susceptibility data is 6.78 μ{sub B} accounts mixed valent Eu with almost 85% divalent Eu, which is supported by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. The compound undergoes a metamagnetic transition under applied magnetic field through a probable spin flop mechanism. - Graphical abstract: Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 3}Si{sub 5}, a new member in the U{sub 2}Co{sub 3}Si{sub 5} (Ibam) family undergoes metamagnetic transition at high magnetic field and Eu is in mixed valence state. - Highlights: • A new compound Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 3}Si{sub 5} has been synthesized using indium as an inactive metal flux. • The compound undergoes metamagnetic transition at higher field. • Eu in this compound resides in a mixed valence state.« less

Eu(III) complexes as Anion-responsive Luminescent Sensors and PARACEST Agents

PubMed Central

Hammell, Jacob; Buttarazzi, Leandro; Huang, Ching-Hui; Morrow, Janet R.

2011-01-01

The Eu(III) complex of (1S,4S,7S,10S)-1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (S-THP) is studied as a sensor for biologically relevant anions. Anion interactions produce changes in the luminescence emission spectrum of the Eu(III) complex, in the 1H NMR spectrum, and correspondingly, in the PARACEST spectrum of the complex (PARACEST = paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer). Direct excitation spectroscopy and luminescence lifetime studies of Eu(S-THP) give information about the speciation and nature of anion interactions including carbonate, acetate, lactate, citrate, phosphate and methylphosphate at pH 7.2. Data is consistent with the formation of both innersphere and outersphere complexes of Eu(S-THP) with acetate, lactate and carbonate. These anions have weak dissociation constants that range from 19–38 mM. Citrate binding to Eu(S-THP) is predominantly innersphere with a dissociation constant of 17 μM. Luminescence emission peak changes upon addition of anion to Eu(S-THP) show that there are two distinct binding events for phosphate and methylphosphate with dissociation constants of 0.3 mM and 3.0 mM for phosphate and 0.6 mM and 9.8 mM for methyl phosphate. Eu(THPC) contains an appended carbostyril derivative as an antenna to sensitize Eu(III) luminescence. Eu(THPC) binds phosphate and citrate with dissociation constants that are 10-fold less than that of the Eu(S-THP) parent, suggesting that functionalization through a pendent group disrupts the anion binding site. Eu(S-THP) functions as an anion responsive PARACEST agent through exchange of the alcohol protons with bulk water. The alcohol proton resonances of Eu(S-THP) shift downfield in the presence of acetate, lactate, citrate and methylphosphate, giving rise to distinct PARACEST peaks. In contrast, phosphate binds to Eu(S-THP) to suppress the PARACEST alcohol OH peak and carbonate does not markedly change the alcohol peak at 5 mM Eu(S-THP), 15 mM carbonate at pH 6.5 or 7.2. This work shows that the Eu(S-THP) complex has unique selectivity toward binding of biologically relevant anions and that anion binding results in changes in both the luminescence and PARACEST spectra of the complex. PMID:21548563

Eu(III) complexes as anion-responsive luminescent sensors and paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer agents.

PubMed

Hammell, Jacob; Buttarazzi, Leandro; Huang, Ching-Hui; Morrow, Janet R

2011-06-06

The Eu(III) complex of (1S,4S,7S,10S)-1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (S-THP) is studied as a sensor for biologically relevant anions. Anion interactions produce changes in the luminescence emission spectrum of the Eu(III) complex, in the (1)H NMR spectrum, and correspondingly, in the PARACEST spectrum of the complex (PARACEST = paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer). Direct excitation spectroscopy and luminescence lifetime studies of Eu(S-THP) give information about the speciation and nature of anion interactions including carbonate, acetate, lactate, citrate, phosphate, and methylphosphate at pH 7.2. Data is consistent with the formation of both innersphere and outersphere complexes of Eu(S-THP) with acetate, lactate, and carbonate. These anions have weak dissociation constants that range from 19 to 38 mM. Citrate binding to Eu(S-THP) is predominantly innersphere with a dissociation constant of 17 μM. Luminescence emission peak changes upon addition of anion to Eu(S-THP) show that there are two distinct binding events for phosphate and methylphosphate with dissociation constants of 0.3 mM and 3.0 mM for phosphate and 0.6 mM and 9.8 mM for methyl phosphate. Eu(THPC) contains an appended carbostyril derivative as an antenna to sensitize Eu(III) luminescence. Eu(THPC) binds phosphate and citrate with dissociation constants that are 10-fold less than that of the Eu(S-THP) parent, suggesting that functionalization through a pendent group disrupts the anion binding site. Eu(S-THP) functions as an anion responsive PARACEST agent through exchange of the alcohol protons with bulk water. The alcohol proton resonances of Eu(S-THP) shift downfield in the presence of acetate, lactate, citrate, and methylphosphate, giving rise to distinct PARACEST peaks. In contrast, phosphate binds to Eu(S-THP) to suppress the PARACEST alcohol OH peak and carbonate does not markedly change the alcohol peak at 5 mM Eu(S-THP), 15 mM carbonate at pH 6.5 or 7.2. This work shows that the Eu(S-THP) complex has unique selectivity toward binding of biologically relevant anions and that anion binding results in changes in both the luminescence and the PARACEST spectra of the complex. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Meat inspection for Trichinella in pork, horsemeat and game within the EU: available technology and its present implementation.

PubMed

Webster, P; Maddox-Hyttel, C; Nöckler, K; Malakauskas, A; van der Giessen, J; Pozio, E; Boireau, P; Kapel, C M O

2006-01-01

A new EU directive relating to meat inspection for Trichinella, expected to come into force in 2006, imposes important modifications to current legislation. Nevertheless, several issues need more attention. Optimisation of methods, especially concerning sensitivity and digestibility of the meat to be inspected, along with further simplification of the legislation with regard to the number of techniques accepted, is recommended to guarantee that all member states of the EU will be given tools to perform inspection of consumer meat at the same high level. Additionally, there is a need for guidelines and protocols regarding optimal proficiency testing procedures. This paper presents an overview of the current methods for Trichinella meat inspection and their implementation in the EU, listing advantages and disadvantages for each method, including some suggestions for specific points of improvement.

EU-funded initiatives for real world evidence: descriptive analysis of their characteristics and relevance for regulatory decision-making.

PubMed

Plueschke, Kelly; McGettigan, Patricia; Pacurariu, Alexandra; Kurz, Xavier; Cave, Alison

2018-06-14

A review of European Union (EU)-funded initiatives linked to 'Real World Evidence' (RWE) was performed to determine whether their outputs could be used for the generation of real-world data able to support the European Medicines Agency (EMA)'s regulatory decision-making on medicines. The initiatives were identified from publicly available websites. Their topics were categorised into five areas: 'Data source', 'Methodology', 'Governance model', 'Analytical model' and 'Infrastructure'. To assess their immediate relevance for medicines evaluation, their therapeutic areas were compared with the products recommended for EU approval in 2016 and those included in the EMA pharmaceutical business pipeline. Of 171 originally identified EU-funded initiatives, 65 were selected based on their primary and secondary objectives (35 'Data source' initiatives, 15 'Methodology', 10 'Governance model', 17 'Analytical model' and 25 'Infrastructure'). These 65 initiatives received over 734 million Euros of public funding. At the time of evaluation, the published outputs of the 40 completed initiatives did not always match their original objectives. Overall, public information was limited, data access was not explicit and their sustainability was unclear. The topics matched 8 of 14 therapeutic areas of the products recommended for approval in 2016 and 8 of 15 therapeutic areas in the 2017-2019 pharmaceutical business pipeline. Haematology, gastroenterology or cardiovascular systems were poorly represented. This landscape of EU-funded initiatives linked to RWE which started before 31 December 2016 highlighted that the immediate utilisation of their outputs to support regulatory decision-making is limited, often due to insufficient available information and to discrepancies between outputs and objectives. Furthermore, the restricted sustainability of the initiatives impacts on their downstream utility. Multiple projects focussing on the same therapeutic areas increase the likelihood of duplication of both efforts and resources. These issues contribute to gaps in generating RWE for medicines and diminish returns on the public funds invested. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Ethical principles for novel therapies in veterinary practice.

PubMed

Yeates, J W

2016-02-01

To present insights to aid decision-making about novel veterinary treatments from regulations concerning animal experimentation and human clinical medical trials. EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and EU Regulation 536/2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use were analysed, evaluated and "translated" into relevant principles for veterinary surgeons. A number of principles are relevant, relating to treatment expectations, thresholds and objectives; client consent; minimising harms; personnel; review committees; assessment and publication. These principles should assist veterinary surgeons to make good ethical decisions about novel treatments. © 2015 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Europeanisation of health systems: a qualitative study of domestic actors in a small state.

PubMed

Azzopardi-Muscat, Natasha; Sorensen, Kristine; Aluttis, Christoph; Pace, Roderick; Brand, Helmut

2016-04-14

Health systems are not considered to be significantly influenced by European Union (EU) policies given the subsidiarity principle. Yet, recent developments including the patients' rights and cross-border directive (2011/24 EU), as well as measures taken following the financial crisis, appear to be increasing the EU's influence on health systems. The aim of this study is to explore how health system Europeanisation is perceived by domestic stakeholders within a small state. A qualitative study was conducted in the Maltese health system using 33 semi-structured interviews. Inductive analysis was carried out with codes and themes being generated from the data. EU membership brought significant public health reforms, transformation in the regulation of medicines and development of specialised training for doctors. Health services financing and delivery were primarily unaffected. Stakeholders positively perceived improvements to the policy-making process, networking opportunities and capacity building as important benefits. However, the administrative burden and the EU's tendency to adopt a 'one size fits all' approach posed considerable challenges. The lack of power and visibility for health policy at the EU level is a major disappointment. A strong desire exists for the EU to exercise a more effective role in ensuring access to affordable medicines and preventing non-communicable diseases. However, the EU's interference with core health system values is strongly resisted. Overall domestic stakeholders have a positive outlook regarding their health system Europeanisation experience. Whilst welcoming further policy developments at the EU level, they believe that improved consideration must be given to the specificities of small health systems.

Application of Trophic Magnification Factors (TMFs) Under the Water Framework Directive: Some Practical Advice on Selecting and Determining a TMF

EPA Science Inventory

Directive 2013/39/EU amending and updating the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and its Daughter Directive (the so-called EQS Directive: 2008/105/EC) sets Environmental Quality Standards for biota (EQSbiota) for a number of bioaccumulative chemicals which can pose a threat ...

Application of trophic magnification factors (TMFs) under the Water Framework Directive: some practical advice on selecting and determining a TMF (poster)

EPA Science Inventory

Directive 2013/39/EU amending and updating the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and its Daughter Directive (the so-called EQS Directive: 2008/105/EC) sets Environmental Quality Standards for biota (EQSbiota) for a number of bioaccumulative chemicals which can pose a threat ...

The effect of environmental regulation on firms' competitive performance: the case of the building & construction sector in some EU regions.

PubMed

Testa, Francesco; Iraldo, Fabio; Frey, Marco

2011-09-01

There is a considerable debate on the effects of environmental regulation on competitive performance. Based on survey data, this paper analyzes the two main research questions, derived from literature, on the links between environmental regulation and competitiveness, by focusing on firms operating in the building and construction sector, i.e.: 1) whether environmental policy stringency affects the competitive performance of firms in the building and construction sector 2) and how a specific form of environmental regulation (direct regulation, economic instruments and soft instruments) affects this performance? By applying a regression analysis, we find that a more stringent environmental regulation, measured by inspection frequency, provides a positive impulse for increasing investments in advanced technological equipment and innovative products and on business performance. Moreover, a well-designed "direct regulation" appears to be the most effective policy instrument for prompting the positive impact of environmental policies on innovation and intangible performance while economic instruments do negatively affect business performance. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancement of white-light-emission from single-phase Sr5(PO4)3F:Eu(2+),Mn(2+) phosphors for near-UV white LEDs.

PubMed

Feng, Yaomiao; Huang, Jinping; Liu, Lili; Liu, Jie; Yu, Xibin

2015-09-07

A series of single-phase broadband white-light-emitting Sr5(PO4)3F:Eu(2+),Mn(2+) phosphors were prepared by a solid state reaction. The luminescence property, and the crystal and electronic structures of the fluorophosphates were studied by photoluminescence analysis, XRD Rietveld refinement and density functional theory calculation (DFT), respectively. Under near ultraviolet excitation in the 250 to 430 nm wavelength range, the phosphors exhibit two emission bands centered at 440 and 556 nm, caused by the Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) ions. By altering the relative ratios of Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) in the compounds, the emission color could be modulated from blue to white. The efficient energy transfer from the Eu(2+) to Mn(2+) ions could be ascribed to the well crystallized host lattice and the facile substitution of Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) for Sr(2+) sites due to similar ionic radii. A series of fluxes were investigated to improve the photoluminescence intensity. When KCl was used as flux in the synthesis, the photoluminescence intensity of Sr5(PO4)3F:Eu(2+),Mn(2+) was enhanced by 85% compared with no fluxes added. These results demonstrate that the single-phase Sr5(PO4)3F:Eu(2+),Mn(2+) with enhanced luminescence efficiency could be promising as a near UV-convertible direct white-light-emitting phosphor for WLED applications.

Risks posed by climate change to the delivery of Water Framework Directive objectives in the UK.

PubMed

Wilby, R L; Orr, H G; Hedger, M; Forrow, D; Blackmore, M

2006-12-01

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) is novel because it integrates water quality, water resources, physical habitat and, to some extent, flooding for all surface and groundwaters and takes forward river basin management. However, the WFD does not explicitly mention risks posed by climate change to the achievement of its environmental objectives. This is despite the fact that the time scale for the implementation process and achieving particular objectives extends into the 2020s, when climate models project changes in average temperature and precipitation. This paper begins by reviewing the latest UK climate change scenarios and the wider policy and science context of the WFD. We then examine the potential risks of climate change to key phases of the River Basin Management Process that underpin the WFD (such as characterisation of river basins and their water bodies, risk assessments to identify pressures and impacts, programmes of measures (POMs) options appraisal, monitoring and modelling, policy and management activities). Despite these risks the WFD could link new policy and participative mechanisms (being established for the River Basin Management Plans) to the emerging framework of national and regional climate change adaptation policy. The risks are identified with a view to informing policy opportunities, objective setting, adaptation strategies and the research agenda. Key knowledge gaps have already been identified during the implementation of the WFD, such as the links between hydromorphology and ecosystem status, but the overarching importance of linking climate change to these considerations needs to be highlighted. The next generation of (probabilistic) climate change scenarios will present new opportunities and challenges for risk analysis and policy-making.

Nanomorphology Effects in Semiconductors with Native Ferromagnetism: Hierarchical Europium (II) Oxide Tubes Prepared via a Topotactic Nanostructure Transition.

PubMed

Trepka, Bastian; Erler, Philipp; Selzer, Severin; Kollek, Tom; Boldt, Klaus; Fonin, Mikhail; Nowak, Ulrich; Wolf, Daniel; Lubk, Axel; Polarz, Sebastian

2018-01-01

Semiconductors with native ferromagnetism barely exist and defined nanostructures are almost unknown. This lack impedes the exploration of a new class of materials characterized by a direct combination of effects on the electronic system caused by quantum confinement effects with magnetism. A good example is EuO for which currently no reliable routes for nanoparticle synthesis can be established. Bottom-up approaches applicable to other oxides fail because of the labile oxidation state +II. Instead of targeting a direct synthesis, the two steps-"structure control" and "chemical transformation"-are separated. The generation of a transitional, hybrid nanophase is followed by its conversion into EuO under full conservation of all morphological features. Hierarchical EuO materials are now accessible in the shape of oriented nanodisks stacked to tubular particles. Magnetically, the coupling of either vortex or onion states has been found. An unexpected temperature dependence is governed by thermally activated transitions between these states. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Atomic-Scale Engineering of Abrupt Interface for Direct Spin Contact of Ferromagnetic Semiconductor with Silicon

PubMed Central

Averyanov, Dmitry V.; Karateeva, Christina G.; Karateev, Igor A.; Tokmachev, Andrey M.; Vasiliev, Alexander L.; Zolotarev, Sergey I.; Likhachev, Igor A.; Storchak, Vyacheslav G.

2016-01-01

Control and manipulation of the spin of conduction electrons in industrial semiconductors such as silicon are suggested as an operating principle for a new generation of spintronic devices. Coherent injection of spin-polarized carriers into Si is a key to this novel technology. It is contingent on our ability to engineer flawless interfaces of Si with a spin injector to prevent spin-flip scattering. The unique properties of the ferromagnetic semiconductor EuO make it a prospective spin injector into silicon. Recent advances in the epitaxial integration of EuO with Si bring the manufacturing of a direct spin contact within reach. Here we employ transmission electron microscopy to study the interface EuO/Si with atomic-scale resolution. We report techniques for interface control on a submonolayer scale through surface reconstruction. Thus we prevent formation of alien phases and imperfections detrimental to spin injection. This development opens a new avenue for semiconductor spintronics. PMID:26957146

Key pharmacovigilance stakeholders' experiences of direct patient reporting of adverse drug reactions and their prospects of future development in the European Union.

PubMed

Inácio, P; Cavaco, A; Allan, E; Airaksinen, M

2018-02-01

In the European Union (EU), legislation allows patients to directly report adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to competent authorities. Five years after its implementation, patient reporting is not equal in all countries. This study aimed to explore key stakeholders' perceptions of patient reporting in four EU countries. Qualitative study design. Twelve representatives from national pharmacovigilance centres and/or authorities as well as national pharmaceutical industry bodies in four EU countries participated in the study. Supranational organizations were also included. Data collection was via face-semi-structured interviews. Inductive content analysis was performed thereafter, applying principles of risk management as a theoretical framework. Four themes (attitudes and beliefs, system maturation factors, regulatory improvements, and cultural shifts) emerged, conceptually interconnected. Participants from countries introducing patient reporting recently expressed a negative attitude. Participants highlighted the need for additional resources, both human and financial, to address patient reporting and associated advantages. The findings identified perceived barriers and facilitators of patient reporting. The involvement of patients, use of information, and dissemination of patient reporting are far from optimal. A better integration of the work by EU regulatory authorities is recommended. Copyright © 2017 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Downscaling of RCM outputs for representative catchments in the Mediterranean region, for the 1951-2100 time-frame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deidda, Roberto; Marrocu, Marino; Pusceddu, Gabriella; Langousis, Andreas; Mascaro, Giuseppe; Caroletti, Giulio

2013-04-01

Within the activities of the EU FP7 CLIMB project (www.climb-fp7.eu), we developed downscaling procedures to reliably assess climate forcing at hydrologically relevant scales, and applied them to six representative hydrological basins located in the Mediterranean region: Riu Mannu and Noce in Italy, Chiba in Tunisia, Kocaeli in Turkey, Thau in France, and Gaza in Palestine. As a first step towards this aim, we used daily precipitation and temperature data from the gridded E-OBS project (www.ecad.eu/dailydata), as reference fields, to rank 14 Regional Climate Model (RCM) outputs from the ENSEMBLES project (http://ensembles-eu.metoffice.com). The four best performing model outputs were selected, with the additional constraint of maintaining 2 outputs obtained from running different RCMs driven by the same GCM, and 2 runs from the same RCM driven by different GCMs. For these four RCM-GCM model combinations, a set of downscaling techniques were developed and applied, for the period 1951-2100, to variables used in hydrological modeling (i.e. precipitation; mean, maximum and minimum daily temperatures; direct solar radiation, relative humidity, magnitude and direction of surface winds). The quality of the final products is discussed, together with the results obtained after applying a bias reduction procedure to daily temperature and precipitation fields.

[The implementation of legislation acts regarding prevention of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from perspective of Poland as the ue country].

PubMed

Szczeniowski, Adam; Gańczak, Maria

2011-01-01

The paper presents the history of implementation of legislation related to prevention of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens in the U.S.A. and EU, including a detailed description of existing regulations. The pioneering role of American legislation in establishing relevant legal acts to prevent employees from sharp injuries is also stressed. In this context the European road towards safer work in the healthcare sector is discussed. The legal acts, currently functioning in the EU, including Council Directive 2010/32/EU of 10 May 2010, are described. The Directive implements the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU). The arguments for the universal implementation of legal acts, protecting medical staff in all EU Member States, are pointed out. As far as Poland is concerned, a great need for an urgent action mobilising all social partners (i.e., nurses, doctors, other employees at potential risk of acquiring an occupational infection, employers, professional organisations and scientific bodies) to develop relevant regulations and to assure sufficient funds for their broad implementation is underlined.

Telemedicine: The legal framework (or the lack of it) in Europe

PubMed Central

Raposo, Vera Lúcia

2016-01-01

In the framework of European law telemedicine is, simultaneously, a health service and an information service, therefore, both regulations apply. In what concerns healthcare and the practice of medicine there are no uniform regulations at the European level. Concerning health services the most relevant achievement to regulate this domain is Directive 2011/24/EU. In what regards information and telecommunications we must have in consideration Directive 95/46/EU, Directive 2000/31/EC and Directive 2002/58/EC. However, many issues still lack uniform regulation, mainly the domain of medical liability and of medical leges artis. Probably such standardization will never take place, since the European Union does not have, until now, a common set of norms regarding tort and criminal liability, much less specific legal norms on medical liability. These gaps may jeopardize a truly European internal market in health services and hamper the development of telemedicine in the European zone. PMID:27579146

Telemedicine: The legal framework (or the lack of it) in Europe.

PubMed

Raposo, Vera Lúcia

2016-01-01

In the framework of European law telemedicine is, simultaneously, a health service and an information service, therefore, both regulations apply. In what concerns healthcare and the practice of medicine there are no uniform regulations at the European level. Concerning health services the most relevant achievement to regulate this domain is Directive 2011/24/EU. In what regards information and telecommunications we must have in consideration Directive 95/46/EU, Directive 2000/31/EC and Directive 2002/58/EC. However, many issues still lack uniform regulation, mainly the domain of medical liability and of medical leges artis. Probably such standardization will never take place, since the European Union does not have, until now, a common set of norms regarding tort and criminal liability, much less specific legal norms on medical liability. These gaps may jeopardize a truly European internal market in health services and hamper the development of telemedicine in the European zone.

Environmental assessment of microwaves and the effect of European energy efficiency and waste management legislation.

PubMed

Gallego-Schmid, Alejandro; Mendoza, Joan Manuel F; Azapagic, Adisa

2018-03-15

More than 130 million microwaves are affected by European Union (EU) legislation which is aimed at reducing the consumption of electricity in the standby mode ('Standby Regulation') and at more sustainable management of end-of-life electrical and electronic waste ('WEEE Directive'). While legislation focuses on these two life cycle stages, there is little information on the environmental impacts of the entire life cycle of microwaves. To address this gap, this paper presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment of microwaves and assesses the environmental implications of the Standby Regulation and the WEEE Directive at the EU level. The impacts are first considered at the level of individual appliances and then at the EU level, with the aim of evaluating the potential environmental implications of the full implementation of the above two EU regulations by 2020. The effects of the electricity decarbonisation and the expected increase in the number of microwaves in use have also been considered. The results suggest that implementation of the EU regulation by 2020 will reduce the environmental impacts considered by 4%-9% compared to the current situation. The majority of these reductions is due to the Standby Regulation, with the contribution of the WEEE Directive being small (~0.3%). However, the expected decarbonisation of electricity will result in much higher reductions (6%-24%) for most impact categories. The results also show that the materials used to manufacture the microwaves, the manufacturing process and end-of-life disposal are environmental hot-spots for several impacts, including depletion of abiotic elements. Therefore, efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of a future electricity mix should be combined with the development of specific eco-design regulations for microwaves that stipulate optimisation of resource consumption. Possible future trends, such as shorter lifetimes and limited availability of some resources, make the development of such product regulations more critical. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessment of toxic metals and phthalates in children's toys and clays.

PubMed

Korfali, Samira I; Sabra, Rayan; Jurdi, Mey; Taleb, Robin I

2013-10-01

Toxic metals and phthalates are introduced in the manufacturing of plastic toys and modeling clays. In Lebanon, inexpensive plastic toys and modeling clays (sold in dollar stores) are affordable and popular, and there is no legislation to monitor or regulate such toys. This study aimed to assess the quality of inexpensive plastic toys and modeling clays imported in Lebanon. Metal concentrations in toys, namely, zinc [not detectable (ND) to 3,708 μg/g], copper (ND to 140), chromium (ND to 75 μg/g), tin (ND to 39 μg/g), and cadmium (Cd) (ND to 20 μg/g), were lower than the European Union (EU) Directive limits, whereas lead (ND to 258 μg/g) in 10% of samples and antimony (Sb) (ND to 195 μg/g) in 5% of samples were greater than the EU limits. In modeling clays, most of the metals were lower than the EU Directive limits except for Cd and arsenic (As). Cd was detected in 83% of samples, with a mean level of 9.1 μg/g, which is far greater than the EU Directive limit (1.9 μg/g). The As mean level of 4.5 μg/g was greater than the EU limit (4.0 μg/g) and was detected in 9% of samples. Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) were found in 60% of children's toys and 77% of modeling clays. Phthalic acid butyl ester had the highest-level PAE encountered and was ≤59.1 % in one type of clay. However, among children's toys, di(4-octyl) ester terephthalic acid was the highest encountered phthalate at a concentration of 25.7%. The community survey indicated that 82% of households purchase their toys from inexpensive shops and that only 17% of parents were aware of the health hazard of such toys. Consequently, an intervention plan was proposed for the provision of safe toys to children.

Complex governance structures and incoherent policies: Implementing the EU water framework directive in Sweden.

PubMed

Söderberg, Charlotta

2016-12-01

Contemporary processes of environmental policymaking in general span over several territorial tiers. This also holds for the EU Water Framework Directive system of environmental quality standards (EQS), which are part of a complex multi-level institutional landscape, embracing both EU, national and sub-national level. Recent evaluations show that many EU member states, including Sweden, have not reached the ecological goals for water in 2015. Departing from theories on policy coherence and multi-level governance, this paper therefore analyses Swedish water governance as a case to further our understanding of policy implementation in complex governance structures: how does policy coherence (or the lack thereof) affect policy implementation in complex governance structures? To answer this question, the paper maps out the formal structure of the water governance system, focusing on power directions within the system, analyses policy coherence in Swedish water governance through mapping out policy conflicts between the EQS for water and other goals/regulations and explore how they are handled by national and sub-national water bureaucrats. The study concludes that without clear central guidance, 'good ecological status' for Swedish water will be difficult to achieve since incoherent policies makes policy implementation inefficient due to constant power struggles between different authorities, and since environmental goals are often overridden by economic and other societal goals. Further research is needed in order to explore if similar policy conflicts between water quality and other objectives occur in other EU member states and how bureaucrats handle such conflicts in different institutional settings. This study of the Swedish case indicates that the role of the state as a navigator and rudder-holder is important in order to improve policy implementation in complex governance structures - otherwise; bureaucrats risk being lost in an incoherent archipelago of ecological, social and economic goals. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of polymorphs of photoluminescent Eu(III)-(2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, oxalic acid) MOFs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Fa-Nian; Ananias, Duarte; Yang, Ting-Hai; Rocha, João

2013-08-01

A novel metal organic framework (MOF) formulated as [Eu(H2O)2(fdc)(ox)0.5·(H2O)]n (1, fdc2-=2,5-furandicarboxylate, ox2-=oxalate), was hydrothermally synthesized via in situ ox2- generation from the partial decomposition of the fdc2- ligand. This material crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, unit cell parameters of 1: a=16.7570(10), b=10.5708(7), c=13.5348(14) Å, β=116.917(2)° (Z=8), and exhibits a three-dimensional (3D)-porous framework, with guest water molecules residing in the channel linking all other ligands (H2O, ox2-and fdc2-) via hydrogen bonding interactions. Compound 2 is a polymorph of 1 crystallizing in monoclinic P21/c space group. The photoluminescence properties of 1 and 2 were studied at room temperature. The spectra show the typical Eu3+ red emission and the differences observed reflects the slightly different structures of these polymorphs.

A Study on the Lack of Enforcement of Data Protection Acts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burghardt, Thorben; Böhm, Klemens; Buchmann, Erik; Kühling, Jürgen; Sivridis, Anastasios

Data privacy is a fundamental human right, not only according to the EU perspective. Each EU state implements sophisticated data protection acts. Nevertheless, there are frequent media reports on data privacy violations. The scientific and the political community assume that data protection acts suffer from a lack of enforcement. This paper is an interdisciplinary study that examines this hypothesis by means of empirical facts on juridical assessment criteria - and validates it. We have inspected 100 service providers, from social online platforms to web shops. Our study considers legal requirements of the privacy policy and how providers ask for consent and react to requests for information or deletion of personal data. Our study is based on articles of German law that have a counterpart in the EU Directive 95/46/EC. Thus, our study is relevant for all EU states and all countries with similar regulations.

Spectroscopy and energy transfer in lead borate glasses doubly doped with Dy(3)(+)-Tb(3+) and Tb(3)(+)-Eu(3+) ions.

PubMed

Pisarska, Joanna; Kos, Agnieszka; Pisarski, Wojciech A

2014-08-14

Lead borate glasses doubly doped with Dy(3)(+)-Tb(3+) and Tb(3+)-Eu(3+) were investigated using optical spectroscopy. Luminescence spectra of rare earths were detected under various excitation wavelengths. The main green emission band due to (5)D4→(7)F5 transition of Tb(3+) is observed under excitation of Dy(3+), whereas the main red emission band related to (5)D0→(7)F2 transition of Eu(3+) is successfully observed under direct excitation of Tb(3+). In both cases, the energy transfer processes from Dy(3+) to Tb(3+) and from Tb(3+) to Eu(3+) in lead borate glasses occur through a nonradiative processes with efficiencies up to 16% and 18%, respectively. The presence of energy transfer process was also confirmed by excitation spectra measurements. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Unresolved legal questions in cross-border health care in Europe: liability and data protection.

PubMed

van der Molen, I N; Commers, M J

2013-11-01

Directive 2011/24/EU was designed to clarify the rights of EU citizens in evaluating, accessing and obtaining reimbursement for cross-border care. Based on three regional case studies, the authors attempted to assess the added value of the Directive in helping clarify issues in to two key areas that have been identified as barriers to cross-border care: liability and data protection. Qualitative case study employing secondary data sources including research of jurisprudence, that set up a Legal framework as a base to investigate liability and data protection in the context of cross-border projects. By means of three case studies that have tackled liability and data protection hurdles in cross-border care implementation, this article attempts to provide insight into legal certainty and uncertainty regarding cross-border care in Europe. The case studies reveal that the Directive has not resolved core uncertainties related to liability and data protection issues within cross-border health care. Some issues related to the practice of cross-border health care in Europe have been further clarified by the Directive and some direction has been given to possible solutions for issues connected to liability and data protection. Directive 2011/24/EU is clearly a transposition of existing regulations on data protection and ECJ case law, plus a set of additional, mostly, voluntary rules that might enhance regional border cooperation. Therefore, as shown in the case studies, a practical and case by case approach is still necessary in designing and providing cross-border care. © 2013 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Criteria for opiate identification using liquid chromatography linked to tandem mass spectrometry: problems in routine practice.

PubMed

Fox, Elizabeth J; Twigger, Shirley; Allen, Keith R

2009-01-01

Liquid chromatography linked to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) is being increasingly used for drug confirmation. At present, no official criteria exist for drug identification using this technique although the European Union (EU) criteria for compound identification have been adopted. These criteria are evaluated with respect to opiate confirmation by LC/MS/MS and problems highlighted. Urine samples screened positive for opiates by immunoassay were subjected to confirmation by LC/MS/MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and two separate buffer systems of pH 6.8 and 8.0, respectively. The EU criteria for compound identification were applied for confirmation of morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6MAM), codeine and dihydrocodeine (DHC). Using the pH 6.8 buffer, confirmation could be achieved for 84%, 94%, 96% and 95%, respectively, for samples demonstrating MRM chromatographic peaks at retention times for morphine, 6MAM, codeine and DHC. Failure to meet the EU criteria was mainly attributed to low signal-to-noise (S:N) ratios or excessively high drug concentrations. Isobaric interferences and poor chromatography were also contributing factors. The identification of morphine was considerably improved with chromatography at pH 8.0 owing to resolution of interferences. Oxycodone metabolites were a potential problem for the identification of DHC. Isobaric interferences can pose a problem with drug identification using LC/MS/MS. Optimizing chromatographic conditions is important to overcome these interferences. Consideration needs to be given to investigating drug metabolites as well as parent drugs in method development.

Red-emission phosphor's brightness deterioration by x-ray and brightness recovery phenomenon by heating.

PubMed

Nakamura, Masaaki; Chida, Koichi; Inaba, Yohei; Kobayashi, Ryota; Zuguchi, Masayuki

2017-06-26

There are no feasible real-time and direct skin dosimeters for interventional radiology. One would be available if there were x-ray phosphors that had no brightness change caused by x-ray irradiation, but the emission of the Y 2 O 3 :Eu, (Y, Gd, Eu)BO 3 , and YVO 4 :Eu phosphors investigated in our previous study was reduced by x-ray irradiation. We found that the brightness of those phosphors recovered, and the purpose of this study is to investigate their recovery phenomena. It is expected that more kinds of phosphors could be used in x-ray dosimeters if the brightness changes caused by x-rays are elucidated and prevented. Three kinds of phosphors-Y 2 O 3 :Eu, (Y, Gd, Eu)BO 3 , and YVO 4 :Eu-were irradiated by x-rays (2 Gy) to reduce their brightness. After the irradiation, brightness changes occurring at room temperature and at 80 °C were investigated. The irradiation reduced the brightness of all the phosphors by 5%-10%, but the brightness of each recovered immediately both at room temperature and at 80 °C. The recovery at 80 °C was faster than that at room temperature, and at both temperatures the recovered brightness remained at 95%-98% of the brightness before the x-ray irradiation. The brightness recovery phenomena of Y 2 O 3 :Eu, (Y, Gd, Eu)BO 3 , and YVO 4 :Eu phosphors occurring after brightness deterioration due to x-ray irradiation were found to be more significant at 80 °C than at room temperature. More kinds of phosphors could be used in x-ray scintillation dosimeters if the reasons for the brightness changes caused by x-rays were elucidated.

From macro- to microplastics - Analysis of EU regulation along the life cycle of plastic bags.

PubMed

Steensgaard, Ida M; Syberg, Kristian; Rist, Sinja; Hartmann, Nanna B; Boldrin, Alessio; Hansen, Steffen Foss

2017-05-01

Plastic pollution and its environmental effects has received global attention the recent years. However, limited attention has so far been directed towards how plastics are regulated in a life cycle perspective and how regulatory gaps can be addressed in order to limit and prevent environmental exposure and hazards of macro- and microplastics. In this paper, we map European regulation taking outset in the life cycle perspective of plastic carrier bags: from plastic bag production to when it enters the environment. Relevant regulatory frameworks, directives and authorities along the life cycle are identified and their role in regulation of plastics is discussed. Most important regulations were identified as: the EU chemical Regulation, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive including the amending Directive regarding regulation of the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags, the Waste Framework Directive and the Directive on the Landfill of Waste. The main gaps identified relate to lack of clear definitions of categories of polymers, unambitious recycling rates and lack of consideration of macro- and microplastics in key pieces of legislation. We recommend that polymers are categorized according to whether they are polymers with the same monomer constituents (homopolymers) or with different monomer constituents (copolymers) and that polymers are no longer exempt from registration and evaluation under REACH. Plastics should furthermore have the same high level of monitoring and reporting requirements as hazardous waste involving stricter requirements to labelling, recordkeeping, monitoring and control over the whole lifecycle. Finally, we recommend that more ambitious recycle and recovery targets are set across the EU. Regulation of the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags should also apply to heavyweight plastic carrier bags. Last, the Marine and Water Framework Directives should specifically address plastic waste affecting water quality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

New legal requirements for submission of product information to poisons centres in EU member states.

PubMed

de Groot, Ronald; Brekelmans, Pieter; Desel, Herbert; de Vries, Irma

2018-01-01

In the past eight years, the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT) has been intensively involved in a European Commission led process to develop EU legislation on the information of hazardous products that companies have to notify to EU Poisons Centres (or equivalent "appointed bodies"). As a result of this process, the Commission adopted Regulation (EU) No 2017/542, amending the CLP Regulation by adding an Annex on harmonised product submission requirements. Harmonised mixture information requirements: Detailed and consistent information on the composition of the hazardous product will become available to EU Poisons Centres (PC). The information will be submitted by companies to PCs (or equivalent "appointed bodies") using a web-based software application or in-house software. Two new important features are introduced. Firstly, to be able to rapidly identify the product formula, a Unique Formula Identifier (UFI) on the product label links to the submitted information. Secondly, for better comparability of reports on poisonings between EU member states, a harmonised Product Categorisation System will specify the intended use of a product. Rapid product identification and availability of detailed composition information will lead to timely and adequate medical intervention. This may lead to considerable reduction in healthcare costs. Additionally, for companies trading across the EU, costs of submission of this information will be reduced significantly. Next steps: From 2017, an implementation period has started, consisting of a three-year period for stakeholders to implement the new requirements, followed by a gradual applicability for consumer products (2020), professional products (2021) and industrial use-only products (2024). Technical tools to generate the electronic format and the UFI together with guidance documents are expected to be made available by the end of 2017 by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Guidance on interpretation of legal text and ECHA helpdesk support are planned to be ready at the end of 2018.

EU-funded malaria research under the 6th and 7th Framework Programmes for research and technological development.

PubMed

Holtel, Andreas; Troye-Blomberg, Marita; Penas-Jimenez, Inmaculada

2011-01-14

While malaria research has traditionally been strong in Europe, targeted and sustained support for cooperative malaria research at EU level, namely through the EU's 6th and 7th Framework Programmes for research and technological development, FP6 (2002-2006) and FP7 (2007-2013), has boosted both impact and visibility of European malaria research. Most of the European malaria research community is now organized under a number of comprehensive and complementary research networks and projects, assembled around four key areas: (1) fundamental research on the malaria parasite and the disease, (2) development of new malaria drugs, (3) research and development of a malaria vaccine, and (4) research to control the malaria-transmitting mosquito vector. Considerable efforts were undertaken to ensure adequate participation of research groups from disease-endemic countries, in particular from Africa, with the long-term aim to strengthen cooperative links and research capacities in these countries. The concept of organizing European research through major strategic projects to form a "European Research Area" (ERA) was originally developed in the preparation of FP6, and ERA formation has now turned into a major EU policy objective explicitly inscribed into the Lisbon Treaty. EU-funded malaria research may serve as a showcase to demonstrate how ERA formation can successfully be implemented in a given area of science when several surrounding parameters converge to support implementation of this strategic concept: timely coincidence of political stimuli, responsive programming, a clearly defined--and well confined--area of research, and the readiness of the targeted research community who is well familiar with transnational cooperation at EU level. Major EU-funded malaria projects have evolved into thematic and organizational platforms that can collaborate with other global players. Europe may thus contribute more, and better, to addressing the global research agenda for malaria.

Red emission phosphor for real-time skin dosimeter for fluoroscopy and interventional radiology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nakamura, Masaaki, E-mail: QYJ05476@nifty.com; Chida, Koichi; Zuguchi, Masayuki

2014-10-15

Purpose: There are no effective real-time direct skin dosimeters for interventional radiology. Such a scintillation dosimeter would be available if there was a suitable red emission phosphor in the medical x-ray range, since the silicon photodiode is a highly efficient device for red light. However, it is unknown whether there is a suitable red emission phosphor. The purpose of this study is to find a suitable red emission phosphor that can be used in x-ray dosimeters. Methods: Five kinds of phosphors which emit red light when irradiated with electron beams or ultraviolet rays in practical devices were chosen. For themore » brightness measurement, phosphor was put into transparent plastic cells or coated onto plastic sheets. The phosphors were irradiated with medical range x-rays [60–120 kV(peak), maximum dose rate of 160 mGy min{sup −1}], and the emission was measured by a luminance meter. Several characteristics, such as brightness, dose rate dependence, tube voltage dependence, and brightness stability, were investigated. Results: The luminescence of Y V O{sub 4}:Eu, (Y,Gd,Eu) BO{sub 3}, and Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Eu significantly deteriorated by 5%–10% when irradiated with continuous 2 Gy x-rays. The 0.5MgF{sub 2}⋅3.5MgO⋅GeO{sub 2}:Mn phosphor did not emit enough. Only the Y{sub 2}O{sub 2}S:Eu,Sm phosphor had hardly any brightness deterioration, and it had a linear relationship so that the x-ray dose rate could be determined from the brightness with sufficient accuracy. For the tube voltage dependence of the Y{sub 2}O{sub 2}S:Eu,Sm phosphor, the brightness per unit dose rate with 120 kV(peak) x-rays was 30% higher than that with 60 kV(peak) x-rays. Conclusions: Five kinds of phosphors were chosen as an x-ray scintillator for a real-time direct skin dosimeter. The Y V O{sub 4}:Eu, (Y,Gd,Eu)BO{sub 3}, and Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Eu phosphors had brightness deterioration caused by the x-rays. Only the Y{sub 2}O{sub 2}S:Eu,Sm phosphor had hardly any brightness deterioration, and it is a candidate for an x-ray scintillator for such a skin dosimeter.« less

A Transition from Localized to Strongly Correlated Electron Behavior and Mixed Valence Driven by Physical or Chemical Pressure in ACo 2As 2 (A = Eu and Ca)

DOE PAGES

Tan, Xiaoyan; Fabbris, Gilberto; Haskel, Daniel; ...

2016-02-03

In this paper, we demonstrate that the action of physical pressure, chemical compression, or aliovalent substitution in ACo 2As 2 (A = Eu and Ca) has a general consequence of causing these antiferromagnetic materials to become ferromagnets. In all cases, the mixed valence triggered at the electropositive A site results in the increase of the Co 3d density of states at the Fermi level. Remarkably, the dramatic alteration of magnetic behavior results from the very minor (<0.15 electron) change in the population of the 3d orbitals. The mixed valence state of Eu observed in the high-pressure (HP) form of EuComore » 2As 2 exhibits a remarkable stability, achieving the average oxidation state of +2.25 at 12.6 GPa. In the case of CaCo 2As 2, substituting even 10% of Eu or La into the Ca site causes ferromagnetic ordering of Co moments. Similar to HP-EuCo 2As 2, the itinerant 3d ferromagnetism emerges from electronic doping into the Co layer because of chemical compression of Eu sites in Ca 0.9Eu 0.1Co 1.91As 2 or direct electron doping in Ca 0.85La 0.15Co 1.89As 2. Finally, the results reported herein demonstrate the general possibility of amplifying minor localized electronic effects to achieve major changes in material’s properties via involvement of strongly correlated electrons.« less

Application of EU tissue and cell directive screening protocols to anonymous oocyte donors in western Ukraine: data from an Irish IVF programme.

PubMed

Walsh, A P H; Omar, A B; Collins, G S; Murray, G U; Walsh, D J; Salma, U; Sills, E Scott

2010-01-01

Anonymous oocyte donation in the EU proceeds only after rigorous screening designed to ensure gamete safety. If anonymous donor gametes originating from outside EU territory are used by EU patients, donor testing must conform to the same standards as if gamete procurement had occurred in the EU. In Ireland, IVF recipients can be matched to anonymous donors in the Ukraine (a non-EU country). This investigation describes the evolution of anonymous oocyte donor screening methods during this period and associated results. Data were reviewed for all participants in an anonymous donor oocyte IVF programme from 2006 to 2009, when testing consistent with contemporary EU screening requirements was performed on all Ukrainian oocyte donors. HIV and hepatitis tests were aggregated from 314 anonymous oocyte donors and 265 recipients. The results included 5,524 Ukrainian women who were interviewed and 314 of these entered the programme (5.7% accession rate). Mean age of anonymous oocyte donors was 27.9 years; all had achieved at least one delivery. No case of hepatitis or HIV was detected at initial screening or at oocyte procurement. This is the first study of HIV and hepatitis incidence specifically among Ukrainian oocyte donors. We find anonymous oocyte donors to be a low-risk group, despite a high background HIV rate. Following full disclosure of the donation process, most Ukrainian women wishing to volunteer as anonymous oocyte donors do not participate. Current EU screening requirements appear adequate to maintain patient safety in the context of anonymous donor oocyte IVF.

Reflections On The Feasibility and Implications of The Eu Water Framework Directive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauwens, W.; Goethals, P. L. M.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) raises a lot of challenges: the complexity of the text and the diversity of possible solutions to the problems, the timetable for implementation, the incomplete technical and scientific basis, the limitation of human and financial resources,... The paper addresses a number of the key challenges from a technical-scientific, socio-economic and ethical point of view. From a technical-scientific point of view, the major problems are related to the def- inition of the reference conditions and to the simulation tools that will be needed to predict the impact of the River Basin Management Plans. The proper definition of the system of objectives (the reference conditions and the al- lowed deviation from those conditions) throughout the EU has to be considered as one of the key issues of the WFD and remains to be done. Extensive research is actually carried out, both with respect to the conceptual considerations as with respect to the definition of the ecological status. The emphasis that the 5th Research Framework Programme put on the development of integrated simulation models illustrates the need for a further development of such tools. While many models exist for dealing with sub-components of the system (flows, point pollution sources, diffuse pollution, ecosystem models,...) the integration and the adequate model structure and process representation remain major scientific issues. Especially the link between the physico-chemistry and the ecosystem modelling can still be considered to be in its infancy. More research is also needed on the issues of the calibration and the uncertainty of such complex integrated models. It should also be mentioned that the actual - and future - quality monitoring programs in most countries are by far insufficient for the calibration of complex, dynamic quality models. The objective of the WFD is to obtain, in all water bodies in the EU, an ecological quality that is close to the reference or pristine conditions. The rationale behind this definition of the objective is that it allows a harmonisation of the regulation in the EU, hereby accounting for the large diversity of climatologic and geo-physical conditions in the different regions. A fundamental issue that has been neglected when opting for this definition, however, relates to the role of men in the environment. As a conse- 1 quence, regions with an inhabitant density of 500 inhabitants per square km (ISQ) have to reach the same objectives as regions with a density of 50 ISQ. The full cost of the implementation of the WFD is yet unknown, but it will be high to very high, depending on the final definition of the objectives. With respect to the latter, it would be good to keep in mind the economic principle of the lesser return. While the WFD recognises that the water problems should be dealt with in an in- tegrated and holistic way, one may wonder if the integrated approach should not be applied to the environment as a whole. From this point of view, and accounting for the limited resources available, the setting of the objectives with regard to the water environment to an extremely high level may be questioned. The question that hereby arises relates to the definition of the priorities with regard to the allocation of the lim- ited resources for the different environmental problems in and outside the EU. Finally, one should be attentive to the consequences of the WFD on the socio- economic situation and priorities in the EU, in the candidate countries and in the developing world. Especially with regard to developing countries, one can indeed ob- serve that the environmental policy of the EU is used more and more as an economic weapon. Imposing the WFD on these countries would pose severe ethical questions. 2

Differences in the progress of the biopesticide revolution between the EU and other major crop-growing regions.

PubMed

Balog, Adalbert; Hartel, Tibor; Loxdale, Hugh D; Wilson, Kenneth

2017-11-01

The five-year value in the compound annual growth rate of the biopesticides sector is predicted to be 16% by 2017 and to produce a global market worth $US 10 billion. Despite this, several impediments occur within the EU that negatively affect biopesticide research and innovation. At present, there are fewer biopesticide-active substances registered in the EU compared with the United States, India, Brazil and China. The relatively low level of biopesticide research in the EU (6880 ISI papers) versus the United States (18 839), India (9501) and China (7875) relates to the greater complexity of EU-based biopesticide regulations compared with these other countries. In this light, it is worth noting that tensions may exist between regulators that emphasise the beneficial nature of biopesticides in environmentally friendly crop management and those that adopt a more technologically based approach dependent on a chemical-pesticide-driven model. Compared with the other aforementioned countries, far fewer biopesticide products are available in the EU market, mainly as a direct result of the severe regulatory factors present there. The extent to which this trend will continue depends largely on a range of interacting political and/or regulatory decisions that influence environmentally friendly agricultural industries. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Safety and Immunogenicity of the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted Vaccine in 4-6-year-old Girls: Results to Month 12 From a Randomized Trial.

PubMed

Lin, Lan; Parra, Mercedes Macias; Sierra, Victor Y; Cespedes, Albino Salas; Granados, Maria Angelica; Luque, Adriana; Damaso, Silvia; Castrejon Alba, Maria Mercedes; Romano-Mazzotti, Luis; Struyf, Frank

2018-04-01

The burden of cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) is high in Latin America. The suboptimal HPV vaccination coverage in adolescents could be improved by pediatric immunization. HPV vaccination has not yet been reported in girls <9 years of age. This ongoing phase III, controlled, randomized, single-blind, multicenter study conducted in Colombia, Mexico and Panama (NCT01627561) evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine in 4-6-year-old girls. Healthy girls (randomized 1:1) received either 2 doses of AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine (HPV group, N=74) or 1 dose of each measles-mumps-rubella and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular-pertussis vaccines (control group, N=74) 6 months apart. We report the safety and serum anti-HPV-16 and anti-HPV-18 antibodies (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) up to 6 months postvaccination, that is, month (M) 12. Injection site pain was the most frequently reported solicited local symptom in HPV vaccinees. The incidence of other solicited and unsolicited symptoms after each vaccination was similar between the HPV and control group. Until M12, 1 girl in the HPV group and 2 in the control group reported serious adverse events; all serious adverse events were assessed as unrelated to study vaccines. No potential immune-mediated diseases were identified. All girls seroconverted for both antigens after 2 doses of AS04-HPV-16/18. In initially seronegative girls, anti-HPV-16 geometric mean concentrations were 20080.0 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units (EU)/mL at M7 and 3246.5 EU/mL at M12; anti-HPV-18 geometric mean concentrations were 10621.8 EU/mL at M7 and 1216.6 EU/mL at M12. Two-dose vaccination with AS04-HPV-16/18 was well tolerated and induced adequate antibody responses in 4-6-year-old girls.

The European Social Fund: The Commission, the Member State and Levels of Governance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brine, Jacqueline

2004-01-01

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the European Union structural fund that redistributes funds to facilitate vocational education and training (VET). With the exception of the Common Agricultural Policy it is the EU's largest instrument for redistribution. Currently linked to the European Employment Strategy it match-funds, and through its…

Publishing Strategies of Young, Highly Mobile Academics: The Question of Language in the European Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Laurie

2013-01-01

This paper examines links between publishing strategies and the academic mobility of multilingual entry-level scholars in the European context against the backdrop of European Union (EU) policies and research on academic labor market characteristics, skilled migration and scholarly publishing. An analysis of language of publication, patterns of…

Catching Up? Intergenerational Mobility and Children of Immigrants

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

OECD Publishing, 2017

2017-01-01

Previous Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and European Union (EU) work has shown that even native-born children with immigrant parents face persistent disadvantage in the education system, the school-to-work transition, and the labour market. To which degree are these linked with their immigration background, i.e. with…

The Applicability of Behaviour Change in Intervention Programmes Targeted at Ending Female Genital Mutilation in the EU: Integrating Social Cognitive and Community Level Approaches

PubMed Central

Brown, Katherine; Barrett, Hazel

2013-01-01

With increased migration, female genital mutilation (FGM) also referred to as female circumcision or female genital cutting is no longer restricted to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The European Parliament estimates that up to half a million women living in the EU have been subjected to FGM, with a further 180,000 at risk. Aware of the limited success of campaigns addressing FGM, the World Health Organization recommended a behavioural change approach be implemented in order to end FGM. To date, however, little progress has been made in adopting a behaviour change approach in strategies aimed at ending FGM. Based on research undertaken as part of the EU's Daphne III programme, which researched FGM intervention programmes linked to African communities in the EU (REPLACE), this paper argues that behaviour change has not been implemented due to a lack of understanding relating to the application of the two broad categories of behaviour change approach: individualistic decision-theoretic and community-change game-theoretic approaches, and how they may be integrated to aid our understanding and the development of future intervention strategies. We therefore discuss how these can be integrated and implemented using community-based participatory action research methods with affected communities. PMID:23983698

Implementation of the Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare directive in Latvia.

PubMed

Olsena, Solvita

2014-03-01

Latvia, being one of the EU Member States, has an obligation to implement the rules stated by the Directive 2011/24/EU on Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare (hereinafter--the Directive) before 25 October 2013 in existing national legislation and practice. Implementation was carried out under pressured circumstances. A National Contact Point has been established, information is provided for patients in Latvian and to some extent in English, the Medical Treatment Risk Fund will start operations to provide compensation for harm, and the restrictions and procedure for prior authorisation have been stated. The need to secure quality of care and patient safety and well as privacy protection are the most challenging tasks for Latvia. It can be concluded that some progress in patients' rights can be achieved, but it is doubtful if patients' mobility will be stimulated.

EC4 European Syllabus for Post-Graduate Training in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine: version 3 - 2005.

PubMed

Zerah, Simone; McMurray, Janet; Bousquet, Bernard; Baum, Hannsjorg; Beastall, Graham H; Blaton, Vic; Cals, Marie-Josèphe; Duchassaing, Danielle; Gaudeau-Toussaint, Marie-Françoise; Harmoinen, Aimo; Hoffmann, Hans; Jansen, Rob T; Kenny, Desmond; Kohse, Klaus P; Köller, Ursula; Gobert, Jean-Gérard; Linget, Christine; Lund, Erik; Nubile, Giuseppe; Opp, Matthias; Pazzagli, Mario; Pinon, Georges; Queralto, José M; Reguengo, Henrique; Rizos, Demetrios; Szekeres, Thomas; Vidaud, Michel; Wallinder, Hans

2006-01-01

The EC4 Syllabus for Postgraduate Training is the basis for the European Register of Specialists in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. The syllabus: Indicates the level of requirements in postgraduate training to harmonise the postgraduate education in the European Union (EU); Indicates the level of content of national training programmes to obtain adequate knowledge and experience; Is approved by all EU societies for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. The syllabus is not primarily meant to be a training guide, but on the basis of the overview given (common minimal programme), national societies should formulate programmes that indicate where knowledge and experience is needed. The main points of this programme are: Indicates the level of requirements in postgraduate training to harmonise the postgraduate education in the European Union (EU); Indicates the level of content of national training programmes to obtain adequate knowledge and experience; Is approved by all EU societies for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. Knowledge in biochemistry, haematology, immunology, etc.; Pre-analytical conditions; Evaluation of results; Interpretations (post-analytical phase); Laboratory management; and Quality insurance management. The aim of this version of the syllabus is to be in accordance with the Directive of Professional Qualifications published on 30 September 2005. To prepare the common platforms planned in this directive, the disciplines are divided into four categories: Indicates the level of requirements in postgraduate training to harmonise the postgraduate education in the European Union (EU); Indicates the level of content of national training programmes to obtain adequate knowledge and experience; Is approved by all EU societies for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. Knowledge in biochemistry, haematology, immunology, etc.; Pre-analytical conditions; Evaluation of results; Interpretations (post-analytical phase); Laboratory management; and Quality insurance management. General chemistry, encompassing biochemistry, endocrinology, chemical (humoral), immunology, toxicology, and therapeutic drug monitoring; Haematology, covering cells, transfusion serology, coagulation, and cellular immunology; Microbiology, involving bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and mycology; Genetics and IVF.

European activities in radiation protection in medicine.

PubMed

Simeonov, Georgi

2015-07-01

The recently published Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom ('new European Basic Safety Standards', EU BSS) modernises and consolidates the European radiation protection legislation by taking into account the latest scientific knowledge, technological progress and experience with implementing the current legislation and by merging five existing Directives into a single piece of legislation. The new European BSS repeal previous European legislation on which the national systems for radiation protection in medicine of the 28 European Union (EU) Member States are based, including the 96/29/Euratom 'BSS' and the 97/43/Euratom 'Medical Exposure' Directives. While most of the elements of the previous legislation have been kept, there are several legal changes that will have important influence over the regulation and practice in the field all over Europe-these include, among others: (i) strengthening the implementation of the justification principle and expanding it to medically exposed asymptomatic individuals, (ii) more attention to interventional radiology, (iii) new requirements for dose recording and reporting, (iv) increased role of the medical physics expert in imaging, (v) new set of requirements for preventing and following up on accidents and (vi) new set of requirements for procedures where radiological equipment is used on people for non-medical purposes (non-medical imaging exposure). The EU Member States have to enforce the new EU BSS before January 2018 and bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with it. The European Commission has certain legal obligations and powers to verify the compliance of the national measures with the EU laws and, wherever necessary, issue recommendations to, or open infringement cases against, national governments. In order to ensure timely and coordinated implementation of the new European legal requirements for radiation protection, the Commission is launching several actions including promotion and dissemination activities, exchange and discussion fora and provision of guidance. These actions will be based on previous experiences and will rely on the results of recent and ongoing EU-funded projects. Important stakeholders including the Euratom Article 31 Group, the association of the Heads of European Radiological protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) and different European professional and specialty organisations will be involved. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Crystal and electronic structures, luminescence properties of Eu 2+-doped Si 6-zAl zO zN 8-z and M ySi 6-zAl z-yO z+yN 8-z-y ( M=2Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Y. Q.; Hirosaki, N.; Xie, R. J.; Takeda, T.; Mitomo, M.

2008-12-01

The crystal structure, electronic structure, and photoluminescence properties of Eu xSi 6-zAl z-xO z+xN 8-z-x ( x=0-0.1, 0< z<1) and Eu xM ySi 6-zAl z-x-yO z+x+yN 8-z-x-y ( M=2Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) have been studied. Single-phase Eu xSi 6-zAl z-xO z+xN 8-z-x can be obtained in very narrow ranges of x⩽0.06 ( z=0.15) and z<0.5 ( x=0.3), indicating that limited Eu 2+ ions can be incorporated into nitrogen-rich Si 6-zAl zO zN 8-z. The Eu 2+ ion is found to occupy the 2 b site in a hexagonal unit cell ( P6 3/ m) and directly connected by six adjacent nitrogen/oxygen atoms ranging 2.4850-2.5089 Å. The calculated host band gaps by the relativistic DV-X α method are about 5.55 and 5.45 eV (without Eu 2+ 4 f5 d levels) for x=0 and 0.013 in Eu xSi 6-zAl z-xO z+xN 8-z-x ( z=0.15), in which the top of the 5 d orbitals overlap with the Si-3 s3 p and N-2 p orbitals within the bottom of the conduction band of the host. Eu xSi 6-zAl z-xO z+xN 8-z-x shows a strong green emission with a broad Eu 2+ band centered at about 530 nm under UV to near-UV excitation range. The excitation and emission spectra are hardly modified by Eu concentration and dual-doping ions of Li and other alkaline-earth ions with Eu. Higher Eu concentrations can significantly quench the luminescence of Eu 2+ and decrease the thermal quenching temperature. In addition, the emission spectrum can only be slightly tuned to the longer wavelengths (˜529-545 nm) by increasing z within the solid solution range of z<0.5. Furthermore, the luminescence intensity of Eu xSi 6-zAl z-xO z+xN 8-z-x can be improved by increasing z and the dual-doping of Li and Ba.

Implications of a Changing NATO

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-01

International Studies ( DIIS ) re- leased a report in 2009 entitled “Come Home, NATO?” Denmark is the only member of the 27 EU states not part of the EU...perform. The DIIS report presents three arguments concerning the new strategic direction for the Alliance. The first argument is that “the Strate...questioned, NATO will continue down the path of global engagement.”86 The DIIS study gave a comprehensive history of the NATO Strategic Con- cept. The

Synthesis, crystal structures, and physical properties of the new Zintl phases A{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Pn{sub 18} (A=Ca, Eu; Pn=As, Sb)—Versatile arrangements of [ZnPn{sub 4}] tetrahedra

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suen, Nian-Tzu; Wang, Yi; Bobev, Svilen, E-mail: bobev@udel.edu

Four new Zintl phases, Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18}, Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18}, Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18} and Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} have been synthesized by metal flux reactions. Their structures have been established from single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Despite the similar chemical makeup and the identical formulae, the structures of the four compounds are not the same—Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18}, Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} and Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18} crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m (No. 12, Z=4) with the β-Ca{sub 21}Mn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} structure type, while Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} adopts the Ba{sub 21}Cd{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} structure type withmore » the orthorhombic space group Cmce (No. 64, Z=8). Both structures are based on ZnAs{sub 4} or ZnSb{sub 4} tetrahedra, linked in slightly different ways, and Ca{sup 2+} and Eu{sup 2+} cations that fill the space between them. The structural relationships between the title compounds and other known ternary phases with intricate structures are discussed. Electrical resistivity measurement on single-crystalline Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} suggests an intrinsic semiconductor behavior with a band gap of ca. 0.2 eV. The temperature dependent DC magnetization measurement on the same material indicates Curie–Weiss paramagnetism in the high-temperature regime, and a spontaneous antiferromagnetic ordering below 8 K. The calculated effective moments of Eu confirm the divalent Eu{sup 2+} ground state, as expected from the Zintl–Klemm concept. - Graphical abstract: The four new Zintl phases—Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18}, Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18}, Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18}, and Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18}—crystallize in two structure types, showing the versatility in the arrangements of ZnAs{sub 4} and ZnSb{sub 4} tetrahedra. - Highlights: • Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18}, Ca{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18}, Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}As{sub 18}, and Eu{sub 21}Zn{sub 4}Sb{sub 18} are new compounds in the respective ternary phase diagrams. • They form with structure types, showing the versatility in the arrangements of ZnAs{sub 4} and ZnSb{sub 4} tetrahedra. • For both structures, the valence electron count follows the Zintl–Klemm rules.« less

Geometric magnetic frustration in RE{sub 2}O{sub 2}S oxysulfides (RE = Sm, Eu and Gd)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Biondo, V.; Sarvezuk, P.W.C.; Ivashita, F.F.

2014-06-01

Graphical abstract: Stacked planes in the <001> direction of an oxysulfide structure, showing the triangular nets formed by rare earth cations, which moments present geometric magnetic frustration. - Highlights: • We prepared monophasic RE{sub 2}O{sub 2}S Oxysulfides (RE = Sm, Eu and Gd). • RE{sub 2}O{sub 2}S compounds were characterized regarding structural and magnetic properties. • Mössbauer spectra were obtained for Eu{sub 2}O{sub 2}S and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 2}S at different temperatures. • Oxysulfides present geometric magnetic frustration of the rare-earth sublattice. - Abstract: RE{sub 2}O{sub 2}S oxysulfides (with RE = Sm, Eu and Gd) were prepared and characterized regarding theirmore » structural and magnetic properties. The compounds crystallized in the trigonal symmetry (space group P-3m/D{sub 3}{sup 3}d), with the lattice parameter varying linearly with the ionic radius of the RE cation. All these oxysulfides are magnetically frustrated and only the gadolinium sample showed magnetic order down to 3 K. The magnetic frustration is attributed to the spatial distribution of cations over the lattice, where the RE’s magnetic moments occupy the sites forming a triangular plane lattice, perpendicular to the direction. This geometric magnetic frustration was firstly recognized for these oxysulfides.« less

Impact of cross-reference pricing on pharmaceutical prices: manufacturers' pricing strategies and price regulation.

PubMed

Stargardt, Tom; Schreyögg, Jonas

2006-01-01

Several EU countries are determining reimbursement prices of pharmaceuticals by cross-referencing prices of foreign countries. Our objective is to quantify the theoretical cross-border spill-over effects of cross-reference pricing schemes on pharmaceutical prices in the former EU-15 countries. An analytical model was developed estimating the impact of pharmaceutical price changes in Germany on pharmaceutical prices in other countries in the former EU-15 using cross-reference pricing. We differentiated between the direct impact (from referencing to Germany directly) and the indirect impact (from referencing to other countries that conduct their own cross-reference pricing schemes). The relationship between the direct and indirect impact of a price change depends mainly on the method applied to set reimbursement prices. When applying cross-reference pricing, the reimbursement price is either determined by the lowest of foreign prices (e.g. Portugal), the average of foreign prices (e.g. Ireland) or a weighted average of foreign prices (e.g. Italy). If the respective drug is marketed in all referenced countries and prices are regularly updated, a price reduction of 1.00 euro in Germany will reduce maximum reimbursement prices in the former EU-15 countries from 0.15 euros in Austria to 0.36 euros in Italy. On one side, the cross-border spill-over effects of price reductions are undoubtedly welcomed by decision makers and may be favourable to the healthcare system in general. On the other side, these cross-border spill-over effects also provide strong incentives for strategic product launches, launch delays and lobbying activities, and can affect the effectiveness of regulation. To avoid the negative effects of cross-reference pricing, a weighted index of prices from as many countries as possible should be used to determine reimbursement prices in order to reduce the direct and indirect impact of individual countries.

Simulating water quality and ecological status of Lake Vansjø, Norway, under land-use and climate change by linking process-oriented models with a Bayesian network.

PubMed

Couture, Raoul-Marie; Moe, S Jannicke; Lin, Yan; Kaste, Øyvind; Haande, Sigrid; Lyche Solheim, Anne

2018-04-15

Excess nutrient inputs and climate change are two of multiple stressors affecting many lakes worldwide. Lake Vansjø in southern Norway is one such eutrophic lake impacted by blooms of toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), and classified as moderate ecological status under the EU Water Framework Directive. Future climate change may exacerbate the situation. Here we use a set of chained models (global climate model, hydrological model, catchment phosphorus (P) model, lake model, Bayesian Network) to assess the possible future ecological status of the lake, given the set of climate scenarios and storylines common to the EU project MARS (Managing Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources under Multiple Stress). The model simulations indicate that climate change alone will increase precipitation and runoff, and give higher P fluxes to the lake, but cause little increase in phytoplankton biomass or changes in ecological status. For the storylines of future management and land-use, however, the model results indicate that both the phytoplankton biomass and the lake ecological status can be positively or negatively affected. Our results also show the value in predicting a biological indicator of lake ecological status, in this case, cyanobacteria biomass with a BN model. For all scenarios, cyanobacteria contribute to worsening the status assessed by phytoplankton, compared to using chlorophyll-a alone. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The interface between child/adolescent and adult mental health services: results from a European 28-country survey.

PubMed

Signorini, Giulia; Singh, Swaran P; Marsanic, Vlatka Boricevic; Dieleman, Gwen; Dodig-Ćurković, Katarina; Franic, Tomislav; Gerritsen, Suzanne E; Griffin, James; Maras, Athanasios; McNicholas, Fiona; O'Hara, Lesley; Purper-Ouakil, Diane; Paul, Moli; Russet, Frederick; Santosh, Paramala; Schulze, Ulrike; Street, Cathy; Tremmery, Sabine; Tuomainen, Helena; Verhulst, Frank; Warwick, Jane; de Girolamo, Giovanni

2018-04-01

Transition-related discontinuity of care is a major socioeconomic and societal challenge for the EU. The current service configuration, with distinct Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS), is considered a weak link where the care pathway needs to be most robust. Our aim was to delineate transitional policies and care across Europe and to highlight current gaps in care provision at the service interface. An online mapping survey was conducted across all 28 European Countries using a bespoke instrument: The Standardized Assessment Tool for Mental Health Transition (SATMEHT). The survey was directed at expert(s) in each of the 28 EU countries. The response rate was 100%. Country experts commonly (12/28) reported that between 25 and 49% of CAMHS service users will need transitioning to AMHS. Estimates of the percentage of AMHS users aged under 30 years who had has previous contact with CAMHS were most commonly in the region 20-30% (33% on average).Written policies for managing the interface were available in only four countries and half (14/28) indicated that no transition support services were available. This is the first survey of CAMHS transitional policies and care carried out at a European level. Policymaking on transitional care clearly needs special attention and further elaboration. The Milestone Study on transition should provide much needed data on transition processes and outcomes that could form the basis for improving policy and practice in transitional care.

Resonant TMR inversion in LiF/EuS based spin-filter tunnel junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Fen; Chen, Aixi; Institute for Quantum Computing & Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Canada

Resonant tunneling can lead to inverse tunnel magnetoresistance when impurity levels rather than direct tunneling dominate the transport process. We fabricated hybrid magnetic tunnel junctions of CoFe/LiF/EuS/Ti, with an epitaxial LiF energy barrier joined with a polycrystalline EuS spin-filter barrier. Due to the water solubility of LiF, the devices were fully packaged in situ. The devices showed sizeable positive TMR up to 16% at low bias voltages but clearly inverted TMR at higher bias voltages. The TMR inversion depends sensitively on the thickness of LiF, and the tendency of inversion disappears when LiF gets thick enough and recovers its intrinsicmore » properties.« less

European initiatives to develop information systems in oceanography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Grand, P.

2009-04-01

Various initiatives are currently in preparation or ongoing at the European level to improve information systems in Earth Sciences and oceanographic systems are at the forefront of these efforts. Europe is playing a leading role in the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) that aims to implement the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The GEO Architecture and Data Committee, oversees the development of the GEOSS Common Infrastructure (GCI) which consists of a web-based portal, a clearinghouse for searching data, information and services, registries containing information about GEOSS components and associated standards and best practices. This development is detailed in the various tasks of the GEO Work Plan . Several European projects in the marine domain funded under the research framework program participate in the development of the GEOSS. EMODNET is another initiative to develop a system that will allow a better identification and access to marine data that are being collected, that will permit the identification of data gaps and that will shape a data collection and monitoring infrastructure directly suited to multiple applications. A number of measures have already been taken at EU level - the INSPIRE Directive obliges Member States to facilitate discovery of data holdings, the Environmental Information Directive requires them to release the data when asked, the Public Sector Information Directive facilitates the re-use of public data and the revised Data Collection Regulation has improved the availability of fisheries data. Moreover, prototype marine data catalogues and quality procedures for measurement laboratories have been developed through successive EU research programmes. EMODNET is complementary to other EU initiatives in the marine domain. Parameters made available through EMODNET will facilitate the GMES marine core service which aims to deliver both short term and seasonal forecasts, hindcasts, nowcasts, and time series and climate change scenario simulations. EMODNET will provide the access to raw and processed data necessary to calculate the indicators that Member States are obliged to provide through WISE-Marine to meet the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Moving to the definitive EMODNET will require significant funding. Given that EMODNET is very much focused on a sea-basin scale and given the impetus accorded to territorial cohesion by the EU maritime policy, discussions will begin to determine whether cohesion funding could support the initiative. At the same time moves will begin to integrate EMODNET with initiatives under the EU's research infrastructure programmes and the Common Fisheries Policy Data Collection Regulation. The objective is to achieve by 2014 an operational and sustainable EMODNET with earmarked funding and an agreed governance structure.

The European Falsified Medicines Directive in Poland: background, implementation and potential recommendations for pharmacists.

PubMed

Merks, Piotr; Swieczkowski, Damian; Byliniak, Michal; Drozd, Mariola; Krupa, Katarzyna; Jaguszewski, Milosz; Brindley, David A; Naughton, Bernard D

2018-01-01

By February 2019, the Polish pharmaceutical industry, community and hospital pharmacies, wholesalers and parallel traders must all comply with the EU-wide Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) legislation (2011/62/EU), to ensure that no medicinal product is dispensed to a patient without proper tracking and authentication. Here we describe how Poland is complying with the new EU regulations, the actions that have been taken to incorporate the FMD into Polish Pharmaceutical Law and whether or not these actions are sufficient. We found that Poland is only partially compliant with the FMD and further actions need to be undertaken to fully meet the Delegated Act (DA) requirements. Moreover, there is lack of awareness in Poland about the prevalence of falsified medication and the time scale required for implementation of the DA. Based on our findings, we suggest that a public awareness campaign should be started to raise awareness of the increased number of falsified medicines in the legal supply chain and that drug authorisation systems are implemented by Polish pharmacies to support the FMD.

Economic impact of a triptan Rx-to-OTC switch in six EU countries.

PubMed

Millier, Aurelie; Cohen, Joshua; Toumi, Mondher

2013-01-01

Triptans have been safely and effectively used in the management of migraine for more than fifteen years, and it seems reasonable to wonder what would be the economic impact of moving a specific triptan to OTC availability. The objective of this study was then to examine the economic impact of payer policies of a triptan Rx-to-OTC switch in six EU countries (France, UK, Spain, Italy, Germany and Poland). A decision model was used to model the budgetary impact of a triptan Rx-to-OTC switch from the third-party payer (TPP) and the societal perspectives, using a one-year timeframe. From the TPP perspective, it is estimated that the current overall direct spending on the management of migraine attacks across the 6 EU Member States is €582 million annually, and that the savings would reach €75 million (13% of the overall direct economic burden of migraine). From the societal perspective, €86 million annually would be added. Given evidence of effectiveness and safety, and given the potential savings, a triptan Rx-to-OTC switch is a reasonable public policy decision.

The European Falsified Medicines Directive in Poland: background, implementation and potential recommendations for pharmacists

PubMed Central

Merks, Piotr; Swieczkowski, Damian; Byliniak, Michal; Drozd, Mariola; Krupa, Katarzyna; Jaguszewski, Milosz; Brindley, David A; Naughton, Bernard D

2018-01-01

By February 2019, the Polish pharmaceutical industry, community and hospital pharmacies, wholesalers and parallel traders must all comply with the EU-wide Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) legislation (2011/62/EU), to ensure that no medicinal product is dispensed to a patient without proper tracking and authentication. Here we describe how Poland is complying with the new EU regulations, the actions that have been taken to incorporate the FMD into Polish Pharmaceutical Law and whether or not these actions are sufficient. We found that Poland is only partially compliant with the FMD and further actions need to be undertaken to fully meet the Delegated Act (DA) requirements. Moreover, there is lack of awareness in Poland about the prevalence of falsified medication and the time scale required for implementation of the DA. Based on our findings, we suggest that a public awareness campaign should be started to raise awareness of the increased number of falsified medicines in the legal supply chain and that drug authorisation systems are implemented by Polish pharmacies to support the FMD. PMID:29445453

EU legislations affecting safety data availability of cosmetic ingredients.

PubMed

Pauwels, Marleen; Rogiers, Vera

2007-12-01

With the introduction of the 6th and 7th Amendments (OJ L151, 32-37, 23 June 1993; OJ L066, 26-35, 11 March 2003) to the Cosmetic Products Directive (OJ L262, 169-200, 27 September 1976), imposing a testing and marketing ban on cosmetic products tested on animals, the retrieval of toxicological data on individual ingredients became of greater need. Since the majority of cosmetic ingredients are used for many other purposes than their cosmetic function, they fall under the scope of more than one EU Directive. An overview is given of EU legislation that could potentially affect the availability and interpretation of cosmetic safety data. It will become clear that, although cosmetics are regulated by a specific so-called "vertical" legislation, "horizontal" influences from other products' legislations play a role since they determine the type and amount of data that theoretically could be found on the specific substances they regulate. This knowledge is necessary while performing extended searches in databases and becomes indispensable when initiating negotiations with manufacturers or suppliers for obtaining the safety data required.

Young people's perceptions of tobacco packaging: a comparison of EU Tobacco Products Directive & Ireland's Standardisation of Tobacco Act

PubMed Central

Babineau, Kate; Clancy, Luke

2015-01-01

Objectives To measure young people's perceptions of tobacco packaging according to two current pieces of legislation: The EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Ireland's Public Health (Standardisation of Tobacco Products) Act. Design Within-subject experimental cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of secondary school students. School-based pen and paper survey. Setting 27 secondary schools across Ireland, randomly stratified for size, geographic location, gender, religious affiliation and school-level socioeconomic status. Data were collected between March and May 2014. Participants 1378 fifth year secondary school students aged 16–17 in Ireland. Main outcome measures Young people's perceptions of attractiveness, health risk and smoker characteristics of packs according to EU and Irish branding and packaging guidelines. Results Packs with more branding elements were thought to be healthier than standardised packs for Silk Cut (χ2=158.58, p<0.001), Marlboro (χ2=113.65, p<0.001), and Benson and Hedges (χ2=137.95, p<0.001) brands. Generalized estimating equation binary regressions found that gender was a significant predictor of pack attractiveness for Silk Cut, with females being more likely to find the EU packs attractive (β=−0.45, p=0.007). Gender was a significant predictor for females with regards to the perceived popularity of the Silk Cut brand (β=−0.37, p=0.03). Conclusions The removal of brand identifiers, including colour, font and embossing, reduces the perceived appeal of cigarette packs for young people across all three tested brands. Packs standardised according to Irish legislation are perceived as less attractive, less healthy and smoked by less popular people than packs which conform to the EU TPD 2014 guidelines. PMID:26048206

Enhancing participatory approach in water resources management: development of a survey to evaluate stakeholders needs and priorities related to software capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foglia, L.; Rossetto, R.; Borsi, I.; Josef, S.; Boukalova, Z.; Triana, F.; Ghetta, M.; Sabbatini, T.; Bonari, E.; Cannata, M.; De Filippis, G.

2016-12-01

The EU H2020 FREEWAT project (FREE and open source software tools for WATer resource management) aims at simplifying the application of EU-water related Directives, by developing an open source and public domain, GIS-integrated platform for planning and management of ground- and surface-water resources. The FREEWAT platform is conceived as a canvas, where several distributed and physically-based simulation codes are virtually integrated. The choice of such codes was supported by the result of a survey performed by means of questionnaires distributed to 14 case study FREEWAT project partners and several stakeholders. This was performed in the first phase of the project within the WP 6 (Enhanced science and participatory approach evidence-based decision making), Task 6.1 (Definition of a "needs/tools" evaluation grid). About 30% among all the invited entities and institutions from several EU and non-EU Countries expressed their interest in contributing to the survey. Most of them were research institutions, government and geoenvironmental companies and river basin authorities.The result of the questionnaire provided a spectrum of needs and priorities of partners/stakeholders, which were addressed during the development phase of the FREEWAT platform. The main needs identified were related to ground- and surface-water quality, sustainable water management, interaction between groundwater/surface-water bodies, and design and management of Managed Aquifer Recharge schemes. Needs and priorities were then connected to the specific EU Directives and Regulations to be addressed.One of the main goals of the questionnaires was to collect information and suggestions regarding the use of existing commercial/open-source software tools to address needs and priorities, and regarding the needs to address specific water-related processes/problems.

Stream valleys and the coast, a reconnaissance soil-landscape analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van den Ancker, J. A. M.; Jungerius, P. D.

2012-04-01

The Council of Earth Sciences of the KNAW, the Royal Dutch Academy of Art and Sciences, started in 2008 a working group to discuss the low awareness of Dutch geoheritage and the operationalization of the geodiversity concept for modern sustainable spatial planning. More than forty earth scientists participated in the workgroup. Both authors of this poster were part of the organizing committee. The development of a new planning tool, based on the seven soil functions of the EU Soil Directive (2006) was proposed for a modern multi-functional and sustainable approach towards spatial planning. For reconnaissance purposes, two simplified examples were developed to illustrate the possibilities of the approach. The coastal example became part of the report, the stream valley example was never published. Both examples are presented in a short cross-table format on this poster. The Dutch stream valleys first were divided into five valley types according to present land-use and management. Next, it was recorded how each valley type performed on each of the seven EU soil functions. The results show that the majority of the stream valleys, probably more than 90 %, are mono-functional and directed at high agricultural production, which has an adverse effect on all the other soil functions in the area (and areas and waters outside the valley area studied). Along the coast the importance of the beach as a sea defence buffer and an economic tourism asset clearly showed. This is of course nothing new, but in spatial planning the economic role of tourism and especially the important role of the beach in sea defence are normally overlooked. The cross-tables of the EU soil functions show to be a good and simple tool to promote insight and discussion towards a more sustainable and multi-functional landuse. The KNAW report was presented to the Minister of the Environment in 2009, with the recommendation that the approach needed further development. Due to political shifts and government reorganisation the functional soil-landscape approach of the EU Soil Directive still awaits further development. In the meantime investments in technical mono-functional sustainable land management solutions prevail. Also present-day scientists prefer to work on mono-functional soil-landscape issues, urged by the need to publish in peer reviewed articles and by the fact that research programmes sponsored by the government address mono-issued problems. Literature Bouma J., et al., 2008. Geïntegreerd aardwetenschappelijk onderzoek ten behoeve van de ruimtelijke ordening. KNAW report, Amsterdam. (with an English summary) Pdf can be downloaded http://www.knaw.nl/smartsite.dws?lang=NL&id=26102&pub=20071087 Directive of the European parliament and of the council establishing a framework for the protection of soil: a Framework for a EU Soil Directive, COM (2006) 232 final http://ec.europa.eu/environment/soil/three_en.htm

The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing - Europe (CAAT-EU): a transatlantic bridge for the paradigm shift in toxicology.

PubMed

Daneshian, Mardas; Leist, Marcel; Hartung, Thomas

2010-01-01

The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing - Europe (CAAT-EU) was founded based collaboration between the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Konstanz. CAAT-EU, housed at the University of Konstanz, will coordinate transatlantic activities to promote humane science in research and education, and participate, as partner or coordinator, in publicly and privately funded European projects. Thomas Hartung will serve as program liaison representing Johns Hopkins University and Marcel Leist as the University of Konstanz liaison. CAAT-EU aims to: 1) Set up transatlantic consortia for international research projects on alternative methods. 2) Establish a CAAT Europe faculty and advisory board composed of sponsor representatives and prominent academics from Europe . 3) Participate in the Transatlantic Think Tank for Toxicology (t4) devoted to conceptual work for the paradigm shift in toxicology. 4) Coordinate a series of information days in Europe on relevant developments in the US, similar to the 2009 series CAAT held in the US on EU issues (one on the 7th Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive and one on EU and US chemical regulation). 5) Support ALTEX as the official journal of CAAT and CAAT-EU. 6) Develop strategic projects with sponsors to promote humane science and new toxicology, especially with CAAT faculty members. 7) Develop a joint education program between Johns Hopkins and the University of Konstanz, such as e-courses and the existing Humane Science Certificate program developed by CAAT, a student exchange program, and collaboration with the International Graduate School "Cell-based Characterization of De- and Regeneration" in Konstanz.

Effect of europium ion concentration on the structural and photoluminescence properties of novel Li2BaZrO4: Eu3+ nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahemen, I.; Dejene, F. B.; Kroon, R. E.; Swart, H. C.

2017-12-01

This work reports the influence of Eu3+ ion concentration on the structure and photoluminescence properties of Li2BaZrO4 nanocrystals including its intrinsic quantum efficiency (IQE). Chemical bath method was employed in the synthesis procedure. X-ray diffraction results showed tetragonal phase for Eu3+ ion concentration in the range 1 and 7 mol% and cubic phase at 8 mol%. The presence of barium oxide (BaO) was confirmed from selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The excitation spectra for these phosphors consisted of broad charge transfer (CT) bands due to the combination of Zr4+ - O2- and Eu3+-O2- charge transfer states. Superimposed on the CT band were direct excitation levels of Eu3+ and Ba2+ ions, in the range 320-450 nm. At high Eu3+ ions concentrations, the intensities of CT bands decreased because some of the ions were coordinated with Ba2+ ions. Photoluminescence emissions for all the doped samples at room temperature appeared to be entirely from intraconfigurational Eu3+ emissions and depended both on the site symmetry as well as the ion concentration. The quadrupole-quadrupole multipolar process was found to be solely responsible for the luminescence quenching. The intensity parameters (Ω2 ,Ω4), asymmetry ratio, R0 and the average decay lifetime of the nanocrystals showed dependence on concentration. High internal quantum efficiency (IQE) values were obtained at low Eu3+ ion concentrations, but efficiency decreased with increasing ion concentration. The CIE coordinates values were comparable to existing red phosphors and in combination with the high IQE make this phosphor a good candidate for red light emitting applications.

Assessing the Impacts of Revising the Tobacco Products Directive

PubMed Central

Tiessen, Jan; Hunt, Priscillia; Celia, Claire; Fazekas, Mihaly; de Vries, Han; Staetsky, Laura; Diepeveen, Stephanie; Rabinovich, Lila; Ridsdale, Helen; Ling, Tom

2011-01-01

Abstract Tobacco use is one of the largest avoidable causes of morbidity and premature death in the EU. Whilst smoking prevalence in the EU has been declining over the past 30 years, smoking has remained more prevalent among men than women in the EU-27, with some of the new Member States reporting the widest gaps between male and female smokers. For young smokers (13 to 15 years old) this situation is somewhat reversed, with slightly more girls than boys smoking. Against this background, the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) considered a revision of the Tobacco Products Directive 2001/37/EC across five general areas: scope of the directive, labelling requirements, registration and market control fees, ingredients, and sales arrangements. More specifically, the types of policy options under consideration included (but were not limited to): an increase of warning label sizes on the back of packaging to 100%, a restriction for the display of products at retail outlets and an introduction of additional measurement method for TNCO (the modified ISO method) with maximum limits set accordingly. DG SANCO commissioned RAND Europe to provide support in assessing the potential health, macroeconomic, and compliance cost and administrative burden impacts of revising the Tobacco Products Directive. In addition to assessing impacts, the study provides an up-to-date overview of the evidence and basis for current tobacco product regulation that may be of interest to a wider audience interested in tobacco control policies. PMID:28083169

Stochastic spatio-temporal modelling of African swine fever spread in the European Union during the high risk period.

PubMed

Nigsch, Annette; Costard, Solenne; Jones, Bryony A; Pfeiffer, Dirk U; Wieland, Barbara

2013-03-01

African swine fever (ASF) is a notifiable viral pig disease with high mortality and serious socio-economic consequences. Since ASF emerged in Georgia in 2007 the disease has spread to several neighbouring countries and cases have been detected in areas bordering the European Union (EU). It is uncertain how fast the virus would be able to spread within the unrestricted European trading area if it were introduced into the EU. This project therefore aimed to develop a model for the spread of ASF within and between the 27 Member States (MS) of the EU during the high risk period (HRP) and to identify MS during that period would most likely contribute to ASF spread ("super-spreaders") or MS that would most likely receive cases from other MS ("super-receivers"). A stochastic spatio-temporal state-transition model using simulated individual farm records was developed to assess silent ASF virus spread during different predefined HRPs of 10-60 days duration. Infection was seeded into farms of different pig production types in each of the 27 MS. Direct pig-to-pig transmission and indirect transmission routes (pig transport lorries and professional contacts) were considered the main pathways during the early stages of an epidemic. The model was parameterised using data collated from EUROSTAT, TRACES, a questionnaire sent to MS, and the scientific literature. Model outputs showed that virus circulation was generally limited to 1-2 infected premises per outbreak (95% IQR: 1-4; maximum: 10) with large breeder farms as index case resulting in most infected premises. Seven MS caused between-MS spread due to intra-Community trade during the first 10 days after seeding infection. For a HRP of 60 days from virus introduction, movements of infected pigs will originate at least once from 16 MS, with 6 MS spreading ASF in more than 10% of iterations. Two thirds of all intra-Community spread was linked to six trade links only. Denmark, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Latvia were identified as "super-spreaders"; Germany and Poland as "super-receivers". In the sensitivity analysis, the total number of premises per country involved in intra-Community trade was found to be a key determinant for the between-MS spread dynamic and needs to be further investigated. It was concluded that spread during the HRP is likely to be limited, especially if the HRP is short. This emphasises the importance of having good disease awareness in all MS for early disease detection. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Relation Between Emotion Understanding and Theory of Mind in Children Aged 3 to 8: The Key Role of Language

PubMed Central

Grazzani, Ilaria; Ornaghi, Veronica; Conte, Elisabetta; Pepe, Alessandro; Caprin, Claudia

2018-01-01

Although a significant body of research has investigated the relationships among children’s emotion understanding (EU), theory of mind (ToM), and language abilities. As far as we know, no study to date has been conducted with a sizeable sample of both preschool and school-age children exploring the direct effect of EU on ToM when the role of language was evaluated as a potential exogenous factor in a single comprehensive model. Participants in the current study were 389 children (age range: 37–97 months, M = 60.79 months; SD = 12.66), to whom a False-Belief understanding battery, the Test of Emotion Comprehension, and the Peabody Test were administered. Children’s EU, ToM, and language ability (receptive vocabulary) were positively correlated. Furthermore, EU scores explained variability in ToM scores independently of participants’ age and gender. Finally, language was found to play a crucial role in both explaining variance in ToM scores and in mediating the relationship between EU and ToM. We discuss the theoretical and educational implications of these outcomes, particularly in relation to offering social and emotional learning programs through schools.

The Relation Between Emotion Understanding and Theory of Mind in Children Aged 3 to 8: The Key Role of Language.

PubMed

Grazzani, Ilaria; Ornaghi, Veronica; Conte, Elisabetta; Pepe, Alessandro; Caprin, Claudia

2018-01-01

Although a significant body of research has investigated the relationships among children's emotion understanding (EU), theory of mind (ToM), and language abilities. As far as we know, no study to date has been conducted with a sizeable sample of both preschool and school-age children exploring the direct effect of EU on ToM when the role of language was evaluated as a potential exogenous factor in a single comprehensive model. Participants in the current study were 389 children (age range: 37-97 months, M = 60.79 months; SD = 12.66), to whom a False-Belief understanding battery, the Test of Emotion Comprehension, and the Peabody Test were administered. Children's EU, ToM, and language ability (receptive vocabulary) were positively correlated. Furthermore, EU scores explained variability in ToM scores independently of participants' age and gender. Finally, language was found to play a crucial role in both explaining variance in ToM scores and in mediating the relationship between EU and ToM. We discuss the theoretical and educational implications of these outcomes, particularly in relation to offering social and emotional learning programs through schools.

EU Strategies of Integrating ICT into Initial Teacher Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garapko, Vitaliya

2013-01-01

Education and learning are strongly linked with society and its evolution and knowledge. In the field of formal education, ICTs are increasingly deployed as tools to extend the learner's capacity to perceive, understand and communicate, as seen in the increase in online learning programs and the use of the computer as a learning support tool in…

Expressing Identity: The Role of Dialogue in Teaching Citizenship through Art

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collins, Fiona M.; Ogier, Susan

2013-01-01

"Images and Identity" (2008-2010, http://www.image-identity.eu/) was a Comenius funded project in which six European Union countries explored the cross-curricular links between Citizenship and Art Education with both primary and secondary age pupils. The aim of the project was to enhance and develop a sense of the pupils' identity as…

Critical Links between Recognition of Prior Learning, Economic Changes and Social Justice in Portugal

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Guimaraes, Paula

2012-01-01

This paper is a reflection on recent Portuguese policy on adult education. It explores the policy discussion at the national level from 1999 and in particular after 2005, when the New Opportunities Initiative ("Iniciativa Novas Oportunidades" in Portuguese) was adopted and European Union (EU) guidelines were given considerable emphasis.…

Applied Linguistics in Europe

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

de Bot, Kees

2004-01-01

In this contribution developments in Applied Linguistics in Europe are linked to major social changes that have taken place over the last decades. These include: The decline of the USSR and the end of the cold war; The development of the EEC and the EU and fading of borders; The economic growth of Western Europe; Labor migration from the south to…

The Lack of Consistent Diaspirin Cross-Linked Hemoglobin Infusion Blood Pressure Effects in the US and EU Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock Clinical Trials

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-01

Jackson Foundation. Dr. Sloan provided consultation to Northfield Inc on February 29, 2009, regarding Poly Heme and to Biopure Inc on May 2006 as part of...Professor Payen (Principal Investigator, Hopiatl Lariboisiere, Paris Cedex I 0); Docteur Rouvier, MD (Principal Investigator, Hopital Percy , Clamart

Acid-switched Eu(III) coordination inside reverse aggregates: Insights into a synergistic liquid-liquid extraction system

DOE PAGES

Ellis, Ross J.

2016-08-09

Determining the structure of complex solutions bearing metal ions is challenging, but crucial for developing important technologies such as liquid-liquid extraction for metal refining and separation purposes. Herein, the structure of an organic Eu(III) solution consisting a binary mixture of lipophilic ligands di-2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (HDEHP) and tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) in dodecane is studied using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). This system is of technological importance in f-element separation for nuclear fuel cycle applications, where extraction is controlled by varying nitric acid concentration. Extraction is promoted at low and high concentration, butmore » is retarded at intermediate concentration, leading to a U-shaped function; the structural origins of which we investigate. At the nanoscale, the solution is apparently comprised of reverse micelles with polar cores of approximately 1 nm in size, and these remain virtually unchanged as acid concentration is varied. Inside the polar cores, the coordination environment of Eu(III) switches from a 9-coordinate [Eu(TODGA) 3] 3+ motif at high acid, to a 6-coordinate HDEHP-dominated complex resembling Eu(HDEHP·DEHP) 3 at low acid. The results show that extraction is controlled within the coordination sphere, where it is promoted under conditions that favor coordination of either one of the two organic ligands, but is retarded under conditions that encourage mixed complexes. Lastly, our results link solution structure with ion transport properties in a technologically-important liquid-liquid ion extraction system.« less

Search engine imaginary: Visions and values in the co-production of search technology and Europe.

PubMed

Mager, Astrid

2017-04-01

This article discusses the co-production of search technology and a European identity in the context of the EU data protection reform. The negotiations of the EU data protection legislation ran from 2012 until 2015 and resulted in a unified data protection legislation directly binding for all European member states. I employ a discourse analysis to examine EU policy documents and Austrian media materials related to the reform process. Using the concept 'sociotechnical imaginary', I show how a European imaginary of search engines is forming in the EU policy domain, how a European identity is constructed in the envisioned politics of control, and how national specificities contribute to the making and unmaking of a European identity. I discuss the roles that national technopolitical identities play in shaping both search technology and Europe, taking as an example Austria, a small country with a long history in data protection and a tradition of restrained technology politics.

Oxygen-vacancy-mediated dielectric property in perovskite Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-δ epitaxial thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Weiwei; Gu, Junxing; He, Qian; Zhang, Kelvin H. L.; Wang, Chunchang; Jin, Kuijuan; Wang, Yongqiang; Acosta, Matias; Wang, Haiyan; Borisevich, Albina Y.; MacManus-Driscoll, Judith L.; Yang, Hao

2018-04-01

Dielectric relaxation in ABO3 perovskite oxides can result from many different charge carrier-related phenomena. Despite a strong understanding of dielectric relaxations, a detailed investigation of the relationship between the content of oxygen vacancies (VO) and dielectric relaxation has not been performed in perovskite oxide films. In this work, we report a systematic investigation of the influence of the VO concentration on the dielectric relaxation of Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-δ epitaxial thin films. Nuclear resonance backscattering spectrometry was used to directly measure the oxygen concentration in Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-δ films. We found that dipolar defects created by VO interact with the off-centered Ti ions, which results in the dielectric relaxation in Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3-δ films. Activation energy gradually increases with the increasing content of VO. The present work significantly extends our understanding of relaxation properties in oxide films.

An environmental index of noise and light pollution at EU by spatial correlation of quiet and unlit areas.

PubMed

Votsi, Nefta-Eleftheria P; Kallimanis, Athanasios S; Pantis, Ioannis D

2017-02-01

Quietness exists in places without human induced noise sources and could offer multiple benefits to citizens. Unlit areas are sites free of human intense interference at night time. The aim of this research is to develop an integrated environmental index of noise and light pollution. In order to achieve this goal the spatial pattern of quietness and darkness of Europe was identified, as well as their overlap. The environmental index revealed that the spatial patterns of Quiet and Unlit Areas differ to a great extent highlighting the importance of preserving quietness as well as darkness in EU. The spatial overlap of these two environmental characteristics covers 32.06% of EU surface area, which could be considered a feasible threshold for protection. This diurnal and nocturnal metric of environmental quality accompanied with all direct and indirect benefits to human well-being could indicate a target for environmental protection in the EU policy and practices. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Regulation of sporicides under the European Biocidal Products Directive.

PubMed

Low, A

2011-03-01

Disinfectants (including sporicides) used in the healthcare setting fall within the scope of the European Biocidal Products Directive (98/8/EC). The active substances used in these products will be evaluated as part of an EU wide review programme, to determine whether they can be used in biocidal products without undue risks to humans, animals and the environment, and that these products will be effective. Following the review of an active substance, biocidal products containing the active substance will become subject to regulatory controls in all EU Member States. This paper discusses how the Directive operates, both through the review programme and the authorisation of biocidal products at the Member State level, together with the requirements to provide data on the efficacy of both the active substances and end-use biocidal products. Crown Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Unalan, Dilek, E-mail: unaland@cf.ac.u; Cowell, Richard

This paper analyses the adoption of the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC) in Turkey as part of a programme of environmental policy harmonisation for EU accession, to explore the extent to which this is driving wider shifts in modes of environmental governance. To do this, rather than simply assess compliance with Directive in narrow, formal, statutory terms, we use Jaenicke and Weidner's concept of capacity building, which focuses on the constraints facing societal action to promote sustainable development. Despite the resources invested in pre-accession training and pilot SEA projects, Turkey's adoption of the Directive is still likely to bemore » affected by the centralised nature of the bureaucracy (affecting the scope for sectoral integration), its politicised nature (interrupting the accumulation of policy learning), the limited capacity of civil society and environmental organisations to engage with the process, and the political dominance of economic development objectives.« less

Evaluating the ethical acceptability of animal research.

PubMed

Bout, Henriëtte J; Fentener van Vlissingen, J Martje; Karssing, Edgar D

2014-11-01

The ethical acceptability of animal research is typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Legislation such as Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes provides guidance for ethical evaluation of animal use proposals but does not dictate the outcome, leaving this determination to the ethical review committees of individual institutions. The authors assess different ethics models and how these are reflected in the guidelines of Directive 2010/63/EU. They also describe a matrix for carrying out harm-benefit analyses of animal use proposals, which they identified by examining the practices of three ethical review committees in the Netherlands. Finally, they discuss how this matrix can be applied by ethical review committees at other institutions.

Costs of tuberculosis disease in the European Union: a systematic analysis and cost calculation.

PubMed

Diel, Roland; Vandeputte, Joris; de Vries, Gerard; Stillo, Jonathan; Wanlin, Maryse; Nienhaus, Albert

2014-02-01

Without better vaccines it is unlikely that tuberculosis (TB) will ever be eliminated. An investment of ∼ €560 million is considered necessary to develop a new, effective vaccine in the European Union (EU). However, less is known about the costs of TB disease in the EU. We performed a systematic review of literature and institutional websites addressing the 27 EU members to summarise cost data. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane bibliographies for relevant articles. Combining direct and indirect costs, we arrived at an average per-TB case costs in the original EU-15 states plus Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia of €10 282 for drug-susceptible TB, €57 213 for multidrug resistant (MDR)-TB and €170 744 for extensively drug resistant (XDR)-TB. In the remaining new EU states, costs amounted to €3427 for drug-susceptible TB and €24 166 for MDR-TB/XDR-TB. For the 70 340 susceptible TB cases, 1488 MDR-TB and 136 XDR-TB cases notified in 2011 costs of €536 890 315 accumulated in 2012. In the same year, the 103 104 disability-adjusted life years caused by these cases, when stated in monetary terms, amounted to a total of €5 361 408 000. Thus, the resulting economic burden of TB in the EU clearly outweighs the cost of investing in more efficient vaccines against TB.

The revision of the European blood directives: A major challenge for transfusion medicine.

PubMed

Folléa, G; Aranko, K

2015-08-01

Using both patient-focused and donor-focused perspectives, to review the current EU blood directives, in order to derive proposals, in principle, for what should evolve during the revision process of these directives. Review of the EU blood directives in the light of scientific literature, related reports from the Directorate General Health and Consumers (DG SANTÉ), and from the Council of Europe (CoE). The analyses led us to present the main following proposals: developing voluntary unpaid donations: the directives should consider taking into consideration ethically acceptable forms of compensation consistent with altruistic donation (including plasma donations for fractionation); current expertise: more extensive utilization of the expertise of blood establishments and their consultants should be considered; donor selection: an evidence-based approach for basing donor deferral criteria on sound scientific evidence should be promoted; donor reactions: measures to prevent donor reactions and to make donations safer for the donors should also be included; quality control: The quality control requirements should relate to the Council of Europe Blood Guide specifications: these should become minimum standards (as is the case with monographs of the European Pharmacopeia), facilitating regular update of blood component lists and related specifications and compliance with the specifications; haemovigilance: because of reporting difficulties (e.g. lack of number of blood products transfused), the effectiveness of haemovigilance has so far been limited. This should lead appropriate bodies to investigate alternative or complementary ways to help improve patient safety, taking into consideration, in principle, patient blood management and the appropriate use of blood products. Furthermore, donor vigilance, which is still absent from the current directive should be included in a revised directive. These proposals for revising the current EU blood directives (if taken into account and given appropriate regulatory formulation) should help to optimize patient safety and donor care, progress the compliance with the ethical principles for donors and improve the efficiency of the healthcare systems dedicated to transfusion medicine. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

EU FP7 project 'CAMbrella' to build European research network for complementary and alternative medicine.

PubMed

Weidenhammer, Wolfgang; Lewith, George; Falkenberg, Torkel; Fønnebø, Vinjar; Johannessen, Helle; Reiter, Bettina; Uehleke, Bernhard; von Ammon, Klaus; Baumhöfener, Franziska; Brinkhaus, Benno

2011-01-01

The status of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the EU needs clarification. The definition and terminology of CAM is heterogeneous. The therapies, legal status, regulations and approaches used vary from country to country but there is widespread use by EU citizens. A coordination project funded by the EU has been launched to improve the knowledge about CAM in Europe. The project aims to evaluate the conditions surrounding CAM use and provision in Europe and to develop a roadmap for European CAM research. Specific objectives are to establish an EU network involving centres of research excellence for collaborative projects, to develop consensus-based terminology to describe CAM interventions, to create a knowledge base that facilitates the understanding of patient demand for CAM and its prevalence, to review the current legal status and policies governing CAM provision, and to explore the needs and attitudes of EU citizens with respect to CAM. Based on this information a roadmap will be created that will enable sustainable and prioritised future European research in CAM. CAMbrella encompasses 16 academic research groups from 12 European countries and will run for 36 months starting from January 2010. The project will be delivered in 9 work packages coordinated by a Management Board and directed by a Scientific Steering Committee with support of an Advisory Board. The outcomes generated will be disseminated through the project's website, peer review open access publications and a final conference, with emphasis on current and future EU policies, addressing different target audiences. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

EuPaGDT: a web tool tailored to design CRISPR guide RNAs for eukaryotic pathogens.

PubMed

Peng, Duo; Tarleton, Rick

2015-10-01

Recent development of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has enabled highly efficient and versatile manipulation of a variety of organisms and adaptation of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to eukaryotic pathogens has opened new avenues for studying these otherwise hard to manipulate organisms. Here we describe a webtool, Eukaryotic Pathogen gRNA Design Tool (EuPaGDT; available at http://grna.ctegd.uga.edu), which identifies guide RNA (gRNA) in input gene(s) to guide users in arriving at well-informed and appropriate gRNA design for many eukaryotic pathogens. Flexibility in gRNA design, accommodating unique eukaryotic pathogen (gene and genome) attributes and high-throughput gRNA design are the main features that distinguish EuPaGDT from other gRNA design tools. In addition to employing an array of known principles to score and rank gRNAs, EuPaGDT implements an effective on-target search algorithm to identify gRNA targeting multi-gene families, which are highly represented in these pathogens and play important roles in host-pathogen interactions. EuPaGDT also identifies and scores microhomology sequences flanking each gRNA targeted cut-site; these sites are often essential for the microhomology-mediated end joining process used for double-stranded break repair in these organisms. EuPaGDT also assists users in designing single-stranded oligonucleotides for homology directed repair. In batch processing mode, EuPaGDT is able to process genome-scale sequences, enabling preparation of gRNA libraries for large-scale screening projects.

Visible and NIR photoluminescence properties of a series of novel lanthanide-organic coordination polymers based on hydroxyquinoline-carboxylate ligands.

PubMed

Gai, Yan-Li; Xiong, Ke-Cai; Chen, Lian; Bu, Yang; Li, Xing-Jun; Jiang, Fei-Long; Hong, Mao-Chun

2012-12-17

A series of novel two-dimensional (2D) lanthanide coordination polymers with 4-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylate (H(2)hqc) ligands, [Ln(Hhqc)(3)(H(2)O)](n)·3nH(2)O (Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2), Sm (3), Nd (4), and Gd (5)) and [Ln(Hhqc)(ox)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (Ln = Eu (6), Tb (7), Sm (8), Tm (9), Dy (10), Nd (11), Yb (12), and Gd (13); H(2)ox = oxalic acid), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1-5 are isomorphous, which can be described as a two-dimensional (2D) hxl/Shubnikov network based on Ln(2)(CO(2))(4) paddle-wheel units, and the isomorphous complexes 6-13 feature a 2D decker layer architecture constructed by Ln-ox infinite chains cross-linked alternatively by bridging Hhqc(-) ligands. The room-temperature photoluminescence spectra of complexes Eu(III) (1 and 6), Tb(III) (2 and 7), and Sm(III) (3 and 8) exhibit strong characteristic emissions in the visible region, whereas Nd(III) (4 and 11) and Yb(III) (12) complexes display NIR luminescence upon irradiation at the ligand band. Moreover, the triplet state of H(2)hqc matches well with the emission level of Eu(III), Tb(III), and Sm(III) ions, which allows the preparation of new optical materials with enhanced luminescence properties.

Testing contamination risk assessment methods for toxic elements from mine waste sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdaal, A.; Jordan, G.; Szilassi, P.; Kiss, J.; Detzky, G.

2012-04-01

Major incidents involving mine waste facilities and poor environmental management practices have left a legacy of thousands of contaminated sites like in the historic mining areas in the Carpathian Basin. Associated environmental risks have triggered the development of new EU environmental legislation to prevent and minimize the effects of such incidents. The Mine Waste Directive requires the risk-based inventory of all mine waste sites in Europe by May 2012. In order to address the mining problems a standard risk-based Pre-selection protocol has been developed by the EU Commission. This paper discusses the heavy metal contamination in acid mine drainage (AMD) for risk assessment (RA) along the Source-Pathway-Receptor chain using decision support methods which are intended to aid national and regional organizations in the inventory and assessment of potentially contaminated mine waste sites. Several recognized methods such as the European Environmental Agency (EEA) standard PRAMS model for soil contamination, US EPA-based AIMSS and Irish HMS-IRC models for RA of abandoned sites are reviewed, compared and tested for the mining waste environment. In total 145 ore mine waste sites have been selected for scientific testing using the EU Pre-selection protocol as a case study from Hungary. The proportion of uncertain to certain responses for a site and for the total number of sites may give an insight of specific and overall uncertainty in the data we use. The Pre-selection questions are efficiently linked to a GIS system as database inquiries using digital spatial data to directly generate answers. Key parameters such as distance to the nearest surface and ground water bodies, to settlements and protected areas are calculated and statistically evaluated using STATGRAPHICS® in order to calibrate the RA models. According to our scientific research results, of the 145 sites 11 sites are the most risky having foundation slope >20o, 57 sites are within distance <500m to the nearest surface water bodies, and 33 sites are within distance <680m to the nearest settlements. Moreover 25 sites lie directly above the 'poor status' ground water bodies and 91 sites are located in the protected Natura2000 sites (distance =0). Analysis of the total score of all sites was performed, resulting in six risk classes, as follows: <21 (class I, 4 sites), 21-31 (class II, 16 sites), 31-42 (class III, 27 sites), 42-54 (class II, 38 sites), 54-66 (class V, 40 sites) and >66 (class VI, 20 sites). The total risk scores and key parameters are provided in separate tables and GIS maps, in order to facilitate interpretation and comparison. Results of the Pre-selection protocol are consistent with those of the screening PRAMS model. KEY WORDS contamination risk assessment, Mine Waste Directive, Pre-selection Protocol, PRA.MS, AIMSS, abandoned mine sites, GIS

Wide disparity of clinical genetics services and EU rare disease research funding across Europe.

PubMed

Lynch, Sally Ann; Borg, Isabella

2016-04-01

The origins of clinical genetics services vary throughout Europe with some emerging from paediatric medicine and others from an academic laboratory setting. In 2011, the cross-border patients' rights directive recommended the creation of European Research Networks (ERNs) to improve patient care throughout EU. In 2013, the EU recommendation on the care for rare diseases came into place. The process of designating EU centres of expertise in rare diseases is being implemented to allow centres to enter ERNs. Hence, this is an opportune time to reflect on the current status of genetic services and research funding throughout Europe as 80 % of rare diseases have a genetic origin. Our aims were to determine (a) whether EU countries are prepared in terms of appropriate clinical genetic staffing to fulfil the European Union Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases (EUCERD) criteria that will allow national centres to be designated as centres of expertise, (b) which EU countries are successful in grant submissions to EU rare disease research funding and (c) country of origin of researchers from the EU presenting their research work as a spoken presentation at the European Society of Human Genetics annual conference. Our results show there is wide disparity of staffing levels per head of population in clinical genetics units throughout Europe. EU rare disease research funding is not being distributed equitably and the opportunity to present research is skewed with many countries not achieving spoken presentations despite abstract submissions. Inequity in the care of patients with rare diseases exists in Europe. Many countries will struggle to designate centres of expertise as their staffing mix and levels will not meet the EUCERD criteria which may prevent them from entering ERNs. The establishment of a small number of centres of expertise centrally, which is welcome, should not occur at the expense of an overall improvement in EU rare disease patient care. Caution should be observed to ensure that the inequity gap that already exists does not widen with the development of ERNs.

Maintenance and Expansion: Modeling Material Stocks and Flows for Residential Buildings and Transportation Networks in the EU25.

PubMed

Wiedenhofer, Dominik; Steinberger, Julia K; Eisenmenger, Nina; Haas, Willi

2015-08-01

Material stocks are an important part of the social metabolism. Owing to long service lifetimes of stocks, they not only shape resource flows during construction, but also during use, maintenance, and at the end of their useful lifetime. This makes them an important topic for sustainable development. In this work, a model of stocks and flows for nonmetallic minerals in residential buildings, roads, and railways in the EU25, from 2004 to 2009 is presented. The changing material composition of the stock is modeled using a typology of 72 residential buildings, four road and two railway types, throughout the EU25. This allows for estimating the amounts of materials in in-use stocks of residential buildings and transportation networks, as well as input and output flows. We compare the magnitude of material demands for expansion versus those for maintenance of existing stock. Then, recycling potentials are quantitatively explored by comparing the magnitude of estimated input, waste, and recycling flows from 2004 to 2009 and in a business-as-usual scenario for 2020. Thereby, we assess the potential impacts of the European Waste Framework Directive, which strives for a significant increase in recycling. We find that in the EU25, consisting of highly industrialized countries, a large share of material inputs are directed at maintaining existing stocks. Proper management of existing transportation networks and residential buildings is therefore crucial for the future size of flows of nonmetallic minerals.

Maintenance and Expansion: Modeling Material Stocks and Flows for Residential Buildings and Transportation Networks in the EU25

PubMed Central

Steinberger, Julia K.; Eisenmenger, Nina; Haas, Willi

2015-01-01

Summary Material stocks are an important part of the social metabolism. Owing to long service lifetimes of stocks, they not only shape resource flows during construction, but also during use, maintenance, and at the end of their useful lifetime. This makes them an important topic for sustainable development. In this work, a model of stocks and flows for nonmetallic minerals in residential buildings, roads, and railways in the EU25, from 2004 to 2009 is presented. The changing material composition of the stock is modeled using a typology of 72 residential buildings, four road and two railway types, throughout the EU25. This allows for estimating the amounts of materials in in‐use stocks of residential buildings and transportation networks, as well as input and output flows. We compare the magnitude of material demands for expansion versus those for maintenance of existing stock. Then, recycling potentials are quantitatively explored by comparing the magnitude of estimated input, waste, and recycling flows from 2004 to 2009 and in a business‐as‐usual scenario for 2020. Thereby, we assess the potential impacts of the European Waste Framework Directive, which strives for a significant increase in recycling. We find that in the EU25, consisting of highly industrialized countries, a large share of material inputs are directed at maintaining existing stocks. Proper management of existing transportation networks and residential buildings is therefore crucial for the future size of flows of nonmetallic minerals. PMID:27524878

How resilient are Europe's inshore fishing communities to change? Differences between the north and the south.

PubMed

Hadjimichael, Maria; Delaney, Alyne; Kaiser, Michel J; Edwards-Jones, Gareth

2013-12-01

One would hypothesize that the Common Fisheries Policy, as the umbrella framework for fisheries management in the EU would have the greatest impact on fishers' communities across Europe. There are, however, biological, economic, social, and political factors, which vary among fishing communities that can affect how these communities react to changes. This paper explores the links between institutional arrangements and ecological dynamics in two European inshore fisheries socio-ecological systems, using a resilience framework. The Mediterranean small-scale fishers do not seem to have been particularly affected by the Common Fisheries Policy regulations but appear affected by competition with the politically strong recreational fishers and the invasion of the rabbit fish population. The inshore fishers along the East coast of Scotland believe that their interests are not as sufficiently protected as the interests of their offshore counterpart. Decisions and initiatives at global, EU, and sometimes national level, tend to take into account those fisheries sectors which have a national economic importance. A socio-ecological analysis can shift the focus from biological and economic aspects to more sustainable long-term delivery of environmental benefits linked to human wellbeing.

Are chemicals in articles an obstacle for reaching environmental goals? - Missing links in EU chemical management.

PubMed

Molander, Linda; Breitholtz, Magnus; Andersson, Patrik L; Rybacka, Aleksandra; Rudén, Christina

2012-10-01

It is widely acknowledged that the management of risks associated with chemicals in articles needs to be improved. The EU environmental policy states that environmental damage should be rectified at source. It is therefore motivated that the risk management of substances in articles also takes particular consideration to those substances identified as posing a risk in different environmental compartments. The primary aim of the present study was to empirically analyze to what extent the regulation of chemicals in articles under REACH is coherent with the rules concerning chemicals in the Sewage Sludge Directive (SSD) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD). We also analyzed the chemical variation of the organic substances regulated under these legislations in relation to the most heavily used chemicals. The results show that 16 of 24 substances used in or potentially present in articles and regulated by the SSD or the WFD are also identified under REACH either as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) or subject to some restrictions. However, for these substances we conclude that there is limited coherence between the legislations, since the identification as an SVHC does not in itself encompass any use restrictions, and the restrictions in REACH are in many cases limited to a particular use, and thus all other uses are allowed. Only a minor part of chemicals in commerce is regulated and these show a chemical variation that deviates from classical legacy pollutants. This warrants new tools to identify potentially hazardous chemicals in articles. We also noted that chemicals monitored in the environment under the WFD deviate in their chemistry from the ones regulated by REACH. In summary, we argue that to obtain improved resource efficiency and a sustainable development it is necessary to minimize the input of chemicals identified as hazardous to health or the environment into articles. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An integrated approach for monitoring efficiency and investments of activated sludge-based wastewater treatment plants at large spatial scale.

PubMed

De Gisi, Sabino; Sabia, Gianpaolo; Casella, Patrizia; Farina, Roberto

2015-08-01

WISE, the Water Information System for Europe, is the web-portal of the European Commission (EU) that disseminates the quality state of the receiving water bodies and the efficiency of the municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in order to monitor advances in the application of both the Water Framework Directive (WFD) as well as the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). With the intention to develop WISE applications, the aim of the work was to define and apply an integrated approach capable of monitoring the efficiency and investments of activated sludge-based WWTPs located in a large spatial area, providing the following outcomes useful to the decision-makers: (i) the identification of critical facilities and their critical processes by means of a Performance Assessment System (PAS), (ii) the choice of the most suitable upgrading actions, through a scenario analysis. (iii) the assessment of the investment costs to upgrade the critical WWTPs and (iv) the prioritization of the critical facilities by means of a multi-criteria approach which includes the stakeholders involvement, along with the integration of some technical, environmental, economic and health aspects. The implementation of the proposed approach to a high number of municipal WWTPs highlighted how the PAS developed was able to identify critical processes with a particular effectiveness in identifying the critical nutrient removal ones. In addition, a simplified approach that considers the cost related to a basic-configuration and those for the WWTP integration, allowed to link the critical processes identified and the investment costs. Finally, the questionnaire for the acquisition of data such as that provided by the Italian Institute of Statistics, the PAS defined and the database on the costs, if properly adapted, may allow for the extension of the integrated approach on an EU-scale by providing useful information to water utilities as well as institutions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

INTRAW, the EU Observatory for raw materials: fostering international cooperation and developing new opportunities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correia, Victor; Allington, Ruth; Keane, Christopher

2016-04-01

A secure supply of raw materials is a European priority that extends beyond country borders and national policies. Recent European initiatives have pioneered the development of an EU strategy on raw materials emphasizing the concept of the "added value chain", which continues to pursue the three pillar strategy to: (1) ensure the fair and sustainable supply of raw materials from international markets, promoting international cooperation with developed and developing countries; (2) foster sustainable supply of raw materials from European sources, and (3) reduce consumption of primary raw materials by increasing resource efficiency and promoting recycling. This contribution presents the Horizon 2020 funded project INTRAW, the objective of which is to establish the European Union's International Observatory for Raw Materials. The creation and maintenance of the European Union's International Observatory for Raw Materials is designed to have a strong impact in two dimensions: 1. To narrow the existing gap in aspects of the raw materials knowledge infrastructure in the EU by providing a link with the same knowledge infrastructure in technologically advanced reference countries. This should contribute to the harmonization of mineral policies all over the EU, by providing data that enables evidence-based policies and appropriate, cost-effective management, planning and adaptation decisions by the public sector. This will benefit businesses, industry and society. The Observatory will also provide to policy makers in the EU and its Member States the data they need to facilitate discussion in multilateral forums. 2. To enable a better alignment of the R&I activities among the individual EU members and international cooperation countries AND between the European Union and international cooperation countries by boosting synergies with international research and innovation programmes. This way the EU's role and scientific capabilities in the raw materials area will be reinforced in the mid-term, and the conditions for sustainable access and supply of raw materials in the EU will benefit from the international cooperation. The authors will describe the key stages of the INTRAW project and explain how it aims to establish (and promote the continuation of) international cooperation at every stage of the raw materials value chain and to build a repository of information and analysis to support the development and strengthening of EU raw materials strategies. Key elements of the value chain upon which the project focuses are: industry and trade; education and outreach; and research and innovation. The roles of geoscientists in delivering the aims and objectives of INTRAW will be emphasised.

A novel strategy to directly fabricate flexible hollow nanofibers with tunable luminescence-electricity-magnetism trifunctionality using one-pot electrospinning.

PubMed

Liu, Yawen; Ma, Qianli; Dong, Xiangting; Yu, Wensheng; Wang, Jinxian; Liu, Guixia

2015-09-21

Novel photoluminescent-electrical-magnetic trifunctional flexible Eu(BA)3phen/PANI/Fe3O4/PVP (BA = benzoic acid, phen = phenanthroline, PANI = polyaniline, PVP = polyvinylpyrrolidone) hollow nanofibers were fabricated by a one-pot electrospinning technique using a specially designed coaxial spinneret for the first time. Very different from the traditional preparation process of hollow fibers via coaxial electrospinning, which needs to firstly fabricate the coaxial fibers and followed by removing the core through high-temperature calcination or solvent extraction, in our current study, no core spinning solution is used to directly fabricate hollow nanofibers. The morphology and properties of the obtained hollow nanofibers were characterized in detail using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, a 4-point probe resistivity measurement system and vibrating sample magnetometry. The Eu(BA)3phen/PANI/Fe3O4/PVP hollow nanofibers, with outer diameters of ca. 305 nm and inner diameters of about 140 nm, exhibit excellent photoluminescence performance, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties. Fluorescence emission peaks of Eu(3+) are observed in the Eu(BA)3phen/PANI/Fe3O4/PVP hollow nanofibers and assigned to the (5)D0→(7)F0 (580 nm), (5)D0→(7)F1 (592 nm) and (5)D0→(7)F2 (616 nm) energy level transitions of Eu(3+) ions, and the (5)D0→(7)F2 hypersensitive transition at 616 nm is the predominant emission peak. The electrical conductivity of the hollow nanofibers reaches up to the order of 10(-3) S cm(-1). The luminescent intensity, electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of the hollow nanofibers can be tuned by adding various amounts of Eu(BA)3phen, PANI and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The new-type photoluminescent-electrical-magnetic trifunctional flexible hollow nanofibers hold potential for a variety of applications, including electromagnetic interference shielding, microwave absorption, molecular electronics and biomedicine. The design conception and synthetic strategy developed in this study are of universal significance to construct other multifunctional hollow one-dimensional nanomaterials.

Is 48 hours enough for Obstetrics and Gynaecology training in Europe?

PubMed Central

Rose, K.; Van de Venne, M.; Abakke, A.J.M.; Romanek, K.; Redecha, M.

2012-01-01

The European Working Time Directive, implemented by the European Union (EU) in 1993, was adopted in the medical profession to improve patient safety as well as the working lives of doctors. The Directive reduced the average amount of hours trainee doctors worked to 48 hours per week. However, its adoption has varied throughout the EU. Its potential effect on both the quality and total amount of hours of training has caused concern. This monograph presents data on Obstetrics and Gynaecology training in Europe obtained from several of the European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics & Gynaecology’s (ENTOG) surveys. The monograph demonstrates large variations in training and explains the difficulties in ascertaining whether 48 hours of training a week is sufficient to become an Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist in Europe. PMID:24753895

SANIST: optimization of a technology for compound identification based on the European Union directive with applications in forensic, pharmaceutical and food analyses.

PubMed

Cristoni, Simone; Dusi, Guglielmo; Brambilla, Paolo; Albini, Adriana; Conti, Matteo; Brambilla, Maura; Bruno, Antonino; Di Gaudio, Francesca; Ferlin, Luca; Tazzari, Valeria; Mengozzi, Silvia; Barera, Simone; Sialer, Carlos; Trenti, Tommaso; Cantu, Marco; Rossi Bernardi, Luigi; Noonan, Douglas M

2017-01-01

Electrospray Ionization and collision induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry are usually employed to obtain compound identification through a mass spectra match. Different algorithms have been developed for this purpose (for example the nist match algorithm). These approaches compare the tandem mass spectra of the unknown analyte with the tandem mass spectra spectra of known compounds inserted in a database. The compounds are usually identified on the basis of spectral match value associated with a probability of recognition. However, this approach is not usually applied to multiple reaction monitoring transition spectra achieved by means of triple quadrupole apparatus, mainly due to the lack of a transition spectra database. The Surface Activated Chemical Ionization-Electrospray-NIST Bayesian model database search (SANIST) platform has been recently developed for new potential metabolite biomarker discovery, to confirm their identity and to use them for clinical and diagnostic applications. Here, we present an improved version of the SANIST platform that extends its application to forensic, pharmaceutical, and food analysis studies, where the compound identification rules are strict. The European Union (EU) has set directives for compound identification (EU directive 2002/657/EC). We have applied the SANIST method to identification of 11-nor-9-carboxytetrahydro-cannabinol in urine samples (an example of a forensic application), circulating levels of the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus in blood (an example of a pharmaceutical application) and glyphosate in fruit juice (an example of a food analysis application) that meet the EU directive requirements. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An overview on the advanced oxidation processes applied for the treatment of water pollutants defined in the recently launched Directive 2013/39/EU.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Ana R; Nunes, Olga C; Pereira, Manuel F R; Silva, Adrián M T

2015-02-01

Environmental pollution is a recognized issue of major concern since a wide range of contaminants has been found in aquatic environment at ngL(-1) to μgL(-1) levels. In the year 2000, a strategy was defined to identify the priority substances concerning aquatic ecosystems, followed by the definition of environmental quality standards (EQS) in 2008. Recently it was launched the Directive 2013/39/EU that updates the water framework policy highlighting the need to develop new water treatment technologies to deal with such problem. This review summarizes the data published in the last decade regarding the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to treat priority compounds and certain other pollutants defined in this Directive, excluding the inorganic species (cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and their derivatives). The Directive 2013/39/EU includes several pesticides (aldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, dicofol, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan, isodrin, heptachlor, lindane, pentachlorophenol, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, dichlorvos, atrazine, simazine, terbutryn, diuron, isoproturon, trifluralin, cypermethrin, alachlor), solvents (dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenol and octylphenol, as well as the three compounds included in the recommendation for the first watch list of substances (diclofenac, 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17-beta-estradiol (E2)). Some particular pesticides (aclonifen, bifenox, cybutryne, quinoxyfen), organotin compounds (tributyltin), dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, brominated diphenylethers, hexabromocyclododecanes and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate are also defined in this Directive, but studies dealing with AOPs are missing. AOPs are recognized tools to destroy recalcitrant compounds or, at least, to transform them into biodegradable species. Diuron (a phenylurea herbicide) and atrazine (from the triazine chemical class) are the most studied pesticides from Directive 2013/39/EU. Fenton-based processes are the most frequently applied to treat priority compounds in water and their efficiency typically increases with the operating temperature as well as under UV or solar light. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is the second most used treatment to destroy pollutants defined in the Directive. Ozone alone promotes the partial oxidation of pollutants, and an increase in the effluent biodegradability, but complete mineralization of pollutants is difficult. To overcome this drawback, ozonation has been combined with heterogeneous catalysts, addition of H2O2, other AOPs (such as photocatalysis) or membrane technologies. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pinhole shifting lifetime imaging microscopy

PubMed Central

Ramshesh, Venkat K.; Lemasters, John J.

2009-01-01

Lifetime imaging microscopy is a powerful tool to probe biological phenomena independent of luminescence intensity and fluorophore concentration. We describe time-resolved imaging of long-lifetime luminescence with an unmodified commercial laser scanning confocal/multiphoton microscope. The principle of the measurement is displacement of the detection pinhole to collect delayed luminescence from a position lagging the rasting laser beam. As proof of principle, luminescence from microspheres containing europium (Eu3+), a red emitting probe, was compared to that of short-lifetime green-fluorescing microspheres and/or fluorescein and rhodamine in solution. Using 720-nm two-photon excitation and a pinhole diameter of 1 Airy unit, the short-lifetime fluorescence of fluorescein, rhodamine and green microspheres disappeared much more rapidly than the long-lifetime phosphorescence of Eu3+ microspheres as the pinhole was repositioned in the lagging direction. In contrast, repositioning of the pinhole in the leading and orthogonal directions caused equal loss of short- and long-lifetime luminescence. From measurements at different lag pinhole positions, a lifetime of 270 μs was estimated for the Eu3+ microspheres, consistent with independent measurements. This simple adaptation is the basis for quantitative 3-D lifetime imaging microscopy. PMID:19123648

A revaluation of the cultural dimension of disability policy in the European Union: the impact of digitization and web accessibility.

PubMed

Ferri, Delia; Giannoumis, G Anthony

2014-01-01

Reflecting the commitments undertaken by the EU through the conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the European Disability Strategy 2010–2020 not only gives a prominent position to accessibility, broadly interpreted, but also suggests an examination of the obligations for access to cultural goods and services. The European Disability Strategy 2010–2020 expressly acknowledges that EU action will support national activities to make sports, leisure, cultural and recreational organizations and activities accessible, and use the possibilities for copyright exceptions in the Directive 2001/29/EC (Infosoc Directive). This article discusses to what extent the EU has realized the principle of accessibility and the right to access cultural goods and services envisaged in the UNCRPD. Previous research has yet to explore how web accessibility and digitization interact with the cultural dimension of disability policy in the European Union. This examination attempts to fill this gap by discussing to what extent the European Union has put this cultural dimension into effect and how web accessibility policies and the digitization of cultural materials influence these efforts.

Luminescence properties and color identification of Eu doped Ca3(PO4)2 phosphors calcined in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Chao; Zhu, Yangguang; Xu, Chuanyan; Yang, Lei; Li, Yadong

2017-09-01

The Ca3(PO4)2：Eu (TCP) phosphor was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction in air atmosphere. X-ray powder diffraction(XRD) analysis indicates that the α-TCP↔β-TCP phase transition takes place under different calcination and cooling conditions. The luminescence properties of the two different phases of TCP were discussed according to the luminescence spectra during the heating and cooling transition. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of β-TCP phase located at the red region, α-TCP phase at bluish-green region because of the coexistence of Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions. The color-tunable emission of the products could also be directly observed under UV lamp. Pure red and bluish-green-emitting particles were observed respectively for the pure β-TCP phase and α-TCP phase samples whereas bluish-green and red mixture emitting particles were traced for the α-TCP /β-TCP phase co-existence samples. Therefore, results of this study suggested that Eu ion could be used as a spectroscopic probe to qualitatively identify the crystalline phase of TCP by a simple and convenient way to observe the color-tunable emission of the samples when irradiating it under 365 nm UV lamp.

Doping β-Ga2O3 with europium: influence of the implantation and annealing temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peres, M.; Lorenz, K.; Alves, E.; Nogales, E.; Méndez, B.; Biquard, X.; Daudin, B.; Víllora, E. G.; Shimamura, K.

2017-08-01

β-Ga2O3 bulk single crystals were doped by ion implantation at temperatures from room temperature to 1000 °C, using a 300 keV Europium beam with a fluence of 1  ×  1015 at cm-2. Rising the implantation temperature from room temperature to 400-600 °C resulted in a significant increase of the substitutional Eu fraction and of the number of Eu ions in the 3+  charge state as well as in a considerable decrease of implantation damage. Eu is found in both charge states 2+  and 3+  and their relative fractions are critically dependent on the implantation and annealing temperature, suggesting that defects play an important role in stabilizing one of the charge states. The damage recovery during post-implant annealing is a complex process and typically defect levels first increase for intermediate annealing temperatures and a significant recovery of the crystal only starts around 1000 °C. Cathodoluminescence spectra are dominated by the sharp Eu3+ related intra-ionic 4f transition lines in the red spectral region. They show a strong increase of the emission intensity with increasing annealing temperature, in particular for samples implanted at elevated temperature, indicating the optical activation of Eu3+ ions. However, no direct correlation of emission intensity and Eu3+ fraction was found, again pointing to the important role of defects on the physical properties of these luminescent materials.

Magnetic and Fermi Surface Properties of EuGa4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Ai; Hiranaka, Yuichi; Hedo, Masato; Nakama, Takao; Miura, Yasunao; Tsutsumi, Hiroki; Mori, Akinobu; Ishida, Kazuhiro; Mitamura, Katsuya; Hirose, Yusuke; Sugiyama, Kiyohiro; Honda, Fuminori; Settai, Rikio; Takeuchi, Tetsuya; Hagiwara, Masayuki; Matsuda, Tatsuma D.; Yamamoto, Etsuji; Haga, Yoshinori; Matsubayashi, Kazuyuki; Uwatoko, Yoshiya; Harima, Hisatomo; Ōnuki, Yoshichika

2013-10-01

We grew a high-quality single crystal EuGa4 with the tetragonal structure by the Ga self-flux method, and measured the electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, specific heat, thermoelectric power and de Haas--van Alphen (dHvA) effect, together with the electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power under pressure. EuGa4 is found to be a Eu-divalent compound without anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility in the paramagnetic state and to reveal the same magnetization curve between H \\parallel [100] and [001] in the antiferromagnetic state, where the antiferromagnetic easy-axis is oriented along the [100] direction below a Néel temperature TN=16.5 K. The magnetization curve is discussed on the basis of a simple two-sublattice model. The Fermi surface in the paramagnetic state was clarified from the results of a dHvA experiment for EuGa4 and an energy band calculation for a non-4f reference compound SrGa4, which consists of a small ellipsoidal hole--Fermi surface and a compensated cube-like electron--Fermi surface with vacant space in center. We observed an anomaly in the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power at TCDW=150 K under 2 GPa. This might correspond to an emergence of the charge density wave (CDW). The similar phenomenon was also observed in EuAl4 at ambient pressure. We discussed the CDW phenomenon on the basis of the present peculiar Fermi surfaces.

Ocean gliders as key component within the AORAC-SA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrera, C.; Hernandez Brito, J.; Castro, A.; Rueda, M. J.; Llinas, O.

2016-02-01

The Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance Coordination and Support Action (AORAC-SA) is designed to provide scientific, technical and logistical support to the EU in developing and implementing transAtlantic Marine Research Cooperation between the European Union, the United States of America and Canada. The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) is carried out within the framework of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AORA) as outlined in the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation (May 2013). The CSA will be responsible for the organization of expert and stakeholder meetings, workshops and conferences required by the AORA and related to identified research priorities support actions and other initiatives as they arise, taking into account related Horizon 2020 supported transAtlantic projects and on-going national and EU collaborative projects. The AORAC-SA support and governance structure comprises a Secretariat and Management Team, guided by a high-level Operational Board, representative of the major European Marine Research Programming and Funding Organizations as well as those of the USA and Canada. As example of this research cooperative framework, ocean gliders have become nowadays a common, innovative and sustainable ocean-observations tool for the Atlantic basin, linking research groups, govermental institutions and private companies from both sides in terms of technical developments, transatlantic missions in partnership, training forums, etc. aiming to develop common practices and protocols for a better ocean resources management and understanding. Within this context, the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN), as AORAC-SA partner, is working on specific actions like ocean glider observations programs (endurance line) by AtlantOS project (www.atlantos-h2020.eu), related new technical developments by NeXOS FP-7 project (www.nexosproject.eu) and a yearly International Glider School forum hosting (www.gliderschool.eu).

Rare earth (Eu{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+}) mesoporous hybrids with calix[4]arene derivative covalently linking MCM-41: Physical characterization and photoluminescence property

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li Yajuan; Yan Bing, E-mail: byan@tongji.edu.cn; Wang Li

2011-09-15

MCM-41 mesoporous silica has been functionalized with two kinds of macrocylic calixarene derivatives Calix[4] and Calix[4]Br (Calix[4]=P-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, Calix[4]Br=5.11,17.23-tetra-tert-butyl-25.27-bihydroxy- 26.28-bibromopropoxycalix[4]arene) through condensation approach of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant as a template. Novel organic-inorganic mesoporous luminescent hybrid containing RE{sup 3+} (Eu{sup 3+}, Tb{sup 3+}) complexes covalently attached to the functionalized ordered mesoporous MCM-41, which are designated as RE-Calix[4]-MCM-41 and RE-Calix[4]Br-MCM-41, respectively, are obtained by sol-gel process. It is found that they all have high surface area, uniform in the mesostructure and good crystallinity. Measurement of the photoluminescence properties show the mesoporous material covalently bonded Tb{supmore » 3+} complexes (Tb-Calix[4]-MCM-41 and Tb-Calix[4]Br-MCM-41) exhibit the stronger characteristic emission of Tb{sup 3+} and longer lifetime than the corresponding Eu-containing materials Eu-Calix[4]-MCM-41 and Eu-Calix[4]Br-MCM-41 due to the triplet state energy of modified organic ligands Calix[4]-Si and Calix[4]Br-Si match with the emissive energy level of Tb{sup 3+} very well. - Graphical abstract: MCM-41 mesoporous silica is functionalized with two kinds of macrocylic calixarene derivatives and luminescent organic-inorganic mesoporous hybrids containing Ln{sup 3+} complexes covalently attached to the functionalized ordered mesoporous MCM-41. Highlights: > Novel linkages of functionalized calixarene derivative. > New rare earth mesoporous hybrids. > Luminescence in visible region.« less

In vivo characterization of a smart MRI agent that displays an inverse response to calcium concentration.

PubMed

Mamedov, Ilgar; Canals, Santiago; Henig, Jörg; Beyerlein, Michael; Murayama, Yusuke; Mayer, Hermann A; Logothetis, Nikos K; Angelovski, Goran

2010-12-15

Contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that exhibit sensitivity toward specific ions or molecules represent a challenging but attractive direction of research. Here a Gd(3+) complex linked to an aminobis(methylenephosphonate) group for chelating Ca(2+) was synthesized and investigated. The longitudinal relaxivity (r(1)) of this complex decreases during the relaxometric titration with Ca(2+) from 5.76 to 3.57 mM(-1) s(-1) upon saturation. The r(1) is modulated by changes in the hydration number, which was confirmed by determination of the luminescence emission lifetimes of the analogous Eu(3+) complex. The initial in vivo characterization of this responsive contrast agent was performed by means of electrophysiology and MRI experiments. The investigated complex is fully biocompatible, having no observable effect on neuronal function after administration into the brain ventricles or parenchyma. Distribution studies demonstrated that the diffusivity of this agent is significantly lower compared with that of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA).

Correlation of track irregularities and vehicle responses based on measured data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karis, Tomas; Berg, Mats; Stichel, Sebastian; Li, Martin; Thomas, Dirk; Dirks, Babette

2018-06-01

Track geometry quality and dynamic vehicle response are closely related, but do not always correspond with each other in terms of maximum values and standard deviations. This can often be seen to give poor results in analyses with correlation coefficients or regression analysis. Measured data from both the EU project DynoTRAIN and the Swedish Green Train (Gröna Tåget) research programme is used in this paper to evaluate track-vehicle response for three vehicles. A single degree of freedom model is used as an inspiration to divide track-vehicle interaction into three parts, which are analysed in terms of correlation. One part, the vertical axle box acceleration divided by vehicle speed squared (?) and the second spatial derivative of the vertical track irregularities (?), is shown to be the weak link with lower correlation coefficients than the other parts. Future efforts should therefore be directed towards investigating the relation between axle box accelerations and track irregularity second derivatives.

Effect of ambient oxygen on the photoluminescence of sol-gel-derived nanocrystalline ZrO2:Eu,Nb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puust, Laurits; Kiisk, Valter; Eltermann, Marko; Mändar, Hugo; Saar, Rando; Lange, Sven; Sildos, Ilmo; Dolgov, Leonid; Matisen, Leonard; Jaaniso, Raivo

2017-06-01

The development of inorganic nanophosphors is an active research field due to many applications, including optical gas sensing materials. We found a systematic dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) of europium (Eu3+) impurity ions in zirconia (ZrO2) nanocrystals on the ambient oxygen concentration in a O2/N2 mixture at normal pressure. Europium-doped ZrO2 powders were synthesized via a sol-gel route. Heat-treatment at 1200 °C resulted in a well-developed monoclinic phase (XRD crystallite size of ~50 nm) and an intense PL of Eu3+ ions residing in the dominant phase (Eu3+ was excited directly at 395 or 464 nm). Co-doping with niobium resulted in a narrowing of the PL emission lines. Only Nb5+ was detected by XPS and is believed to charge-compensate Eu3+ activators throughout the material leading to a more regular crystal lattice. At room temperature, the exposure to oxygen suppressed the Eu3+ fluorescence, whereas, at elevated temperatures (300 °C), the effect was reversed. At 300 °C and under a focused continuous laser beam, a substantial PL response (>50%) was achieved when switching 100% of N2 for 100% of O2. PL decay kinetics clearly showed that at 300 °C fluorescence quenching centers were induced within the material by oxygen desorption. The relatively fast (<5 min) and sub-linear PL response to the changes of oxygen concentration shows that ZrO2:Eu,Nb is a promising PL-based oxygen sensing material over a wide-range of oxygen pressures.

Rationalising polymer selection for supersaturated film forming systems produced by an aerosol spray for the transdermal delivery of methylphenidate.

PubMed

Edwards, A; Qi, S; Liu, F; Brown, M B; McAuley, W J

2017-05-01

Film forming systems offer a number of advantages for topical and transdermal drug delivery, in particular enabling production of a supersaturated state which can greatly improve drug absorption and bioavailability. However the suitability of individual film forming polymers to stabilise the supersaturated state and optimise delivery of drugs is not well understood. This study reports the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the solubility of methylphenidate both as the free base and as the hydrochloride salt in two polymethacrylate copolymers, Eudragit RS (EuRS) and Eudragit E (EuE) and relates this to the ability of films formed using these polymers to deliver methylphenidate across a model membrane. EuRS provided greater methylphenidate delivery when the drug was formulated as the free base in comparison EuE because the lower solubility of the drug in EuRS provided a higher degree of drug saturation in the polymeric film. In contrast EuE provided greater delivery of methylphenidate hydrochloride as EuRS could not prevent its crystallisation from a supersaturated state. Methylphenidate flux across the membrane could be directly related to degree of saturation of the drug in the film formulation as estimated by the drug solubility in the individual polymers demonstrating the importance of drug solubility in the polymer included in film forming systems for topical/transdermal drug delivery. In addition DSC has been demonstrated to be a useful tool for determining the solubility of drugs in polymers used in film forming systems and the approaches outlined here are likely to be useful for predicting the suitability of polymers for particular drugs in film forming transdermal drug delivery systems. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Synthesis and novel luminescence properties of one-dimension BaMoO{sub 4}:Ln{sup 3+} nanostructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Yuping; Li, Mingxia; Pan, Kai

2015-12-15

Highlights: • String BaMoO{sub 4}:Ln{sup 3+} nanobeans were prepared by a hydrothermal method. • The Decay dynamics were performed to study the photoluminescence of the BaMoO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} nanobeans. • For BaMoO{sub 4}:Er{sup 3+}/Eu{sup 3+}, the {sup 2}P{sub 3/2} → {sup 4}I{sub 11/2} and {sup 2}H{sub 11/2}/{sup 4}S{sub 3/2} → {sup 4}I{sub 15/2} transitions were observed. - Abstract: String BaMoO{sub 4}:Ln{sup 3+} (Ln = Eu, Tb, Er, and Gd) nanobeans were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and Raman spectrometer. Under direct excitation in themore » charge transfer absorption band, concentration quenching phenomenon occurs and decay dynamics were performed to study the photoluminescence of the string BaMoO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} nanobeans. In the emission spectra of BaMoO{sub 4}:Er{sup 3+}/Eu{sup 3+} under 274 nm excitation, the {sup 2}P{sub 3/2} → {sup 4}I{sub 11/2}, {sup 2}H{sub 11/2} → {sup 4}I{sub 15/2}, and {sup 4}S{sub 3/2} → {sup 4}I{sub 15/2} transitions from Er{sup 3+} ions were observed for the first time. In addition, the photoluminescence properties of BaMoO{sub 4}:Tb{sup 3+}/Eu{sup 3+} and BaMoO{sub 4}:Gd{sup 3+}/Eu{sup 3+} were also investigated.« less

National action for European public health research.

PubMed

McCarthy, Mark; Zeegers Paget, Dineke; Barnhoorn, Floris

2013-11-01

Research and innovation are the basis for improving health and health services. The European Union (EU) supports research through multi-annual programmes. Public Health Innovation and Research in Europe (PHIRE) investigated how European countries cooperate for action in public health research. In PHIRE, following stakeholder workshops and consultations, a national report on public health research was created for 24 of 30 European countries. The report template asked five questions, on national links to European public health research and on national research through the Structural Funds and Ministry of Health. The national reports were assessed with framework analysis, and the country actions were classified strong/partial/weak or none. There were responses to the five questions sufficient for this analysis for between 14 and 20 countries Six countries had public health research aligned with the EU, while three (large) countries were reported not aligned. Only two countries expressed strong engagement in developing public health research within Horizon 2020: most Ministries of Health had no position and only had contact with EU health research through other ministries. Only two countries reported use of the 2007-13 Structural Funds for public health research. While seven Ministries of Health led research from their own funds, or linked with Ministries of Science in six, the Ministries of Health of seven countries were reported not to be involved in public health research. Ministries of Health and stakeholders are poorly engaged in developing public health research, with the Horizon 2020 research programme, or the Structural Funds. The European Commission should give more attention to coordination of public health research with member states if it is to give best value to European citizens.

Effect of structural defects on the magnetic properties of the EuBaCo1.90O5.36 single crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arbuzova, T. I.; Naumov, S. V.; Telegin, S. V.

2018-01-01

The effect of structural defects in cobalt and oxygen sublattices with the constant average oxidation level 3+ of all cobalt ions on the magnetic properties of the EuBaCo1.90O5.36 single crystal has been studied. The magnetic properties of the single crystal and the polycrystalline sample of the corresponding composition are compared in the range T = 200-650 K. The results show that the cobalt-deficient EuBaCo2- x O5.5-δ samples demonstrate a three-dimensional XY ferromagnetic ordering of magnetic sublattices. The values of the effective magnetic moment at T > 480 K indicate the existence of the IS and HS states of Co3+ ions. The large difference of values of μeff of the EuBaCo1.90O5.36 single crystal and polycrystal can be due to that the magnetic ion spins lie in plane ab. The magnetic field directed along plane ab substantially influences the magnetic ordering at T < 300 K.

Novel sol-gel precursors for thin mesoporous eu(3+)-doped silica coatings as efficient luminescent materials.

PubMed

Feinle, Andrea; Lavoie-Cardinal, Flavie; Akbarzadeh, Johanna; Peterlik, Herwig; Adlung, Matthias; Wickleder, Claudia; Hüsing, Nicola

2012-10-09

Europium(III) ions containing mesoporous silica coatings have been prepared via a solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) approach of different single-source precursors (SSPs) in the presence of Pluronic P123 as a structure-directing agent, using the spin-coating process. A deliberate tailoring of the chemical composition of the porous coatings with various Si:Eu ratios was achieved by processing mixtures of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and Eu(3+)-coordinated SSPs. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses demonstrate that the thin metal oxide-doped silica coatings consist of a porous network with a short-range order of the pore structure, even at high europium(III) loadings. Furthermore, luminescence properties were investigated at different temperatures and different degrees of Eu(3+) contents. The photoluminescence spectra clearly show characteristic emission peaks corresponding to the (5)D0 → (7)FJ (J = 0-5) transitions resulting in a red luminescence visible by the eyes, although the films have a very low thickness (150-200 nm).

Support for international trade law: The US and the EU compared

PubMed Central

Eckhardt, Jappe; Elsig, Manfred

2015-01-01

In this article we compare United States and European Union support for bilateral and multilateral international trade law. We assess the support for international law of both trading blocs by focusing on the following four dimensions: leadership, consent, compliance and internalization. Although we find strong support for international trade law from both the US and the EU in general, we also witness some variation, most notably in relation to the design of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) and compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) law. Turning to explaining these (moderate) differences, we argue that outcomes in US trade policy can best be explained by a domestic political factor, namely the direct influence of interest groups. Although the involvement of societal interests also goes a long way in explaining EU behavior, it does not tell the entire story. We posit that, in EU trade policy, institutions are a particular conditioning factor that needs to be stressed. Moreover, we suggest that foreign policy considerations in managing trade relations have characterized EU’s support for international trade law. PMID:27867316

75 FR 22625 - Notice of Realty Action; Direct Sale of Public Land in Jerome County, ID

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-29

... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLIDT03000-L14300000.EU0000; IDI-35577] Notice of Realty Action; Direct Sale of Public Land in Jerome County, ID AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Realty Action. SUMMARY: To resolve an unintentional trespass, a...

Offsets and conservation of the species of the EU habitats and birds directives.

PubMed

Regnery, Baptiste; Couvet, Denis; Kerbiriou, Christian

2013-12-01

Biodiversity offsets are intended to achieve no net loss of biodiversity due to economic and human development. A variety of biodiversity components are addressed by offset policies. It is required that loss of protected species due to development be offset under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives in Europe. We call this type of offset a species-equality offset because the offset pertains to the same species affected by the development project. Whether species equality can be achieved by offset design is unknown. We addressed this gap by reviewing derogation files (i.e., specific files that describe mitigation measures to ensure no net loss under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives) from 85 development projects in France (2009-2010). We collected information on type of effect (reversible vs. irreversible) and characteristics of affected and offset sites (i.e., types of species, total area). We analyzed how the type of effect and the affected-site characteristics influenced the occurrence of offset measures. The proportion of species targeted by offset measures (i.e., offset species) increased with the irreversibility of the effect of development and the conservation status of the species affected by development (i.e., affected species). Not all effects on endangered species (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List) were offset; on average, 82% of affected species would be offset. Twenty-six percent of species of least concern were offset species. Thirty-five percent of development projects considered all affected species in their offset measures. Species richness was much lower in offset sites than in developed sites even after offset proposals. For developed areas where species richness was relatively high before development, species richness at offset sites was 5-10 times lower. The species-equality principle appears to have been applied only partially in offset policies, as in the EU directives. We suggest the application of this principle through offsets is highly important for the long-term conservation of biodiversity in Europe. Compensaciones y Conservación de las Especies de las Directivas de Hábitats y Aves de la UE. © 2013 Society for Conservation Biology.

Hepatitis C: The beginning of the end-key elements for successful European and national strategies to eliminate HCV in Europe.

PubMed

Papatheodoridis, G V; Hatzakis, A; Cholongitas, E; Baptista-Leite, R; Baskozos, I; Chhatwal, J; Colombo, M; Cortez-Pinto, H; Craxi, A; Goldberg, D; Gore, C; Kautz, A; Lazarus, J V; Mendão, L; Peck-Radosavljevic, M; Razavi, H; Schatz, E; Tözün, N; van Damme, P; Wedemeyer, H; Yazdanpanah, Y; Zuure, F; Manns, M P

2018-03-01

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem in the European Union (EU). An estimated 5.6 million Europeans are chronically infected with a wide range of variation in prevalence across European Union countries. Although HCV continues to spread as a largely "silent pandemic," its elimination is made possible through the availability of the new antiviral drugs and the implementation of prevention practices. On 17 February 2016, the Hepatitis B & C Public Policy Association held the first EU HCV Policy Summit in Brussels. This summit was an historic event as it was the first high-level conference focusing on the elimination of HCV at the European Union level. The meeting brought together the main stakeholders in the field of HCV: clinicians, patient advocacy groups, representatives of key institutions and regional bodies from across European Union; it served as a platform for one of the most significant disease elimination campaigns in Europe and culminated in the presentation of the HCV Elimination Manifesto, calling for the elimination of HCV in Europe by 2030. The launch of the Elimination Manifesto provides a starting point for action in order to make HCV and its elimination in Europe an explicit public health priority, to ensure that patients, civil society groups and other relevant stakeholders will be directly involved in developing and implementing HCV elimination strategies, to pay particular attention to the links between hepatitis C and social marginalization and to introduce a European Hepatitis Awareness Week. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Wet-weather urban discharges: implications from adopting the revised European Directive concerning the quality of bathing water.

PubMed

David, L M; Matos, J S

2005-01-01

Wet weather urban discharges are responsible for bathing water contamination. The proposal for a revised EU Directive concerning the quality of bathing water imposes significantly more stringent requirements for the management of bathing water quality, with particularly important repercussions on beaches subjected to short-term pollution incidents. The paper reviews the aspects from EU legislation most directly related to the problem of wet-weather discharges, placing special emphasis on the recent revision process of the Directive on bathing water quality, and evaluates the benefits of some potential solutions based on continuous modelling of a combined sewer system. Increasing the sewer system storage capacity or the STP hydraulic capacity may substantially reduce the untreated discharge volumes, but spill frequency reductions under 2 to 3 spill days per bathing season will hardly be achieved. Results show the severe strains that local rainfall patterns would place on compliance with the Commission's proposal for a revised Directive and highlight the importance of the changes introduced in the amended proposal recently approved by the Council, making it less prescriptive if adequate measures are adopted to prevent bathers' exposure to short-term pollution incidents.

Connecting the Dots: Linking Creativity, Synthesis Skills, and the Students' Anxiety about the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Susnea, Ioan; Pecheanu, Emilia; Dumitriu, Luminita; Cocu, Adina

2017-01-01

In the past few years we have participated in several EU funded projects, aimed to create the educational content and auxiliary ICT tools to support the development of some essential soft skills of the students: the creativity, and the ability to write syntheses of the ideas extracted from various sources. In this context, we produced an easy to…

The Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation may skew the conclusions of pharmacological and behavioural studies.

PubMed

Macrì, Simone; Ceci, Chiara; Altabella, Luisa; Canese, Rossella; Laviola, Giovanni

2013-01-01

All laboratory animals shall be provided some form of environmental enrichment (EE) in the nearest future (Directive 2010/63/EU). Displacing standard housing with EE entails the possibility that data obtained under traditional housing may be reconsidered. Specifically, while EE often contrasts the abnormalities of consolidated disease models, it also indirectly demonstrates that their validity depends on housing conditions. We mimicked a situation in which the consequences of a novel pharmacological compound were addressed before and after the adoption of the Directive. We sub-chronically exposed standard- or EE-reared adolescent CD1 mice (postnatal days 23-33) to the synthetic compound JWH-018, and evaluated its short- and long-term potential cannabinoid properties on: weight gain, locomotion, analgesia, motor coordination, body temperature, brain metabolism ((1)H MRI/MRS), anxiety- and depressive-related behaviours. While several parameters are modulated by JWH-018 independently of housing, other effects are environmentally mediated. The transition from standard housing to EE shall be carefully monitored.

The European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics Policy Statement No. 6.1: Recommended Guidelines on National Registration Schemes for Medical Physicists.

PubMed

Christofides, Stelios; Isidoro, Jorge; Pesznyak, Csilla; Bumbure, Lada; Cremers, Florian; Schmidt, Werner F O

2016-01-01

This EFOMP Policy Statement is an update of Policy Statement No. 6 first published in 1994. The present version takes into account the European Union Parliament and Council Directive 2013/55/EU that amends Directive 2005/36/EU on the recognition of professional qualifications and the European Union Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM laying down the basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation. The European Commission Radiation Protection Report No. 174, Guidelines on Medical Physics Expert and the EFOMP Policy Statement No. 12.1, Recommendations on Medical Physics Education and Training in Europe 2014, are also taken into consideration. The EFOMP National Member Organisations are encouraged to update their Medical Physics registration schemes where these exist or to develop registration schemes taking into account the present version of this EFOMP Policy Statement (Policy Statement No. 6.1"Recommended Guidelines on National Registration Schemes for Medical Physicists"). Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Young people's perceptions of tobacco packaging: a comparison of EU Tobacco Products Directive & Ireland's Standardisation of Tobacco Act.

PubMed

Babineau, Kate; Clancy, Luke

2015-06-05

To measure young people's perceptions of tobacco packaging according to two current pieces of legislation: The EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Ireland's Public Health (Standardisation of Tobacco Products) Act. Within-subject experimental cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of secondary school students. School-based pen and paper survey. 27 secondary schools across Ireland, randomly stratified for size, geographic location, gender, religious affiliation and school-level socioeconomic status. Data were collected between March and May 2014. 1378 fifth year secondary school students aged 16-17 in Ireland. Young people's perceptions of attractiveness, health risk and smoker characteristics of packs according to EU and Irish branding and packaging guidelines. Packs with more branding elements were thought to be healthier than standardised packs for Silk Cut (χ(2)=158.58, p<0.001), Marlboro (χ(2)=113.65, p<0.001), and Benson and Hedges (χ(2)=137.95, p<0.001) brands. Generalized estimating equation binary regressions found that gender was a significant predictor of pack attractiveness for Silk Cut, with females being more likely to find the EU packs attractive (β=-0.45, p=0.007). Gender was a significant predictor for females with regards to the perceived popularity of the Silk Cut brand (β=-0.37, p=0.03). The removal of brand identifiers, including colour, font and embossing, reduces the perceived appeal of cigarette packs for young people across all three tested brands. Packs standardised according to Irish legislation are perceived as less attractive, less healthy and smoked by less popular people than packs which conform to the EU TPD 2014 guidelines. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Local atomic arrangement and scintillation properties of Eu- and Ce-doped NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Novais, S.M.V., E-mail: suellen.mvn@gmail.com; Macedo, Z.S.

2016-01-15

Direct determination of rare earth location and local environment in NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7} are presented. Undoped and Ln-doped NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7} (Ln=Eu, Ce) were produced via PVA-assisted sol–gel method. Lattice parameters were determined from Rietveld refinement, showing monoclinic structure. XAS results suggested Eu{sup 3+} and Ce{sup 3+} are incorporated into NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7} host in substitution to Y{sup 3+} site, with first coordination shell formed by six oxygen ions. Measurements at Eu edge showed a single peak in R space for Eu–O distribution. In this case, uniform interatomic distances implied to absence of significant disorder. Analysis at Ce edge presentedmore » different behavior, with Ce–O distribution characterized by a split peak in R space. Nearest neighborhood was found to be distributed with Ce occupying an off-center position in Y site. Under X-ray excitation, {sup 5}D{sub 0}→{sup 7}F{sub J} emission lines of Eu{sup 3+} were identified for NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Eu. NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Ce presented a broad emission formed by 5d→{sup 2}F{sub J} transitions of Ce{sup 3+}, with the superposition attributed to the effect of distorted oxygen octahedra around the dopant ions. - Graphical abstract: EuO{sub 6} and CeO{sub 6} octahedral arrangement relative to Y site in NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7} host, and XEOL emission of corresponding doped samples. - Highlights: • Lattice parameters of NaYP{sub 2}O{sub 7} undoped sample confirmed monoclinic structure. • Dopants Eu and Ce are incorporated in the trivalent state. • Local order of Eu{sup 3+} and Ce{sup 3+} dopants substituting Y{sup 3+} consist of octahedral symmetry. • Off-center displacement in the case of Ce{sup 3+} position was discussed. • Luminescent properties under X-ray excitation may allow practical applications.« less

Photoluminescent and Slow Magnetic Relaxation Studies on Lanthanide(III)-2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylate Frameworks.

PubMed

Marinho, Maria Vanda; Reis, Daniella O; Oliveira, Willian X C; Marques, Lippy F; Stumpf, Humberto O; Déniz, Mariadel; Pasán, Jorge; Ruiz-Pérez, Catalina; Cano, Joan; Lloret, Francesc; Julve, Miguel

2017-02-20

In the series described in this work, the hydrothermal synthesis led to oxidation of the 5-methyl-pyrazinecarboxylate anion to the 2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylate dianion (2,5-pzdc) allowing the preparation of three-dimensional (3D) lanthanide(III) organic frameworks of formula {[Ln 2 (2,5-pzdc) 3 (H 2 O) 4 ]·6H 2 O} n [Ln = Ce (1), Pr (2), Nd (3), and Eu (4)] and {[Er 2 (2,5-pzdc) 3 (H 2 O) 4 ]·5H 2 O} n (5). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction on 1-5 reveals that they crystallize in the triclinic system, P1̅ space group with the series 1-4 being isostructural. The crystal structure of the five compounds are 3D with the lanthanide(III) ions linked through 2,5-pzdc 2- dianions acting as two- and fourfold connectors, building a binodal 4,4-connected (4·6 4 8)(4 2 6 2 8 2 )-mog network. The photophysical properties of the Nd(III) (3) and Eu(III) (4) complexes exhibit sensitized photoluminescence in the near-infrared and visible regions, respectively. The photoluminescence intensity and lifetime of 4 were very sensitive due to the luminescence quenching of the 5 D 0 level by O-H oscillators of four water molecules in the first coordination sphere leading to a quantum efficiency of 11%. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1-5 reveal behaviors as expected for the ground terms of the magnetically isolated rare-earth ions [ 2 F 5/2 , 2 H 4 , 4 I 9/2 , 7 F 0 , and 4 I 15/2 for Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), and Er(III), respectively] with M J = 0 (2 and 4) and ±1/2 (1, 3, and 5). Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance measurements at low temperature corroborate these facts. Frequency-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility signals under external direct-current fields in the range of 100-2500 G were observed for the Kramers ions of 1, 3, and 5, indicating slow magnetic relaxation (single-ion magnet) behavior. In these compounds, τ -1 decreases with decreasing temperature at any magnetic field, but no Arrhenius law can simulate such a dependence in all the temperature range. This dependence can be reproduced by the contributions of direct and Raman processes, the Raman exponent (n) reaching the expected value (n = 9) for a Kramers system.

A Smart Europium-Ruthenium Complex as Anticancer Prodrug: Controllable Drug Release and Real-Time Monitoring under Different Light Excitations.

PubMed

Li, Hongguang; Xie, Chen; Lan, Rongfeng; Zha, Shuai; Chan, Chi-Fai; Wong, Wing-Yan; Ho, Ka-Lok; Chan, Brandon Dow; Luo, Yuxia; Zhang, Jing-Xiang; Law, Ga-Lai; Tai, William C S; Bünzli, Jean-Claude G; Wong, Ka-Leung

2017-11-09

A unique, dual-function, photoactivatable anticancer prodrug, RuEuL, has been tailored that features a ruthenium(II) complex linked to a cyclen-europium chelate via a π-conjugated bridge. Under irradiation at 488 nm, the dark-inactive prodrug undergoes photodissociation, releasing the DNA-damaging ruthenium species. Under evaluation-window irradiation (λ irr = one-photon 350 nm or two-photon 700 nm), the drug delivery process can be quantitatively monitored in real-time because of the long-lived red europium emission. Linear relationships between released drug concentration and ESI-MS or luminescence responses are established. Finally, the efficiency of the new prodrug is demonstrated both in vitro RuEuL anticancer prodrug over some existing ones and open the way for decisive improvements in multipurpose prodrugs.

Photoluminescence spectroscopy of YVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles with aromatic linker molecules: A precursor to biomedical functionalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senty, T. R.; Yalamanchi, M.; Zhang, Y.; Cushing, S. K.; Seehra, M. S.; Shi, X.; Bristow, A. D.

2014-04-01

Photoluminescence spectra of YVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles are presented, with and without the attachment of organic molecules that are proposed for linking to biomolecules. YVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles with 5% dopant concentration were synthesized via wet chemical synthesis. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show the expected wakefieldite structure of tetragonal particles with an average size of 17 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy determines that metal-carboxylate coordination is successful in replacing native metal-hydroxyl bonds with three organic linkers, namely, benzoic acid, 3-nitro 4-chloro-benzoic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, in separate treatments. UV-excitation photoluminescence spectra show that the position and intensity of the dominant 5D0 - 7F2 electric-dipole transition at 619 nm are unaffected by the benzoic acid and 3-nitro 4-chloro-benzoic acid treatments. Attachment of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid produces an order-of-magnitude quenching in the photoluminescence, due to the presence of high-frequency vibrational modes in the linker. Ratios of the dominant electric- and magnetic-dipole transitions confirm infrared measurements, which indicate that the bulk crystal of the nanoparticle is unchanged by all three treatments.

The revision of the 2014 European tobacco products directive: an analysis of the tobacco industry's attempts to ‘break the health silo’

PubMed Central

Peeters, Silvy; Costa, Hélia; Stuckler, David; McKee, Martin; Gilmore, Anna B

2016-01-01

Background The 2014 European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was negotiated in a changed policy context, following adoption of the EU's ‘Smart Regulation’ agenda, which transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) anticipated would increase their influence on health policy, and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which sought to reduce it. This study aims to explore the scale and nature of the TTCs' lobby against the EU TPD and evaluate how these developments have affected their ability to exert influence. Methods Analysis of 581 documents obtained through freedom of information requests, 28 leaked Philip Morris International (PMI) documents, 17 TTC documents from the Legacy Library, web content via Google alerts and searches of the EU institutions' websites, plus four stakeholder interviews. Results The lobby was massive. PMI alone employed over 160 lobbyists. Strategies mainly used third parties. Efforts to 'Push' (amend) or 'Delay' the proposal and block 'extreme policy options' were partially successful, with plain packaging and point of sales display ban removed during the 3-year delay in the Commission. The Smart Regulation mechanism contributed to changes and delays, facilitating meetings between TTC representatives (including ex-Commission employees) and senior Commission staff. Contrary to Article 5.3, these meetings were not disclosed. Conclusions During the legislative process, Article 5.3 was not consistently applied by non-health Directorates of the European Commission, while the tools of the Smart Regulation appear to have facilitated TTC access to, and influence on, the 2014 TPD. The use of third parties undermines Article 5.3. PMID:25713313

Big Data in medical research and EU data protection law: challenges to the consent or anonymise approach.

PubMed

Mostert, Menno; Bredenoord, Annelien L; Biesaart, Monique C I H; van Delden, Johannes J M

2016-07-01

Medical research is increasingly becoming data-intensive; sensitive data are being re-used, linked and analysed on an unprecedented scale. The current EU data protection law reform has led to an intense debate about its potential effect on this processing of data in medical research. To contribute to this evolving debate, this paper reviews how the dominant 'consent or anonymise approach' is challenged in a data-intensive medical research context, and discusses possible ways forwards within the EU legal framework on data protection. A large part of the debate in literature focuses on the acceptability of adapting consent or anonymisation mechanisms to overcome the challenges within these approaches. We however believe that the search for ways forward within the consent or anonymise paradigm will become increasingly difficult. Therefore, we underline the necessity of an appropriate research exemption from consent for the use of sensitive personal data in medical research to take account of all legitimate interests. The appropriate conditions of such a research exemption are however subject to debate, and we expect that there will be minimal harmonisation of these conditions in the forthcoming EU Data Protection Regulation. Further deliberation is required to determine when a shift away from consent as a legal basis is necessary and proportional in a data-intensive medical research context, and what safeguards should be put in place when such a research exemption from consent is provided.

Does EU's energy dependence on Russia increase price volatility for consumers?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yekeler, Zeynep

Europe's dependence on natural gas imports from Russia has raised questions about energy risk and the vulnerability of the European countries, especially after the supply cuts in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2012. The implementation of the Third Energy Package to finally unify European energy markets by linking the states located on the periphery to the well connected gas hubs in Northern Europe has been slow due to a lack of political will across Europe. This has enabled Russian Gazprom to retain its position as a major player in European markets and hinder any European effort to diversify the energy portfolio of the region. Using residential natural gas and electricity price data from 2000 through 2014, this paper analyzes the impact of EU's import reliance on natural gas from Russia and the supply disruptions on the volatility of natural gas and electricity prices through a fixed effects regression model. Results indicate that while the size of Russian natural gas imports does not significantly affect natural gas and electricity price volatility in EU countries, security supply measures such as natural gas stocks matter, especially for Southeast European countries that consistently pay more according to the results. The paper concludes by discussing the importance of formulating policies that not only aim to reduce overall EU dependence but minimize Southeastern Europe's vulnerabilities. Policy suggestions include increasing cross-border interconnectors and storage capacity as well as increasing LNG import capacity by building regasification terminals in periphery countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia.

Big Data in medical research and EU data protection law: challenges to the consent or anonymise approach

PubMed Central

Mostert, Menno; Bredenoord, Annelien L; Biesaart, Monique C I H; van Delden, Johannes J M

2016-01-01

Medical research is increasingly becoming data-intensive; sensitive data are being re-used, linked and analysed on an unprecedented scale. The current EU data protection law reform has led to an intense debate about its potential effect on this processing of data in medical research. To contribute to this evolving debate, this paper reviews how the dominant ‘consent or anonymise approach' is challenged in a data-intensive medical research context, and discusses possible ways forwards within the EU legal framework on data protection. A large part of the debate in literature focuses on the acceptability of adapting consent or anonymisation mechanisms to overcome the challenges within these approaches. We however believe that the search for ways forward within the consent or anonymise paradigm will become increasingly difficult. Therefore, we underline the necessity of an appropriate research exemption from consent for the use of sensitive personal data in medical research to take account of all legitimate interests. The appropriate conditions of such a research exemption are however subject to debate, and we expect that there will be minimal harmonisation of these conditions in the forthcoming EU Data Protection Regulation. Further deliberation is required to determine when a shift away from consent as a legal basis is necessary and proportional in a data-intensive medical research context, and what safeguards should be put in place when such a research exemption from consent is provided. PMID:26554881

Policy challenges and reforms in small EU member state health systems: a narrative literature review.

PubMed

Azzopardi-Muscat, Natasha; Funk, Tjede; Buttigieg, Sandra C; Grech, Kenneth E; Brand, Helmut

2016-12-01

The EU directive on patients' rights and cross-border care is of particular interest to small states as it reinforces the concept of health system cooperation. An analysis of the challenges faced by small states, as well as a deep evaluation of their health system reform characteristics is timely and justified. This paper identifies areas in which EU level cooperation may bring added value to these countries' health systems. Literature search is based primarily on PUBMED and is limited to English-language papers published between January 2000 and September 2014. Results of 76 original research papers appearing in peer-reviewed journals are summarised in a literature map and narrative review. Primary care, health workforce and medicines emerge as the salient themes in the review. Lack of capacity and small market size are found to be the frequently encountered challenges in governance and delivery of services. These constraints appear to also impinge on the ability of small states to effectively implement health system reforms. The EU appears to play a marginal role in supporting small state health systems, albeit the stimulus for reform associated with EU accession. Small states face common health system challenges which could potentially be addressed through enhanced health system cooperation at EU level. The lessons learned from research on small states may be of relevance to health systems organized at regional level in larger European states. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Luminescence recognition of different organophosphorus pesticides by the luminescent Eu(III)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid probe.

PubMed

Azab, Hassan A; Duerkop, Axel; Anwar, Z M; Hussein, Belal H M; Rizk, Moustafa A; Amin, Tarek

2013-01-08

Luminescence quenching of a novel long lived Eu(III)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid probe of 1:2 stoichiometric ratio has been studied in 0.10 volume fraction ethanol-water mixture at pH 7.5 (HEPES buffer) in the presence of the organophosphorus pesticides chlorfenvinphos (P1), malathion (P2), azinphos (P3), and paraxon ethyl (P4). The luminescence intensity of Eu(III)-(PDCA)(2) probe decreases as the concentration of the pesticide increases. It was observed that the quenching due to P3 and P4 proceeds via both diffusional and static quenching processes. Direct methods for the determination of the pesticides under investigation have been developed using the luminescence quenching of Eu(III)-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid probe in solution. The linear range for determination of the selected pesticides is 1.0-35.0 μM. The detection limits were 0.24-0.55 μM for P3, P4, and P1 and 2.5 μM for P2, respectively. The binding constants (K), and thermodynamic parameters of the OPs with Eu(III)-(PDCA)(2) were evaluated. Positive and negative values of entropy (ΔS) and enthalpy (ΔH) changes for Eu(III)-(PDCA)(2)-P1 ternary complex were calculated. As the waters in this study do not contain the above mentioned OPs over the limit detectable by the method, a recovery study was carried out after the addition of the adequate amounts of the organophosphorus pesticides under investigation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eu3+-doped (Y0.5La0.5)2O3: new nanophosphor with the bixbyite cubic structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Đorđević, Vesna; Nikolić, Marko G.; Bartova, Barbora; Krsmanović, Radenka M.; Antić, Željka; Dramićanin, Miroslav D.

2013-01-01

New red sesquioxide phosphor, Eu3+-doped (Y0.5La0.5)2O3, was synthesized in the form of nanocrystalline powder with excellent structural ordering in cubic bixbyite-type, and with nanoparticle sizes ranging between 10 and 20 nm. Photoluminescence measurements show strong, Eu3+ characteristic, red emission ( x = 0.66 and y = 0.34 CIE color coordinates) with an average 5D0 emission lifetime of about 1.3 ms. Maximum splitting of the 7F1 manifold of the Eu3+ ion emission behaves in a way directly proportional to the crystal field strength parameter, and experimental results show perfect agreement with theoretical values for pure cubic sesquioxides. This could be used as an indicator of complete dissolution of Y2O3 and La2O3, showing that (Y0.5La0.5)2O3:Eu3+ behaves as a new bixbyite structure oxide, M2O3, where M acts as an ion having average ionic radius of constituting Y3+ and La3+. Emission properties of this new phosphor were documented with detailed assignments of Eu3+ energy levels at 10 K and at room temperature. Second order crystal field parameters were found to be B 20 = -66 cm-1 and B 22 = -665 cm-1 at 10 K and B 20 = -78 cm-1 and B 22 = -602 cm-1 at room temperature, while for the crystal field strength the value of 1495 cm-1 was calculated at 10 K and 1355 cm-1 at room temperature.

A model for the motion of the Philippine Sea plate consistent with NUVEL-1 and geological data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seno, Tetsuzo; Stein, Seth; Gripp, Alice E.

1993-01-01

We investigate angular velocity vectors of the Philippine Sea (PH) plate relative to the adjacent major plates, Eurasia (EU) and Pacific (PA), and the smaller Caroline (CR) plate. Earthquake slip vector data along the Philippine Sea plate are inverted, subject to the constraint that EU-PA motion equals that predicted by the global relative plate model NUVEL-1. The resulting solution fails to satisfy geological constraints along the Caroline-Pacific boundary: convergence along the Mussau Trench and divergence along the Sorol Trough. We then seek solutions satisfying both the CR-PA boundary conditions and the Philippine Sea slip vector data, by adjusting the PA-PH and EU-PH best fitting poles within their error ellipses. We also consider northern Honshu to be part of the North American plate and impose the constraint that the Philippine Sea plate subducts beneath northern Honshu along the Sagmi Trough in a NNW-NW direction. Of the solutions satisfying these conditions, we select the best EU-PH as 48.2 deg N, 157.0 deg E, 1.09 deg/my, corresponding to a pole far from Japan and south of Kamchatka, and PA-PH, 1.2 deg N, 134.2 deg E, 1.00 deg/my. Predicted NA-PH and EU-PH convergence rates in central Honshu are consistent with estimated seismic slip rates. Previous estimates of the EU-PH pole close to central Honshu are inconsistent with extension within the Bonin backarc implied by earthquake slip vectors and NNW-NW convergence of the Bonin forearc at the Sagami Trough.

European survey on ethical and legal framework of clinical trials in paediatrics: results and perspectives.

PubMed

Altavilla, Annagrazia; Giaquinto, Carlo; Ceci, Adriana

2008-09-01

This article constitutes a synthesis and analysis of the results of the "Survey on the ethical and legal frameworks existing in Europe for paediatric clinical trials" carried out by the European network TEDDY. TEDDY is a "Network of Excellence" funded by the Sixth EU Framework Programme (FP6). It began its activities in June 2005 and it is scheduled to run until 2010. It involves 19 partners in 11 countries. The overall goal of TEDDY is to promote the availability of safe and effective medicines to children in Europe by integrating existing expertise and the good practices. In the domain of ethics, the main aim of TEDDY is raise the awareness of the public and researchers concerning issues linked to biomedical research in paediatrics, by contributing to developing the debate on the ethical and legal stakes, as well as the potential deviations, in order to ensure the best possible protection of children participating in clinical trials. This study, with twenty-seven participating countries (23 EU Member States and 4 countries associated to the Fifth and Sixth EU Framework Programme), proposes to highlight the existing differences in the legislation of European countries concerning the procedure of consent, as well as the guarantee of the paediatric expertise within the Ethics Committees which are in charge of evaluating research protocols. The study shows that, even though the Directive 2001/20/EC has been transposed, the value attributed to the consent of minors who participate in clinical trials is different depending on the European state. Despite the general rule of having the written consent of the legal representative of the minor, over a certain age (different in relation to each state) and under certain conditions, to give the consent alone to participate in biomedical research. Furthermore, there is an Ethics Committee for minors in only four countries. In addition, we illustrate the lack of information and in-depth debate in Europe concerning the ethical stakes of clinical trials in paediatrics. An overview of possible legal deviations is also presented.

75 FR 38547 - Notice of Realty Action: Non-Competitive (Direct) Sale of Public Lands and Termination of a...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-02

... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLIDI01000-L143000000.EU0000; IDI-19600-03] Notice of Realty Action: Non-Competitive (Direct) Sale of Public Lands and Termination of a Recreation and Public Purposes Act Classification, Madison County, ID AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior...

WISE recommendations to ensure the safety of injections in diabetes.

PubMed

Strauss, K

2012-01-01

Injections and fingersticks administered to patients with diabetes in health care settings present a risk of blood exposure to the injector as well as other workers in potential contact with sharps. Such exposures could lead to transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis and HIV. A recent EU Directive requires that where such risks have been identified, processes and devices must be put in place to reduce or eliminate the risk. The aim of this paper is to provide formal guidelines on the application of this Directive to diabetes care settings. These evidence-based recommendations were written and vetted by a large group of international safety experts. A systematic literature search was conducted for all peer-reviewed studies and publications which bear on sharps safety in diabetes. Initially a group of experts reviewed this literature and drafted the recommendations. These were then presented for review, debate and revision to 57 experts from 14 countries at the WISE workshop in October, 2011. After the WISE meeting, the revised Recommendations were circulated electronically to attendees on three occasions, each time in a new iteration with revisions. Each recommendation was graded by the weight it should have in daily practice and by its degree of support in the medical literature. The topics covered include Risks of Sharps Injury and Muco-cutaneous Exposure, The EU Directive, Device Implications, Injection Technique Implications, Education and Training (Creating a "Safety Culture"), Value, Awareness and Responsibility. These safety recommendations provide practical guidance and fill an important gap in diabetes management. If followed, they should help ensure safe, effective and largely injury-free injections and fingersticks. They will serve as the roadmap for applying the new EU Directive to diabetes care. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Animal-Friendly Affinity Reagents: Replacing the Needless in the Haystack.

PubMed

Gray, A C; Sidhu, S S; Chandrasekera, P C; Hendriksen, C F M; Borrebaeck, C A K

2016-12-01

The multibillion-dollar global antibody industry produces an indispensable resource but that is generated using millions of animals. Despite the irrefutable maturation and availability of animal-friendly affinity reagents (AFAs) employing naïve B lymphocyte or synthetic recombinant technologies expressed by phage display, animal immunisation is still authorised for antibody production. Remarkably, replacement opportunities have been overlooked, despite the enormous potential reduction in animal use. Directive 2010/63/EU requires that animals are not used where alternatives exist. To ensure its implementation, we have engaged in discussions with the EU Reference Laboratory for alternatives to animal testing (EURL ECVAM) and the Directorate General for Environment to carve out an EU-led replacement strategy. Measures must be imposed to avoid outsourcing, regulate commercial production, and ensure that antibody producers are fully supported. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Diversity and dynamics of patient cost-sharing for physicians' and hospital services in the 27 European Union countries.

PubMed

Tambor, Marzena; Pavlova, Milena; Woch, Piotr; Groot, Wim

2011-10-01

During the past decades, many governments have introduced patient cost-sharing in their public health-care system. This trend in health-care reforms affected the European Union (EU) member states as well. This article presents a review of patient cost-sharing for health-care services in the 27 EU countries, and discusses directions for their improvement. Data are collected based on a review of international data bases, national laws and regulations, as well as scientific and policy reports. The analysis presents a combination of qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Patient cost-sharing arrangements in the EU have been changing considerably over the past two decades (mostly being extended) and are quite diverse at present. There is a relation between patient cost-sharing arrangements and some characteristics of the health-care system in a country. In a few EU countries, a mix of formal and informal charges exists, which creates a double financial burden for health-care consumers. The adequacy of patient cost-sharing arrangements in EU countries needs to be reconsidered. Most importantly, it is essential to deal with informal patient payments (where applicable) and to assure adequate exemption mechanisms to diminish the adverse equity effects of patient cost-sharing. A close communication with the public is needed to clarify the objectives and content of a patient payment policy in a country.

Characterization of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator Engineering Unit 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewandowski, Edward J.; Oriti, Salvatore M.; Schifer, Niholas A.

2016-01-01

Significant progress was made developing the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG) 140-W radioisotope power system. While the ASRG flight development project has ended, the hardware that was designed and built under the project is continuing to be tested to support future Stirling-based power system development. NASA Glenn Research Center recently completed the assembly of the ASRG Engineering Unit 2 (EU2). The ASRG EU2 consists of the first pair of Sunpower's Advanced Stirling Convertor E3 (ASC-E3) Stirling convertors mounted in an aluminum housing, and Lockheed Martin's Engineering Development Unit (EDU) 4 controller (a fourth-generation controller). The ASC-E3 convertors and Generator Housing Assembly (GHA) closely match the intended ASRG Qualification Unit flight design. A series of tests were conducted to characterize the EU2, its controller, and the convertors in the flight-like GHA. The GHA contained an argon cover gas for these tests. The tests included measurement of convertor, controller, and generator performance and efficiency; quantification of control authority of the controller; disturbance force measurement with varying piston phase and piston amplitude; and measurement of the effect of spacecraft direct current (DC) bus voltage on EU2 performance. The results of these tests are discussed and summarized, providing a basic understanding of EU2 characteristics and the performance and capability of the EDU 4 controller.

Acute phase response in lactating dairy cows during hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic and hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamps and after intramammary LPS challenge.

PubMed

De Matteis, L; Bertoni, G; Lombardelli, R; Wellnitz, O; Van Dorland, H A; Vernay, M C M B; Bruckmaier, R M; Trevisi, E

2017-06-01

The link between energy availability, turnover of energy substrates and the onset of inflammation in dairy cows is complex and poorly investigated. To clarify this, plasma inflammatory variables were measured in mid-lactating dairy cows allocated to three groups: hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic clamp, induced by insulin infusion (HypoG, n = 5); hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp, induced by insulin and glucose infusion (EuG; n = 6); control, receiving a saline solution infusion (NaCl; n = 6). At 48 h after the start of i.v. infusions, two udder quarters per cow were challenged with 200 μg of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Individual blood samples were taken before clamps, before LPS challenge (i.e. 48 h after clamps) and 6.5 h after. At 48 h, positive acute phase proteins (posAPP) did not differ among groups, whereas albumin and cholesterol (index of lipoproteins), negative APP (negAPP), were lower (p < 0.05) in EuG compared to NaCl and HypoG. The concentration of IL-6 was greater in EuG (p < 0.05) but only vs. HypoG. At 6.5 h following LPS challenge, IL-6 increased in the NaCl and EuG clamps (p < 0.05), while TNF-α increased (p < 0.05) in the EuG only. Among the posAPP, haptoglobin markedly increased in EuG (p < 0.05), but not in NaCl (p = 0.76) and in HypoG; ceruloplasmin tended to decline during LPS challenge, the reduction was significant when all animals were considered (p < 0.05). Conversely, all the negAPP showed a marked reduction 6.5 h after LPS challenge in the three groups. In conclusion, EuG caused an inflammatory status after 48-h infusion (i.e. decrease of negAPP) and induced a quicker acute phase response (e.g. marked rise of TNF-α, IL-6) after the intramammary LPS challenge. These data suggest that the simultaneous high availability of glucose and insulin at the tissue-level makes dairy cows more susceptible to inflammatory events. In contrast, HypoG seems to attenuate the inflammatory response. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2016 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Russia and the West After the Ukrainian Crisis: European Vulnerabilities to Russian Pressures

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-01

reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions...North Atlan- tic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Union (EU) member states to Russian military and economic pressures and to Russian influ...Nuclear Forces LNG liquefied natural gas NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization OIES Oxford Institute of Energy Studies PVV Party for Freedom (Partij voor

Salmonella in the pork production chain and its impact on human health in the European Union.

PubMed

Bonardi, S

2017-06-01

Salmonella spp. comprise the second most common food-borne pathogens in the European Union (EU). The role of pigs as carriers of Salmonella has been intensively studied both on farm and at slaughter. Salmonella infection in pigs may cause fever, diarrhoea, prostration and mortality. However, most infected pigs remain healthy carriers, and those infected at the end of the fattening period could pose a threat to human health. Contamination of pig carcasses can occur on the slaughter line, and it is linked to cross-contamination from other carcasses and the presence of Salmonella in the environment. Therefore, Salmonella serovars present on pig carcasses can be different from those detected in the same bathes on the farm. In recent years, S. Typhimurium, S. Derby and S. serotype 4,[5],12:i:- (a monophasic variant of S. Typhimurium) have been the most common serovars to be detected in pigs in EU countries, but S. Rissen, S. Infantis, S. Enteritidis and S. Brandenburg have also been reported. In humans, several cases of salmonellosis have been linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked pork and pork products. Among the main serovars of porcine origin detected in confirmed human cases, S. Typhimurium, the monophasic variant S. 4,[5],12:i:- and S. Derby are certainly the most important.

Which lessons can we learn from the European Union legal framework of medicines for the regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic tests?

PubMed

van Hellemondt, Rachèl; Hendriks, Aart; Breuning, Martijn

2012-01-01

The legal framework of the European Union (EU) for regulating access to and supply of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests is very liberal compared to the legal and regulatory framework for (internet) medicines. Nevertheless, both health related products can cause equally serious damage to the well being of individuals. In this contribution we examine whether the legal framework of the EU for the safety and responsible use of (internet) medicines could be an example for regulating access to and supply of DTC genetic tests. The EU laws governing medicines can, notwithstanding their shortcomings, serve as an example for (central) authorising the marketing of DTC genetic tests on the internal market in accordance with strict criteria regarding predictive value and clinical usefulness. Furthermore, a legal framework controlling DTC genetic tests also should introduce system supervision as well as quality criteria with respect to the information to be provided to consumers in order to enhance health protection. However, DTC genetic tests purchased through online ordering are difficult to supervise by any agency. Adequately protecting individuals against questionable testing kits calls for international vigilance and comprehensive measures by the international community. For Europe, it is important to rank the regulation of DTC genetic tests on the European regulatory agenda.

The effect of EU derogation strategies on the compliance costs of the nitrate directive.

PubMed

Van der Straeten, Bart; Buysse, Jeroen; Nolte, Stephan; Lauwers, Ludwig; Claeys, Dakerlia; Van Huylenbroeck, Guido

2012-04-01

Within the framework of the nitrate directive, member states have the opportunity to apply for derogation, i.e. increasing fertilisation standards under certain conditions. Several EU regions have utilised this opportunity, but each in a different way, resulting in six very different derogation policies within the EU in 2009. This paper focuses on the differences between the policies applied and makes an assessment with regard to the impact of these differences on the application rate for derogation, the manure surplus and the cost of allocating manure. Based on the MP-MAS model described by Van der Straeten et al. (2010) the different scenarios are applied on a single case area (Flanders) and the economic effects have been simulated. Results show considerable differences between the policy alternatives, leading to the conclusion that member states not only have to focus on whether or not to allow derogation, but also on the actual details of the derogation policy. Granting derogation at parcel level (plot of land), instead of farm level, increases the potential effect of derogation; the level of increase in fertilisation standards under derogation determines the application rate for derogation: a higher increase leads to a higher application rate. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Survey of mercury, cadmium and lead content of household batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Recknagel, Sebastian, E-mail: sebastian.recknagel@bam.de; Radant, Hendrik; Kohlmeyer, Regina

2014-01-15

Highlights: • A well selected sample of 146 batteries was analysed for its heavy metals content. • A comparison was made between heavy metals contents in batteries in 2006 and 2011. • No significant change after implementation of the new EU Batteries Directive. • Severe differences in heavy metal contents were found in different battery-types. - Abstract: The objective of this work was to provide updated information on the development of the potential impact of heavy metal containing batteries on municipal waste and battery recycling processes following transposition of the new EU Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC. A representative sample of 146more » different types of commercially available dry and button cells as well as lithium-ion accumulators for mobile phones were analysed for their mercury (Hg)-, cadmium (Cd)- and lead (Pb)-contents. The methods used for preparing the cells and analysing the heavy metals Hg, Cd, and Pb were either developed during a former study or newly developed. Several batteries contained higher mass fractions of mercury or cadmium than the EU limits. Only half of the batteries with mercury and/or lead fractions above the marking thresholds were labelled. Alkaline–manganese mono-cells and Li-ion accumulators, on average, contained the lowest heavy metal concentrations, while zinc–carbon batteries, on average, contained the highest levels.« less

Compensation of research-related injuries in the European Union.

PubMed

Avilds, Miguelangel Ramiro

2014-12-01

The planned reform of the Clinical Trials Directive has re-opened the debate over how to implement and interpret research-related injuries regulation. In the European Union (EU), clinical trials are currently regulated by Directive 2001/20/EC, which establishes the provision of mandatory insurance before clinical trials commence but is silent on the system of liability. The proposed new Regulation will impact biomedical research assurance in all EU Member States because it points to insurance costs as being one of the causes of the fall in the number of clinical trials carried out in the EU. Despite the adoption of a risk-balance approach, the proposed new Regulation does not include a no-fault compensation system to protect subjects participating in clinical trials. An adequate protection of the rights and wellbeing of trial subjects would require not only mandatory insurance for clinical trials but also a no-fault compensation system. The new regulation should include a general clause requiring mandatory insurance and establishing liability insurance based on no-fault compensation; an exception clause, enabling the performance of clinical trials without insurance in the case of low-risk interventions or non-commercial clinical trials; and an exclusion clause, excluding compensation when there is no causal connection between injuries and clinical trial.

Nutritional supplements and the EU: is anyone happy?

PubMed

Eberhardie, Christine

2007-11-01

In 2000 an estimated pound sterling 335 x 106 was spent on food supplements and herbal remedies in the UK. Until recently, The Trades Description Act 1968, the Food Safety Act 1990 and The Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (amended 2004) were the only form of regulation available to protect the public. The medical community has been concerned about the risk to patients of inaccurate dosages and poor-quality products as well as drug-nutrient and nutrient-nutrient interactions. Following growing concern about the type and quality of food supplements and herbal remedies available in the EU, the European Commission has published directives regulating food supplements (2002/46/EC) and herbal remedies (2004/24/EC and 2004/27/EC) available within the EU. The directives came into force in 2005 and limit the number and quality of permitted food supplements through the creation of a 'positive list' of approved supplements. In the present paper the new regulatory frameworks and the implications for the food supplement manufacturers, traditional and complementary therapists, the healthcare professions and patients will be examined. It would appear that there is considerable dissatisfaction with the regulations in their present form. Several questions remain: is regulation the answer; who decides which nutrients go on the positive list; what effect has the regulation had on patient safety and patient choice?

Measurement and analysis of electronic energy transfer between Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions in Cs 2NaY 1-x-y Tb xEu yCl 6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moran, Diane M.; May, P. Stanley; Richardson, F. S.

1994-08-01

Electronic energy-transfer processes between Tb 3+5D 4) and Eu 3+ ( 7F 0, 7F 1) ions in crystalline Cs 2NaY 1-x-yTb xEu yCl 6 compounds are examined over a wide range of relative Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ concentrations (at sample temperature of 77 and 295 K). In these systems, the Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ ions are located at centrosymmetric (O h) sites surrounded by six Cl - ions, and the minimum distance between these sites is ≈ 7.6 Å. The host lattice has a cubic structure (space group O h5-Fm3m), and the phonon spectrum of this lattice has a cut-off frequency of ≈ 300 cm -1. The optical spectra of Tb 3+ and Eu 3+ in Cs 2NaYCl 6 exhibit relatively sparse line structures, consisting almost entirely of magnetic-dipole origin lines and one-phonon-assisted electric-dipole vibronic lines that reflect O h selection rules and have relatively low oscillator strenghts. Overlap between Tb 3+ ( 5D 4) emission and Eu 3+ ( 7F 0, 7F 1) absorption spectra occurs only within the Tb 3+ ( 5D 4 → 7 F 4 and Eu 3+ ( 7F 0, 7F 1 → 5D 0 transition regions, and resonances between individual lines in these regions are used to identify possible pathways for Tb 3+ ( 5D 4)-to-Eu 3+ ( 7F 0, 7F 1) energy transfer. Rates of energy transfer are determined from time-resolved Tb 3+ ( 5D 4) luminescence intersity measurements, analyzed in terms of two different models for representing donor (Tb 3+)-acceptor (Eu 3+) site distributions in Cs 2NaY 1-x-yTb xEu yCl 6 systems. In one model, donor-accepator site distances are represented by a continuous radial distribution function, whereas in the second model, these distances are represented by a discrete distribution function. Both models are used to analyze donor luminescence decay data in terms of rate parameters that reflect specific mechanistic contributions to electronic energy transfer. Both electron-exchange and multipole-multipole mechanisms are considered in the analyses. Results from these analyses, combined with spectral overlap considerations and comparisons of 77 versus 295 K rate data, suggest an electric-quadrupole/electric-dipole mechanism in which a 5D 4(T 1g → 7F 4(T 1g) electric-quadrupole transition on Tb 3+ excites a 7F 0(A 1g) + v4(t 1u → 5D 0(A 1g) electric-dipole (vibronic) transition on Eu 3+. Rate data obtained on systems of stoichiometric formulae Cs 2NaY 0.95-xTb xEu 0.05Cl 6 show that Tb 3+( 5D 4)- to-Eu 3+ ( 7F 0, 7F 1) energy-transfer rates a Tb 3+-Tb 3+ energy-migration processes when tx > 0.05. Direct calculations of Tb 3+ ( 5D 4)-Eu 3+ ( 7F 0, 7F 1) and Tb 3+ ( 5D 4-Tb 3+ ( 7F 6) multipole-multipole interaction parameters are performed, and the parameters obtained from these calculations are compared to those derived from parametric fits of experimentally observed rate data. Discrepancies between calculated and ovserved rate parameters are large, and possible explanations for these discrepancies are discussed.

Modelling forest carbon stock changes as affected by harvest and natural disturbances. II. EU-level analysis.

PubMed

Pilli, Roberto; Grassi, Giacomo; Kurz, Werner A; Moris, Jose V; Viñas, Raúl Abad

2016-12-01

Forests and the forest sector may play an important role in mitigating climate change. The Paris Agreement and the recent legislative proposal to include the land use sector in the EU 2030 climate targets reflect this expectation. However, greater confidence on estimates from national greenhouse gas inventories (GHGI) and more comprehensive analyses of mitigation options are needed to seize this mitigation potential. The aim of this paper is to provide a tool at EU level for verifying the EU GHGI and for simulating specific policy and forest management scenarios. Therefore, the Carbon Budget Model (CBM) was applied for an integrated assessment of the EU forest carbon (C) balance from 2000 to 2012, including: (i) estimates of the C stock and net CO 2 emissions for forest management (FM), afforestation/reforestation (AR) and deforestation (D), covering carbon in both the forest and the harvest wood product (HWP) pools; (ii) an overall analysis of the C dynamics associated with harvest and natural disturbances (mainly storms and fires); (iii) a comparison of our estimates with the data reported in the EU GHGI. Overall, the average annual FM sink (-365 Mt CO 2 year -1 ) estimated by the CBM in the period 2000-2012 corresponds to about 7 % of total GHG emissions at the EU level for the same period (excluding land use, land-use change and forestry). The HWP pool sink (-44 Mt CO 2 year -1 ) contributes an additional 1 %. Emissions from D (about 33 Mt CO 2 year -1 ) are more than compensated by the sink in AR (about 43 Mt CO 2 year -1 over the period). For FM, the estimates from the CBM were about 8 % lower than the EU GHGI, a value well within the typical uncertainty range of the EU forest sink estimates. For AR and D the match with the EU GHGI was nearly perfect (difference <±2 % in the period 2008-2012). Our analysis on harvest and natural disturbances shows that: (i) the impact of harvest is much greater than natural disturbances but, because of salvage logging (often very relevant), the impact of natural disturbances is often not easily distinguishable from the impact of harvest, and (ii) the impact of storms on the biomass C stock is 5-10 times greater than fires, but while storms cause only indirect emissions (i.e., a transfer of C from living biomass to dead organic matter), fires cause both direct and indirect emissions. This study presents the application of a consistent methodological approach, based on an inventory-based model, adapted to the forest management conditions of EU countries. The approach captures, with satisfactory detail, the C sink reported in the EU GHGI and the country-specific variability due to harvest, natural disturbances and land-use changes. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study of its kind at EU level, i.e., including all the forest pools, HWP and natural disturbances, and a comparison with the EU GHGI. The results provide the basis for possible future policy-relevant applications of this model, e.g., as a tool to support GHGIs (e.g., on accounting for natural disturbances) and to verify the EU GHGI, and for the simulation of specific scenarios at EU level.

European distributed seismological data archives infrastructure: EIDA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clinton, John; Hanka, Winfried; Mazza, Salvatore; Pederson, Helle; Sleeman, Reinoud; Stammler, Klaus; Strollo, Angelo

2014-05-01

The European Integrated waveform Data Archive (EIDA) is a distributed Data Center system within ORFEUS that (a) securely archives seismic waveform data and related metadata gathered by European research infrastructures, and (b) provides transparent access to the archives for the geosciences research communities. EIDA was founded in 2013 by ORFEUS Data Center, GFZ, RESIF, ETH, INGV and BGR to ensure sustainability of a distributed archive system and the implementation of standards (e.g. FDSN StationXML, FDSN webservices) and coordinate new developments. Under the mandate of the ORFEUS Board of Directors and Executive Committee the founding group is responsible for steering and maintaining the technical developments and organization of the European distributed seismic waveform data archive and the integration within broader multidisciplanry frameworks like EPOS. EIDA currently offers uniform data access to unrestricted data from 8 European archives (www.orfeus-eu.org/eida), linked by the Arclink protocol, hosting data from 75 permanent networks (1800+ stations) and 33 temporary networks (1200+) stations). Moreover, each archive may also provide unique, restricted datasets. A webinterface, developed at GFZ, offers interactive access to different catalogues (EMSC, GFZ, USGS) and EIDA waveform data. Clients and toolboxes like arclink_fetch and ObsPy can connect directly to any EIDA node to collect data. Current developments are directed to the implementation of quality parameters and strong motion parameters.

Legal strategies to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights in the context of the refugee crisis in Europe: a complaint before the European Ombudsperson.

PubMed

Laporta Hernández, Elena

2017-11-01

In the context of the refugee crisis in Europe, the measures taken by the institutions and bodies of the European Union as they relate to respecting, protecting, and ensuring human rights have proven to be woefully inadequate. The development of a restrictive, defensive, security-based immigration policy has led to failure by European countries and the European Union to fulfil their human rights obligations. Specifically, the Agreement struck between the European Union and Turkey on 18 March 2016, in addition to externalising borders, placed economic and political considerations centre stage, leading to serious violations of the human rights of refugees and migrants, including their sexual and reproductive rights. In an effort to identify the failures and the institutions responsible for promoting the necessary measures to mitigate the negative impacts these policies have had, the international human rights organisation Women's Link Worldwide lodged a complaint with the European Ombudsperson. In its complaint, Women's Link alleges maladministration by the European Commission for its failure to carry out a human rights impact assessment of the 18 March 2016 EU-Turkey Agreement and the reports on its implementation. Such an assessment should include a gender perspective and a children's rights approach, and its omission is not only a failure to comply with international human rights standards, but also directly and negatively affects women's and children's rights.

Framework for assessing impacts of pile-driving noise from offshore wind farm construction on a harbour seal population

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thompson, Paul M., E-mail: lighthouse@abdn.ac.uk; Hastie, Gordon D., E-mail: gdh10@st-andrews.ac.uk; Nedwell, Jeremy, E-mail: Jeremy.Nedwell@subacoustech.com

2013-11-15

Offshore wind farm developments may impact protected marine mammal populations, requiring appropriate assessment under the EU Habitats Directive. We describe a framework developed to assess population level impacts of disturbance from piling noise on a protected harbour seal population in the vicinity of proposed wind farm developments in NE Scotland. Spatial patterns of seal distribution and received noise levels are integrated with available data on the potential impacts of noise to predict how many individuals are displaced or experience auditory injury. Expert judgement is used to link these impacts to changes in vital rates and applied to population models thatmore » compare population changes under baseline and construction scenarios over a 25 year period. We use published data and hypothetical piling scenarios to illustrate how the assessment framework has been used to support environmental assessments, explore the sensitivity of the framework to key assumptions, and discuss its potential application to other populations of marine mammals. -- Highlights: • We develop a framework to support Appropriate Assessment for harbour seal populations. • We assessed potential impacts of wind farm construction noise. • Data on distribution of seals and noise were used to predict effects on individuals. • Expert judgement linked these impacts to vital rates to model population change. • We explore the sensitivity of the framework to key assumptions and uncertainties.« less

EU sales ban on new cosmetics tested on animals: impact on alternative methods, WTO implications and animal welfare aspects.

PubMed

Ruhdel, Irmela W

2004-06-01

In 1993, the European Union (EU) adopted Directive 93/35/EEC, calling for a sales ban on new cosmetic products containing ingredients tested on animals after 1 January, 1998, provided that alternative methods had been developed by then. In May 2000, for the second time, the European Commission postponed that ban. The Commission justified the repeated postponement of the sales ban by saying that no animal-free methods were available, although three in vitro methods were scientifically approved in 1997. With three years delay, these methods have been published and therefore "made available" in the EU. OECD acceptance is still awaited. Another reason for the postponement was the fear of possible World Trade Organisation (WTO) conflicts. However, according to WTO rules, the protection of public morality or animal health could justify a restriction of the free trade principle. From the animal welfare point of view, an unqualified EU sales ban, combined with an animal testing ban, would provide the incentive to further promote the development and acceptance of alternative methods and to prove that ethical standards are legitimate concerns under WTO rules.

Intrinsic radioactivity of KSr2I5:Eu2+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rust, M.; Melcher, C.; Lukosi, E.

2016-10-01

A current need in nuclear security is an economical, yet high energy resolution (near 2%), scintillation detector suitable for gamma-ray spectroscopy. For current scintillators on the market, there is an inverse relationship between scintillator energy resolution and cost of production. A new promising scintillator, KSr2I5:Eu2+, under development at the University of Tennessee, has achieved an energy resolution of 2.4% at 662 keV at room temperature, with potential growth rates exceeding several millimeters per hour. However, the internal background due to the 40K content could present a hurdle for effective source detection/identification in nuclear security applications. As a first step in addressing this question, this paper reports on a computational investigation of the intrinsic differential pulse height spectrum (DPHS) generated by 40K within the KSr2I5:Eu2+ scintillator as a function of crystal geometry. It was found that the DPHS remains relatively equal to a constant multiplicative factor of the negatron emission spectrum with a direct increase of the 1.46 MeV photopeak relative height to the negatron spectrum with volume. Further, peak pileup does not readily manifest itself for practical KSr2I5:Eu2+ volumes.

Biosafety and Biosecurity in European Containment Level 3 Laboratories: Focus on French Recent Progress and Essential Requirements.

PubMed

Pastorino, Boris; de Lamballerie, Xavier; Charrel, Rémi

2017-01-01

Even if European Union (EU) Member States are obliged to implement EU Directives 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work , national biosafety regulations and practices varied from country to country. In fact, EU legislation on biological agents and genetically modified microorganisms is often not specific enough to ensure harmonization leading to difficulties in implementation for most laboratories. In the same way, biosecurity is a relatively new concept and a few EU Member States are known to have introduced national laboratory biosecurity legislation. In France, recent regulations have reinforced biosafety/biosecurity in containment level 3 (CL-3) laboratories but they concern a specific list of pathogens with no correlation in other European Members States. The objective of this review was to summarize European biosafety/biosecurity measures concerning CL-3 facilities focusing on French specificities. Essential requirements needed to preserve efficient biosafety measures when manipulating risk group 3 biological agents are highlighted. In addition, International, European and French standards related to containment laboratory planning, operation or biosafety equipment are described to clarify optimal biosafety and biosecurity requirements.

Spin transistor based on pure nonlocal Andreev reflection in EuO-graphene/superconductor/EuO-graphene nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ang, Yee Sin; Ang, Lay Kee; Zhang, Chao; Ma, Zhongshui

In graphene-magnetic-insulator hybrid structure such as graphene-Europium-oxide, proximity induced exchange interaction opens up a spin-dependent bandgap and spin splitting in the Dirac band. We show that such band topology allows pure crossed Andreev reflection to be generated exclusively without the parasitic local Andreev reflection and elastic cotunnelling over a wide range of bias and Fermi levels. We model the charge transport in an EuO-graphene/superconductor/EuO-graphene three-terminal device and found that the pure non-local conductance exhibits rapid on/off switching characteristic with a minimal subthreshold swing of ~ 20 mV. Non-local conductance oscillation is observed when the Fermi levels in the superconducting lead is varied. The oscillatory behavior is directly related to the quasiparticle propagation in the superconducting lead and hence can be used as a tool to probe the subgap quasiparticle mode in superconducting graphene. The non-local current is 100% spin-polarized and is highly tunable in our proposed device. This opens up the possibility of highly tunable graphene-based spin transistor that operates purely in the non-local transport regime.

Influence of europium (Eu3+) ions on the optical properties of boro tellurite glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Devaraja, C.; Gowda, G. V. Jagadeesha; Eraiah, B.

2018-05-01

The influence of Eu3+ ions on the Optical properties of Boro Tellurite Glasses of (70-x) B2O3-15TeO2-10Na2O- 5PbO-xEu2O3 with x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mol% glasses were prepared by conventional melt quenching method and their physical and optical properties were investigated by using UV absorption spectra, which was recorded at room temperature in the UV-visible region of wavelength 200-1100 nm. By the absorption edge studies, the values of optical bandgap energies have been evaluated. The direct and indirect bandgap values ranges between 3.362 to 3.650 eV and 2.011 to 2.863 eV respectively. The refractive index, molar refraction and polarizability of oxide ions have been calculated by using Lorentz-Lorentz relations. The refractive index and molar refraction values were ranges from 2.241 to 2.358 and 76.147 to 79.915 cm3 respectively. The non-linear variations of the above optical parameters were discussed with respect to small variation of europium (Eu3+) ion concentration.

Biosafety and Biosecurity in European Containment Level 3 Laboratories: Focus on French Recent Progress and Essential Requirements

PubMed Central

Pastorino, Boris; de Lamballerie, Xavier; Charrel, Rémi

2017-01-01

Even if European Union (EU) Member States are obliged to implement EU Directives 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work, national biosafety regulations and practices varied from country to country. In fact, EU legislation on biological agents and genetically modified microorganisms is often not specific enough to ensure harmonization leading to difficulties in implementation for most laboratories. In the same way, biosecurity is a relatively new concept and a few EU Member States are known to have introduced national laboratory biosecurity legislation. In France, recent regulations have reinforced biosafety/biosecurity in containment level 3 (CL-3) laboratories but they concern a specific list of pathogens with no correlation in other European Members States. The objective of this review was to summarize European biosafety/biosecurity measures concerning CL-3 facilities focusing on French specificities. Essential requirements needed to preserve efficient biosafety measures when manipulating risk group 3 biological agents are highlighted. In addition, International, European and French standards related to containment laboratory planning, operation or biosafety equipment are described to clarify optimal biosafety and biosecurity requirements. PMID:28620600

The Vi conjugate typhoid vaccine is safe, elicits protective levels of IgG anti-Vi, and is compatible with routine infant vaccines.

PubMed

Thiem, Vu Dinh; Lin, Feng-Ying C; Canh, Do Gia; Son, Nguyen Hong; Anh, Dang Duc; Mao, Nguyen Duc; Chu, Chiayung; Hunt, Steven W; Robbins, John B; Schneerson, Rachel; Szu, Shousun C

2011-05-01

Typhoid fever remains a serious problem in developing countries. Current vaccines are licensed for individuals who are 5 years old or older. A conjugate of the capsular polysaccharide (CP) of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Vi) bound to recombinant exoprotein A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Vi-rEPA) enhanced Vi immunogenicity and protected 2- to 5-year-olds in Vietnam. In this study, Vi-rEPA was evaluated for use in infants. A total of 301 full-term Vietnamese infants received Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) vaccines alone or with Vi-rEPA or Haemophilus influenzae type b-tetanus toxoid conjugate (Hib-TT) at 2, 4, and 6 months and Vi-rEPA or Hib-TT alone at 12 months. Infants were visited 6, 24, and 48 h after each injection to monitor adverse reactions. Maternal, cord, and infant sera were assayed for IgG anti-Vi and for IgG antibodies to Hib CP and the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis toxins at 7, 12, and 13 months. No vaccine-related serious adverse reactions occurred. In the Vi-rEPA group, the IgG anti-Vi geometric mean (GM) increased from the cord level of 0.66 to 17.4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units (EU) at 7 months, declined to 4.76 EU at 12 months, and increased to 50.1 EU 1 month after the 4th dose (95% of infants had levels of ≥ 3.5 EU, the estimated protective level). Controls had no increase of the IgG anti-Vi GM. Infants with cord anti-Vi levels of <3.5 EU responded with significantly higher IgG anti-Vi levels than those with levels of ≥ 3.5 EU. Anti-diphtheria, -tetanus, and -pertussis toxin levels were similar in all groups. Vi-rEPA was safe, induced protective anti-Vi levels, and was compatible with EPI vaccines, and it can be used in infants. High cord IgG anti-Vi levels partially suppressed infant responses to Vi-rEPA.

Governmental policies and measures regulating nitrogen and phosphorus from animal manure in European agriculture.

PubMed

Oenema, O

2004-01-01

This paper discusses governmental policies and measures that regulate the use of animal manure in the European Union (EU-15). Systematic intervention by governments with European agriculture in general started at the end of the 19th century. Major changes in governmental policies on agriculture followed after the establishment of the EU and its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 1957. Environmental side effects of the large-scale intensification of agricultural production were addressed following the reform of the CAP and the implementation of various environmental regulations and directives from the beginning of the 1990s. The Nitrate Directive approved in 1991 has exerted, as yet, the strongest influence on intensive livestock production systems. This directive regulates the use of N in agriculture, especially through its mandatory measures to designate areas vulnerable to nitrate leaching and to establish action programs and codes of good agricultural practice for these areas. These measures have to ensure that for each farm the amount of N applied via livestock manure shall not exceed 170 kg x ha(-1) x yr(-1). These measures have large consequences, especially for countries with intensive animal agriculture, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland. The mean livestock density in these countries is between 1.5 and 4 livestock units/ha, and the average amounts of N in animal manure range from 100 to 300 kg/ha of agricultural land. More than 10 yr after approval of the Nitrate Directive, there appears to be a delay in the implementation and enforcement in many member states, which reflects in part the major complications that arise from this directive for intensive livestock farming. It also reflects the fact that environmental policies in agriculture have economic consequences. The slow progress in the enforcement of environmental legislations in agriculture combined with the increasing public awareness of food safety, animal welfare, and landscape maintenance call for a more fundamental change in EU agriculture.

Self Healing Percolation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scala, Antonio

2015-03-01

We introduce the concept of self-healing in the field of complex networks modelling; in particular, self-healing capabilities are implemented through distributed communication protocols that exploit redundant links to recover the connectivity of the system. Self-healing is a crucial in implementing the next generation of smart grids allowing to ensure a high quality of service to the users. We then map our self-healing procedure in a percolation problem and analyse the interplay between redundancies and topology in improving the resilience of networked infrastructures to multiple failures. We find exact results both for planar lattices and for random lattices, hinting the role of duality in the design of resilient networks. Finally, we introduce a cavity method approach to study the recovery of connectivity after damage in self-healing networks. CNR-PNR National Project ``Crisis-Lab,'' EU HOME/2013/CIPS/AG/4000005013 project CI2C and EU FET project MULTIPLEX nr.317532.

Air quality and future energy system planning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sobral Mourao, Zenaida; Konadu, Dennis; Lupton, Rick

2016-04-01

Ambient air pollution has been linked to an increasing number of premature deaths throughout the world. Projected increases in demand for food, energy resources and manufactured products will likely contribute to exacerbate air pollution with an increasing impact on human health, agricultural productivity and climate change. Current events such as tampering emissions tests by VW car manufacturers, failure to comply with EU Air Quality directives and WHO guidelines by many EU countries, the problem of smog in Chinese cities and new industrial emissions regulations represent unique challenges but also opportunities for regulators, local authorities and industry. However current models and practices of energy and resource use do not consider ambient air impacts as an integral part of the planing process. Furthermore the analysis of drivers, sources and impacts of air pollution is often fragmented, difficult to understand and lacks effective visualization tools that bring all of these components together. This work aims to develop a model that links impacts of air quality on human health and ecosystems to current and future developments in the energy system, industrial and agricultural activity and patterns of land use. The model will be added to the ForeseerTM tool, which is an integrated resource analysis platform that has been developed at the University of Cambridge initially with funding from BP and more recently through the EPSRC funded Whole Systems Energy Modeling (WholeSEM) project. The basis of the tool is a set of linked physical models for energy, water and land, including the technologies that are used to transform these resources into final services such as housing, food, transport and household goods. The new air quality model will explore different feedback effects between energy, land and atmospheric systems with the overarching goal of supporting better communication about the drivers of air quality and to incorporate concerns about air quality into energy system planning. Some example applications of this work are: (1) to discover conflicts and synergies between air quality regulations and future developments in the energy system and land use change; (2) to show the drivers of air quality in a given spatial context; (3) to explore effective ways to visualize impacts of different energy, land use and emissions control policies on air quality. An initial test case for the Bay Area in California will be presented, extending the scope of the existing California ForeseerTM tool to identify impacts of different policies within the water-energy-land nexus on local air quality.

Exploiting Open Environmental Data using Linked Data and Cloud Computing: the MELODIES project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blower, Jon; Gonçalves, Pedro; Caumont, Hervé; Koubarakis, Manolis; Perkins, Bethan

2015-04-01

The European Open Data Strategy establishes important new principles that ensure that European public sector data will be released at no cost (or marginal cost), in machine-readable, commonly-understood formats, and with liberal licences enabling wide reuse. These data encompass both scientific data about the environment (from Earth Observation and other fields) and other public sector information, including diverse topics such as demographics, health and crime. Many open geospatial datasets (e.g. land use) are already available through the INSPIRE directive and made available through infrastructures such as the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The intention of the Open Data Strategy is to stimulate the growth of research and value-adding services that build upon these data streams; however, the potential value inherent in open data, and the benefits that can be gained by combining previously-disparate sources of information are only just starting to become understood. The MELODIES project (Maximising the Exploitation of Linked Open Data In Enterprise and Science) is developing eight innovative and sustainable services, based upon Open Data, for users in research, government, industry and the general public in a broad range of societal and environmental benefit areas. MELODIES (http://melodiesproject.eu) is a European FP7 project that is coordinated by the University of Reading and has sixteen partners (including nine SMEs) from eight European countries. It started in November 2013 and will run for three years. The project is therefore in its early stages and therefore we will value the opportunity that this workshop affords to present our plans and interact with the wider Linked Geospatial Data community. The project is developing eight new services[1] covering a range of domains including agriculture, urban ecosystems, land use management, marine information, desertification, crisis management and hydrology. These services will combine Earth Observation data with other open data sources to produce new information for the benefit of scientists, industry, government decision-makers, public service providers and citizens. The long-term sustainability of the services will be assessed critically throughout the project from a number of angles (technical, political and economic), in order to ensure that the full benefits of the MELODIES project are realised in the long term. The priority of the project, therefore, is to demonstrate that releasing data openly leads to concrete commercial and scientific benefits, and can stimulate the production of new applications and viable services. [1] http://www.melodiesproject.eu/services.html

Measuring health literacy among low literate people: an exploratory feasibility study with the HLS-EU questionnaire.

PubMed

Storms, Hannelore; Claes, Neree; Aertgeerts, Bert; Van den Broucke, Stephan

2017-05-19

Health literacy (HL) is defined as necessary competencies to make well-informed decisions. As patients' decision making is a key element of patient-centered health care, insight in patients' HL might help healthcare professionals to organize their care accordingly. This is particularly true for people in a vulnerable situation, potentially with limited HL, who are, for instance, at greater risk of having limited access to care [1, 2]. As HL correlates with education, instruments should allow inclusion of low literate people. To that end, the relatively new instrument, HLS-EU-Q47, was subjected to a comprehensibility test, its shorter version, HLS-EU-Q16, was not. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine feasibility of HLS-EU-Q16 (in Dutch) for use in a population of people with low literacy. Purposive sampling of adults with low (yearly) income (< €16,965.47) and limited education (maximum high school), with Dutch language proficiency. Exclusion criteria were: psychiatric, neurodegenerative diseases or impairments. To determine suitability (length, comprehension and layout) participants were randomly distributed either HLS-EU-Q16 or a modified version and were interviewed directly afterwards by one researcher. To determine feasibility a qualitative approach was chosen: cognitive interviews were carried out using the verbal probing technique. Thirteen participants completed HLS-EU-Q16 (n = 7) or the modified version (n = 6). Questions about 'disease prevention' or 'appraisal' of information are frequently reported to be incomprehensible. Difficulties are attributed to vocabulary, sentence structure and the decision process (abstraction, distinguishing 'appraising' from 'applying' information, indecisive on the appropriate response). HLS-EU-Q16 is a suitable instrument to determine HL in people with limited literacy. However, to facilitate the use and interpretation, some questions would benefit from minor adjustments: by simplifying wording or providing explanatory, contextual information.

Intra-EU agricultural trade, virtual water flows and policy implications.

PubMed

Antonelli, M; Tamea, S; Yang, H

2017-06-01

The development of approaches to tackle the European Union (EU) water-related challenges and shift towards sustainable water management and use is one of the main objectives of Horizon 2020, the EU strategy to lead a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The EU is an increasingly water challenged area and is a major agricultural trader. As agricultural trade entails an exchange of water embodied in goods as a factor of production, this study investigates the region's water-food-trade nexus by analysing intra-regional virtual water trade (VWT) in agricultural products. The analysed period (1993-2011) comprises the enactment of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the year 2000. Aspects of the VWT that are relevant for the WFD are explored. The EU is a net importer of virtual water (VW) from the rest of the world, but intra-regional VWT represents 46% of total imports and 75% of total exports. Five countries account for 60% of total VW imports (Germany, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium) and 65% of total VW exports (The Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and Spain). Intra-EU VWT more than doubled over the period considered, while trade with extra-EU countries did not show such a marked trend. In the same period, blue VWT increased significantly within the region and net import from the rest of the world slightly decreased. Water scarce countries, such as Spain and Italy, are major exporters of blue water in the region. The traded volumes of VW have been increasing almost monotonically over the years, and with a substantial increase after 2000. The overall trend in changes in VWT does not seem to be in accordance with the WFD goals. This study demonstrated that VWT analyses can help evaluate intertwining effects of water, agriculture and trade policies which are often made separately in respective sectors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessments of direct human exposure: the approach of EU risk assessments compared to scenario-based risk assessment.

PubMed

Wormuth, Matthias; Demou, Evangelia; Scheringer, Martin; Hungerbühler, Konrad

2007-08-01

The awareness of potential risks emerging from the use of chemicals in all parts of daily life has increased the need for risk assessments that are able to cover a high number of exposure situations and thereby ensure the safety of workers and consumers. In the European Union (EU), the practice of risk assessments for chemicals is laid down in a Technical Guidance Document; it is designed to consider environmental and human occupational and residential exposure. Almost 70 EU risk assessment reports (RARs) have been finalized for high-production-volume chemicals during the last decade. In the present study, we analyze the assessment of occupational and consumer exposure to trichloroethylene and phthalates presented in six EU RARs. Exposure scenarios in these six RARs were compared to scenarios used in applications of the scenario-based risk assessment approach to the same set of chemicals. We find that scenarios used in the selected EU RARs to represent typical exposure situations in occupational or private use of chemicals and products do not necessarily represent worst-case conditions. This can be due to the use of outdated information on technical equipment and conditions in workplaces or omission of pathways that can cause consumer exposure. Considering the need for exposure and risk assessments under the new chemicals legislation of the EU, we suggest that a transparent process of collecting data on exposure situations and of generating representative exposure scenarios is implemented to improve the accuracy of risk assessments. Also, the data sets used to assess human exposure should be harmonized, summarized in a transparent fashion, and made accessible for all risk assessors and the public.

From DTCA-PD to patient information to health information: the complex politics and semantics of EU health policy.

PubMed

Brooks, Eleanor; Geyer, Robert

2012-12-01

Between 2001 and 2011 the pharmaceutical industry, supported by DG Enterprise, was engaged in an ongoing campaign to repeal/amend the European Union (EU) ban on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs (DTCA-PD). As it became increasingly clear that the ban would not be repealed, DTCA-PD supporters tried to shift the debate away from advertising and towards the provision of 'patient information' and the rights of patients to access such information. Meanwhile, a variety of national and European health organizations, supported by DG SANCO, sought to maintain the ban and oppose the industry-supported 'patient information' campaign. Instead, they promoted a concept of 'health information' that included all aspects of citizens' health, not just pharmaceuticals. This article aims to analyse the transition from DTCA-PD to patient information to health information and examine its implications for EU health policy as a complex policy space. The article examines the emergence and development of EU health policy and the evolution of the DTCA-PD debate through the lens of complexity theory. It analyses the nature of the semantic, political and policy transition and asks why it occurred, what it tells us about EU health policy and future EU health legislation and how it may be understood from a complexity perspective. The article concludes that the complexity framework is ideally suited for the field of public health and, in particular, the DTCA-PD debate. Having successfully shifted the policy-focus of the debate to patients' rights and health information, opponents of the legislation are likely to face their next battle in the realm of cyberspace, where regulatory issues change the nature of advertising. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The Origin of r-process Elements in the Milky Way

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Côté, Benoit; Fryer, Chris L.; Belczynski, Krzysztof; Korobkin, Oleg; Chruślińska, Martyna; Vassh, Nicole; Mumpower, Matthew R.; Lippuner, Jonas; Sprouse, Trevor M.; Surman, Rebecca; Wollaeger, Ryan

2018-03-01

Some of the heavy elements, such as gold and europium (Eu), are almost exclusively formed by the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). However, it is still unclear which astrophysical site between core-collapse supernovae and neutron star–neutron star (NS–NS) mergers produced most of the r-process elements in the universe. Galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models can test these scenarios by quantifying the frequency and yields required to reproduce the amount of europium (Eu) observed in galaxies. Although NS–NS mergers have become popular candidates, their required frequency (or rate) needs to be consistent with that obtained from gravitational wave measurements. Here, we address the first NS–NS merger detected by LIGO/Virgo (GW170817) and its associated gamma-ray burst and analyze their implication for the origin of r-process elements. The range of NS–NS merger rate densities of 320–4740 Gpc‑3 yr‑1 provided by LIGO/Virgo is remarkably consistent with the range required by GCE to explain the Eu abundances in the Milky Way with NS–NS mergers, assuming the solar r-process abundance pattern for the ejecta. Under the same assumption, this event has produced about 1–5 Earth masses of Eu, and 3–13 Earth masses of gold. When using theoretical calculations to derive Eu yields, constraining the role of NS–NS mergers becomes more challenging because of nuclear astrophysics uncertainties. This is the first study that directly combines nuclear physics uncertainties with GCE calculations. If GW170817 is a representative event, NS–NS mergers can produce Eu in sufficient amounts and are likely to be the main r-process site.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and luminescence properties of a new nitride polymorph, β-Sr0.98Eu0.02AlSi4N7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshimura, Fumitaka; Yamane, Hisanori; Nagasako, Makoto

2018-02-01

Prismatic vermilion single crystals 200 μm-2 mm in size, together with a white powder, were obtained by heating a mixture of binary nitrides containing Mg3N2 at 2030 °C under 0.85 MPa of N2. Yellow, thick-platelet single crystals with sizes of 150-500 μm were also found to grow at or near the surface of the product. Single crystal X-ray diffraction demonstrated that the vermilion crystals were orthorhombic Sr0.98Eu0.02AlSi4N7, which has been prepared in previous studies and is termed the α phase of this compound. The yellow crystals were revealed to be a new polymorph of Sr0.98Eu0.02AlSi4N7 (β phase) that crystalized in a monoclinic cell (a = 8.1062(1) Å, b = 9.0953(1) Å, c = 8.9802(2) Å, β = 111.6550(5)°, space group P21) with twins that could be examined by transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy. β-Sr0.98Eu0.02AlSi4N7 was found to have a three-dimensional network structure formed by the stacking of two types of layers. One is a dreier layer of (Al/Si)N4 tetrahedra that consists of N vertex-sharing double chains of (Al/Si)N4 tetrahedra extending in the c-axis direction with Sr and Eu atoms aligned between the chains, while the other is a layer of (Al/Si)N4 tetrahedra connected by sharing N edges and vertexes. The crystal structure of β-Sr0.98Eu0.02AlSi4N7 is similar to those of certain oxynitrides, such as Sr3Al3+xSi13-xN21-xO2+x:Eu2+ (x ≈ 0) and Sr4.9Eu0.1Al5+xSi21-xN35-xO2+x (x ≈ 0). The peak wavelength and full width at half maximum in the emission spectrum obtained from single crystals of β-Sr0.98Eu0.02AlSi4N7 under excitation at 400 nm were 541 and 66 nm, respectively.

Ring trial among National Reference Laboratories for parasites to detect Trichinella spiralis larvae in pork samples according to the EU directive 2075/2005.

PubMed

Marucci, Gianluca; Pezzotti, Patrizio; Pozio, Edoardo

2009-02-23

To control Trichinella spp. infection in the European Union, all slaughtered pigs should be tested by one of the approved digestion methods described in EU directive 2075/2005. The aim of the present work was to evaluate, by a ring trial, the sensitivity of the digestion method used at the National Reference Laboratories for Parasites (NRLP). These Laboratories are responsible for the quality of the detection method in their own country. Of the 27 EU countries, only three (Hungary, Luxembourg and Malta) did not participate in the ring trial. Each participating laboratory received 10 samples of 100g of minced pork containing 3-5 larvae (3 samples), 10-20 larvae (3 samples), 30-50 larvae (3 samples), and one negative control. In each positive sample, there were living Trichinella spiralis larvae without the collagen capsule, obtained by partial artificial digestion of muscle tissue from infected mice. No false positive sample was found in any laboratories, whereas nine laboratories (37.5%) failed to detect some positive samples with the percentage of false negatives ranging from 11 to 100%. The variation between expected and reported larval counts observed among the participating laboratories was statistically significant. There was a direct correlation between the consistency of the results and the use of a validated/accredited digestion method. Conversely, there was no correlation between the consistency of the results and the number of digestions performed yearly by the NRLP. These results support the importance of validating the test.

Popular universities: An alternative vision for lifelong learning in Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stromquist, Nelly P.; da Costa, Romina B.

2017-10-01

At its inception in 1993, the European Union (EU) did not consider education one of the pillars of its regional cohesiveness and identity. As time went by, recognition of the potential role of education at individual and social levels increased. This concern for education, however, is much more centred on the acquisition of knowledge and skills towards developing a competitive labour force than towards facilitating the integration of all citizens in the European community - a bias which is reflected in EU policies and recommendations. At local levels, communities need to offer educational opportunities to all members of society, irrespective of their social, cultural and linguistic background and their level of education. In many EU member countries, this kind of learning is offered by popular universities (PUs), which are not state-funded and run in close collaboration with their respective local communities. The authors of this paper carried out a qualitative survey, collecting data on PUs in Spain and France. Their purpose was to examine how European PU offerings align with community needs, and to what extent they address emerging issues such as immigration, the refugee crisis, an aging population and youth unemployment. In the evaluation of their comparative survey, the authors link the grassroots approaches of PUs in Spain and France to the broader European Union (EU) discourse on lifelong learning (LLL) as seen in policy documents such as the European Commission's Memorandum on Lifelong Learning. Finally, they examine the ways in which PUs' approach to LLL works to contest the dominant consensus on the meaning and scope of lifelong learning, offering an alternative way forward.

European Union's strategy on endocrine disrupting chemicals and the current position of Slovenia.

PubMed

Perharič, Lucija; Fatur, Tanja; Drofenik, Jernej

2016-06-01

In view of the European Union regulations 1107/2009 and 528/2012, which say that basic substances in plant protection and biocidal products marketed in the European Union (EU) should not have an inherent capacity to cause endocrine disruption, an initiative was started to define scientific criteria for the identification of endocrine disruptors (EDs). The objectives of the EU strategy on EDs are to protect human health and the environment, to assure the functioning of the market, and to provide clear and coherent criteria for the identification of EDs that could have broad application in the EU legislation. Policy issues were to be addressed by the Ad-hoc group of Commission Services, EU Agencies and Member States established in 2010, whereas the scientific issues were to be addressed by the Endocrine Disruptors Expert Advisory Group (ED EAG), established in 2011. The ED EAG adopted the 2002 World Health Organization (WHO) definition of endocrine disruptor and agreed that for its identification it is necessary to produce convincing evidence of a biologically plausible causal link between an adverse effect and endocrine disrupting mode of action. In 2014, the European Commission proposed four ED identification criteria options and three regulatory options, which are now being assessed for socio-economic, environmental, and health impact. Slovenia supports the establishing of identification criteria and favours option 4, according to which ED identification should be based on the WHO definition with the addition of potency as an element of hazard characterisation. As for regulatory options, Slovenia favours the risk-based rather than hazard-based regulation.

Grundwasserökosysteme im Recht? - Eine kritische Betrachtung zur rechtlichen Stellung von Grundwasserökosystemen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Hans Jürgen; Schweer, Christian; Griebler, Christian

2018-05-01

Groundwater is the largest and oldest continental biome. However, in the German and EU legislation, groundwater is still considered an abiotic resource rather than an ecosystem. On the other hand, the German Water Act (WHG, Wasserhaushaltsgesetz) mentions groundwaters along with other water bodies that carry the status of ecosystems. Its ecosystem status is also referred to in the preamble of the European Groundwater Directive (EC-GWD). The implementation of groundwater protection measures should be geared to the ecosystemic approach for surface waters contained in the European Water Framework Directive (EC-WFD) and to the German National Biodiversity Strategy (BMU 2007). Addition of the terms "good ecological status" and "groundwater ecosystems" into the German and EU environmental water laws is recommended. Groundwater habitats and species should be subject to impact assessment and included into the FFH directive and German nature conservation laws. There is no technical or legal argument for the discrimination of groundwater ecosystems and species in environmental legislation. The authors argue for the legal equality of ground and surface water, and propose the adaption of the existing legislation according to ecological requirements.

Governance of water resources in the phase of change: a case study of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in Sweden.

PubMed

Hammer, Monica; Balfors, Berit; Mörtberg, Ulla; Petersson, Mona; Quin, Andrew

2011-03-01

In this article, focusing on the ongoing implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, we analyze some of the opportunities and challenges for a sustainable governance of water resources from an ecosystem management perspective. In the face of uncertainty and change, the ecosystem approach as a holistic and integrated management framework is increasingly recognized. The ongoing implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) could be viewed as a reorganization phase in the process of change in institutional arrangements and ecosystems. In this case study from the Northern Baltic Sea River Basin District, Sweden, we focus in particular on data and information management from a multi-level governance perspective from the local stakeholder to the River Basin level. We apply a document analysis, hydrological mapping, and GIS models to analyze some of the institutional framework created for the implementation of the WFD. The study underlines the importance of institutional arrangements that can handle variability of local situations and trade-offs between solutions and priorities on different hierarchical levels.

Chemical contaminants entering the marine environment from sea-based sources: A review with a focus on European seas.

PubMed

Tornero, Victoria; Hanke, Georg

2016-11-15

Anthropogenic contaminants reach the marine environment mostly directly from land-based sources, but there are cases in which they are emitted or re-mobilized in the marine environment itself. This paper reviews the literature, with a predominant focus on the European environment, to compile a list of contaminants potentially released into the sea from sea-based sources and provide an overview of their consideration under existing EU regulatory frameworks. The resulting list contains 276 substances and for some of them (22 antifouling biocides, 32 aquaculture medicinal products and 34 warfare agents) concentrations and toxicity data are additionally provided. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive Descriptor 8, together with the Water Framework Directive and the Regional Sea Conventions, provides the provisions against pollution of marine waters by chemical substances. This literature review should inform about the current state of knowledge regarding marine contaminant sources and provide support for setting-up of monitoring approaches, including hotspots screening. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

The Role of Defect Complexes in the Magneto-Optical Properties of Rare Earth Doped Gallium Nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell, Brandon

Wide band gap semiconductors doped with rare earth ions (RE) have shown great potential for applications in optoelectronics, photonics, and spintronics. The 1.54mum Erbium (Er) emission has been extensively utilized in optical fiber communications, and Europium (Eu) is commonly used as a red color component for LEDs and fluorescence lamps. For the realization of spintronic-type devices, a dilutely doped semiconductor that exhibits room temperature ferromagnetic behavior would be desirable. Such behavior has been observed in GaN:Er. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that strain may play an important role in the control of this ferromagnetism; however, this requires further investigation. One motivation of this work is the realization of an all solid state white light source monolithically integrated into III/V nitride semiconductor materials, ideally GaN. For this, the current AlGaAs-based LEDs need to be replaced. One approach for achieving efficient red emission from GaN is dilute doping with fluorescent ions. In this regard, Eu has consistently been the most promising candidate as a dopant in the active layer for a red, GaN based, LED due to the sharp 5D0 to 7F2 transitions that result in red emission around 620nm. The success of GaN:Eu as the active layer for a red LED is based on the ability for the Eu ions to be efficiently excited by electron hole pairs. Thus, the processes by which energy is transferred from the host to the Eu ions has been studied. Complications arise, however, from the fact that Eu ions incorporate into multiple center environments, the structures of which are found to have a profound influence on the excitation pathways and efficiencies of the Eu ion. Therefore the nature of Eu incorporation and the resulting luminescence efficiency in GaN has been extensively investigated. By performing a comparative study on GaN:Eu samples grown under a variety of controlled conditions and using a variety of experimental techniques, the majority site has been concluded to contain a nitrogen vacancy (V N) in its immediate structure. The nitrogen vacancy can appear in two symmetries, which has a profound impact on the luminescence and magnetic properties of the sample. The structure of the minority site has also been identified. For both sites, we give substantial evidence that the excitation efficiency of the red Eu emission is improved by the presence of donor-acceptor pairs in the vicinity of the Eu. Furthermore, when Mg was co-doped into GaN:Eu, additional incorporation environments were discovered that show high excitation efficiency at room temperature. These have been attributed to the coupling of Mg-H complexes to the majority Eu site. Electron beam irradiation, indirect and resonant (direct) laser excitation were found to modify these complexes, indicating that vibrational energy alone can trigger the migration of the H, while the presence of additional charges and excess energy controls the type of reconfiguration and the activation of non-radiative decay channels. We identify, experimentally, a two-step process in the dissociation of Mg-H complexes and propose, based on density functional theory, that the presence of minority carriers and the resulting charge states of complexes can also influence this process. In GaN:Er, we have given a more thorough overview of the optical and magneto-optical properties by extending to the 800nm excitation range and drastically improving the signal-to-noise ratio in the magnetic measurements, as well as applying a perpendicular magnetic field. This has allowed us to calculate g-factors for the parallel case, but revealed that the Zeeman interaction is not quite linear for perpendicular magnetic fields. We were able to assign crystal field numbers of mu = 3/2 to two crystal field levels. We have also given strong evidence that the strain in the sample, which results from lattice mismatch, enhances its magnetization, as seen through fluorescence line narrowing and asymmetry between the Zeeman transition intensities, under application of magnetic fields in anti-parallel directions.

Link practical-oriented research and education: New training tools for a sustainable use of plant protection products.

PubMed

Sacchettini, G; Calliera, M

2017-02-01

In the Horizon 2020 work programme 2016-17 it is stated that in 2010, 71% of European farm managers were operating on the basis of practical experience only. Education levels greatly vary depending on country, farm managers' age and gender, or farm structures, and this can hamper innovation. Transition towards a more sustainable agriculture requires a renewal and strengthening of the technical skills of all the actors involved and - as a consequence - of the educational system. The EU Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides (EU, 128/2009/EC) requires European Member States to develop training activities targeting occupational exposure to pesticides. The objective of this study is to develop new training tools for operators, addressing the new legal requirements and taking into account what is already available. For this reason, the outcomes of different European and national research projects developed by the Opera Research Centre were used, involving stakeholders in the decision making process, but also considering the real behaviours and perceptions of the final users. As a result, an e-learning tool able to build personalized training programmes, by collecting and integrating existing training material on Plant Protection Products use was developed, together with an e-learning course, with the aim to help operators, advisors and distributors to get prepared for their national certificate test. This work highlights the opportunity to create long-term added value through enhanced collaboration between educators and researchers, and identifies a common set of priorities that has to be taken into account in order to nudge the changes required to achieve a more sustainable use of pesticide and, more in general, sustainable development. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Good animal welfare makes economic sense: potential of pig abattoir meat inspection as a welfare surveillance tool

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

During abattoir meat inspection pig carcasses are partially or fully condemned upon detection of disease that poses a risk to public health or welfare conditions that cause animal suffering e.g. fractures. This incurs direct financial losses to producers and processors. Other health and welfare-related conditions may not result in condemnation but can necessitate ‘trimming’ of the carcass e.g. bruising, and result in financial losses to the processor. Since animal health is a component of animal welfare these represent a clear link between suboptimal pig welfare and financial losses to the pig industry. Meat inspection data can be used to inform herd health programmes, thereby reducing the risk of injury and disease and improving production efficiency. Furthermore, meat inspection has the potential to contribute to surveillance of animal welfare. Such data could contribute to reduced losses to producers and processors through lower rates of carcass condemnations, trimming and downgrading in conjunction with higher pig welfare standards on farm. Currently meat inspection data are under-utilised in the EU, even as a means of informing herd health programmes. This includes the island of Ireland but particularly the Republic. This review describes the current situation with regard to meat inspection regulation, method, data capture and utilisation across the EU, with special reference to the island of Ireland. It also describes the financial losses arising from poor animal welfare (and health) on farms. This review seeks to contribute to efforts to evaluate the role of meat inspection as a surveillance tool for animal welfare on-farm, using pigs as a case example. PMID:22738170

Mapping and monitoring High Nature Value farmlands: challenges in European landscapes.

PubMed

Lomba, Angela; Guerra, Carlos; Alonso, Joaquim; Honrado, João Pradinho; Jongman, Rob; McCracken, David

2014-10-01

The importance of low intensity farming for the conservation of biodiversity throughout Europe was acknowledged early in the 1990s when the concept of 'High Nature Value farmlands' (HNVf) was devised. HNVf has subsequently been given high priority within the EU Rural Development Programme. This puts a requirement on each EU Member State not only to identify the extent and condition of HNVf within their borders but also to track trends in HNVf over time. However, the diversity of rural landscapes across the EU, the scarcity of (adequate) datasets on biodiversity, land cover and land use, and the lack of a common methodology for HNVf mapping currently represent obstacles to the implementation of the HNVf concept across Europe. This manuscript provides an overview of the characteristics of HNVf across Europe together with a description of the development of the HNVf concept. Current methodological approaches for the identification and mapping of HNVf across EU-27 and Switzerland are then reviewed, the main limitations of these approaches highlighted and recommendations made as to how the identification, mapping and reporting of HNVf state and trends across Europe can potentially be improved and harmonised. In particular, we propose a new framework that is built on the need for strategic HNVf monitoring based on a hierarchical, bottom-up structure of assessment units, coincident with the EU levels of political decision and devised indicators, and which is linked strongly to a collaborative European network that can provide the integration and exchange of data from different sources and scales under common standards. Such an approach is essential if the scale of the issues facing HNVf landscapes are to be identified and monitored properly at the European level. This would then allow relevant agri-environmental measures to be developed, implemented and evaluated at the scale(s) required to maintain the habitats and species of high nature conservation value that are intimately associated with those landscapes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Water-Soluble 2-Hydroxyisophthalamides for Sensitization of Lanthanide Luminescence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samuel, Amanda P. S.; Moore, Evan G.; Melchior, Marco

2008-02-20

A series of octadentate ligands featuring the 2-hydroxyisophthalamide (IAM) antenna chromophore (to sensitize Tb(III) and Eu(III) luminescence) has been prepared and characterized. The length of the alkyl amine scaffold that links the four IAM moieties has been varied in order to investigate the effect of the ligand backbone on the stability and photophysical properties of the Ln(III) complexes. The amine backbones utilized in this study are N,N,N{prime},N{prime}-tetrakis-(2-aminoethyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine [H(2,2)-], N,N,N{prime},N{prime}-tetrakis-(2-aminoethyl)-propane-1,3-diamine [H(3,2)-] and N,N,N{prime},N{prime}-tetrakis-(2-aminoethyl)-butane-1,4-diamine [H(4,2)-]. These ligands also incorporate methoxyethylene [MOE] groups on each of the IAM chromophores to increase their water solubility. The aqueous ligand protonation constants and Tb(III) and Eu(III)more » formation constants were determined from solution thermodynamic studies. The resulting values indicate that at physiological pH, the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes of H(2,2)-IAM-MOE and H(4,2)-IAM-MOE are sufficiently stable to prevent dissociation at nanomolar concentrations. The photophysical measurements for the Tb(III) complexes gave overall quantum yield values of 0.56, 0.39, and 0.52 respectively for the complexes with H(2,2)-IAM-MOE, H(3,2)-IAM-MOE and H(4,2)-IAM-MOE, while the corresponding Eu(III) complexes displayed significantly weaker luminescence, with quantum yield values of 0.0014, 0.0015, and 0.0058, respectively. Analysis of the steady state Eu(III) emission spectra provides insight into the solution symmetries of the complexes. The combined solubility, stability and photophysical performance of the Tb(III) complexes in particular make them well suited to serve as the luminescent reporter group in high sensitivity time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays.« less

Synthesis of Compositionally Defined Single-Crystalline Eu 3+ -Activated Molybdate–Tungstate Solid-Solution Composite Nanowires and Observation of Charge Transfer in a Novel Class of 1D CaMoO 4 –CaWO 4 :Eu 3+ –0D CdS/CdSe QD Nanoscale Heterostructures

DOE PAGES

Han, Jinkyu; McBean, Coray; Wang, Lei; ...

2015-02-10

As a first step, we have synthesized and optically characterized a systematic series of one-dimensional (1D) single-crystalline Eu³⁺-activated alkaline-earth metal tungstate/molybdate solid solution composite CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄ (0 ≤ ‘x’ ≤ 1) nanowires of controllable chemical composition using a modified template-directed methodology under ambient room-temperature conditions. Extensive characterization of the resulting nanowires has been performed using X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopy. The crystallite size and single crystallinity of as-prepared 1D CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄: Eu³⁺ (0 ≤ ‘x’ ≤ 1) solid solution composite nanowires increase with increasing Mo component (‘x’). We note a clear dependence of luminescence output uponmore » nanowire chemical composition with our 1D CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄: Eu³⁺ (0 ≤ ‘x’ ≤ 1) evincing the highest photoluminescence (PL) output at ‘x’ = 0.8, amongst samples tested. Subsequently, coupled with either zero-dimensional (0D) CdS or CdSe quantum dots (QDs), we successfully synthesized and observed charge transfer processes in 1D CaW1-xMoxO4: Eu3+ (‘x’ = 0.8) – 0D QD composite nanoscale heterostructures. Our results show that CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄: Eu³⁺ (‘x’ = 0.8) nanowires give rise to PL quenching when CdSe QDs and CdS QDs are anchored onto the surfaces of 1D CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄: Eu³⁺ nanowires. The observed PL quenching is especially pronounced in CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄: Eu³⁺ (‘x’ = 0.8) – 0D CdSe QD heterostructures. Conversely, the PL output and lifetimes of CdSe and CdS QDs within these heterostructures are not noticeably altered as compared with unbound CdSe and CdS QDs. The difference in optical behavior between 1D Eu³⁺ activated tungstate and molybdate solid solution nanowires and the semiconducting 0D QDs within our heterostructures can be correlated with the relative positions of their conduction and valence energy band levels. We propose that the PL quenching can be attributed to a photo-induced electron transfer process from CaW₁₋ xMo xO₄: Eu³⁺ (‘x’ = 0.8) to both CdSe and CdS QDs, an assertion supported by complementary NEXAFS measurements.« less

Ageing with elegans: a research proposal to map healthspan pathways.

PubMed

Luyten, Walter; Antal, Peter; Braeckman, Bart P; Bundy, Jake; Cirulli, Francesca; Fang-Yen, Christopher; Fuellen, Georg; Leroi, Armand; Liu, Qingfei; Martorell, Patricia; Metspalu, Andres; Perola, Markus; Ristow, Michael; Saul, Nadine; Schoofs, Liliane; Siems, Karsten; Temmerman, Liesbet; Smets, Tina; Wolk, Alicja; Rattan, Suresh I S

2016-08-01

Human longevity continues to increase world-wide, often accompanied by decreasing birth rates. As a larger fraction of the population thus gets older, the number of people suffering from disease or disability increases dramatically, presenting a major societal challenge. Healthy ageing has therefore been selected by EU policy makers as an important priority ( http://www.healthyageing.eu/european-policies-and-initiatives ); it benefits not only the elderly but also their direct environment and broader society, as well as the economy. The theme of healthy ageing figures prominently in the Horizon 2020 programme ( https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/health-demographic-change-and-wellbeing ), which has launched several research and innovation actions (RIA), like "Understanding health, ageing and disease: determinants, risk factors and pathways" in the work programme on "Personalising healthcare" ( https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/693-phc-01-2014.html ). Here we present our research proposal entitled "ageing with elegans" (AwE) ( http://www.h2020awe.eu/ ), funded by this RIA, which aims for better understanding of the factors causing health and disease in ageing, and to develop evidence-based prevention, diagnostic, therapeutic and other strategies. The aim of this article, authored by the principal investigators of the 17 collaborating teams, is to describe briefly the rationale, aims, strategies and work packages of AwE for the purposes of sharing our ideas and plans with the biogerontological community in order to invite scientific feedback, suggestions, and criticism.

Physical, structural and luminescence investigation of Eu3+-doped lithium-gadolinium bismuth-borate glasses for LEDs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaman, F.; Rooh, G.; Srisittipokakun, N.; Wongdeeying, C.; Kim, H. J.; Kaewkhao, J.

2018-06-01

The aim of the current report is to fabricate Eu3+-doped glasses with the chemical composition of 50Li2O-15Gd2O3-5Bi2O3-(30-x)B2O3-xEu2O3 (where x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mol%), with the help of conventional melt quenching technique. The fabricated glasses have been studied with help of physical, structural and luminescence properties for application of LEDs. The structural properties were investigated by XRD and FTIR spectra. Physical properties have been measured. Direct and indirect optical energy band gap (Eg) have been calculated and found to be increasing with Eu2O3 concentration. Luminescence spectra have been observed from photo and radioluminescence spectra and found in good agreement with each other, however the concentration quenching was not determined for the samples. The high-covalence and asymmetric nature was confirmed from Photoluminescence emission and RL emission transition as well as from the higher values of luminescence intensity ratio. The JO parameters have been found for the better performance of lasing materials. The lifetime's data have been found to be decreasing from 1.64 to 1.50 ms, which is the confirmation of energy transfer in Eu3+ ions through cross relaxations. From the calculated properties it has been suggested that the present glass samples might be good for red-light emitting devices.

Photoluminescence spectroscopy of YVO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} nanoparticles with aromatic linker molecules: A precursor to biomedical functionalization

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Senty, T. R.; Yalamanchi, M.; Cushing, S. K.

2014-04-28

Photoluminescence spectra of YVO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} nanoparticles are presented, with and without the attachment of organic molecules that are proposed for linking to biomolecules. YVO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 3+} nanoparticles with 5% dopant concentration were synthesized via wet chemical synthesis. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show the expected wakefieldite structure of tetragonal particles with an average size of 17 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy determines that metal-carboxylate coordination is successful in replacing native metal-hydroxyl bonds with three organic linkers, namely, benzoic acid, 3-nitro 4-chloro-benzoic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, in separate treatments. UV-excitation photoluminescence spectra show that the position and intensity of the dominantmore » {sup 5}D{sub 0} – {sup 7}F{sub 2} electric-dipole transition at 619 nm are unaffected by the benzoic acid and 3-nitro 4-chloro-benzoic acid treatments. Attachment of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid produces an order-of-magnitude quenching in the photoluminescence, due to the presence of high-frequency vibrational modes in the linker. Ratios of the dominant electric- and magnetic-dipole transitions confirm infrared measurements, which indicate that the bulk crystal of the nanoparticle is unchanged by all three treatments.« less

A surveillance network for meningococcal disease in Europe.

PubMed

Trotter, Caroline L; Chandra, Manosree; Cano, Rosa; Larrauri, Amparo; Ramsay, Mary E; Brehony, Carina; Jolley, Keith A; Maiden, Martin C J; Heuberger, Sigrid; Frosch, Matthias

2007-01-01

Between 1999 and 2004, the European Union Invasive Bacterial Infections Surveillance Network (EU-IBIS) received c. 50,000 reports of meningococcal disease from 27 participating countries. Analysis has demonstrated a major decline in the incidence of invasive disease in those countries that have introduced routine vaccination against serogroup C infection. The establishment of rapid reporting of W135 and B2a/B2b strains has been able to provide early reassurance that these strains are not emerging as major public health problems in Europe. Between September 2001 and February 2005, the EU-MenNet project offered further opportunities for enhancing this data resource. Collaborative projects included: improving the EU-IBIS website; reviewing case ascertainment in Europe; reviewing cost-effectiveness studies for meningococcal serogroup C conjugate (MCC) vaccination; international comparisons of MCC vaccine efficacy; and mathematical modelling studies. In addition, linking of data from the European Meningococcal Multi-locus Sequence Type Centre to epidemiological data was performed. Particular clonal complexes were found to be preferentially associated with certain serogroups. Case fatality was also found to vary with clonal complex, suggesting that genotype can be a marker for hypervirulence. The importance of close collaboration between networks of epidemiologists, microbiologists, and the wider scientific and public health community is demonstrated.

Can Croatia Join Europe as Competitive Knowledge-based Society by 2010?

PubMed Central

Petrovečki, Mladen; Paar, Vladimir; Primorac, Dragan

2006-01-01

The 21st century has brought important changes in the paradigms of economic development, one of them being a shift toward recognizing knowledge and information as the most important factors of today. The European Union (EU) has been working hard to become the most competitive knowledge-based society in the world, and Croatia, an EU candidate country, has been faced with a similar task. To establish itself as one of the best knowledge-based country in the Eastern European region over the next four years, Croatia realized it has to create an education and science system correspondent with European standards and sensitive to labor market needs. For that purpose, the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports (MSES) has created and started implementing a complex strategy, consisting of the following key components: the reform of education system in accordance with the Bologna Declaration; stimulation of scientific production by supporting national and international research projects; reversing the “brain drain” into “brain gain” and strengthening the links between science and technology; and informatization of the whole education and science system. In this comprehensive report, we describe the implementation of these measures, whose coordination with the EU goals presents a challenge, as well as an opportunity for Croatia to become a knowledge-based society by 2010. PMID:17167853

Glucose transport and milk secretion during manipulated plasma insulin and glucose concentrations and during LPS-induced mastitis in dairy cows.

PubMed

Gross, J J; van Dorland, H A; Wellnitz, O; Bruckmaier, R M

2015-08-01

In dairy cows, glucose is essential as energy source and substrate for milk constituents. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of long-term manipulated glucose and insulin concentrations in combination with a LPS-induced mastitis on mRNA abundance of glucose transporters and factors involved in milk composition. Focusing on direct effects of insulin and glucose without influence of periparturient endocrine adaptations, 18 dairy cows (28 ± 6 weeks of lactation) were randomly assigned to one of three infusion treatments for 56 h (six animals each). Treatments included a hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemic clamp (HypoG), a hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic clamp (EuG) and a control group (NaCl). After 48 h of infusions, an intramammary challenge with LPS from E. coli was performed and infusions continued for additional 8 h. Mammary gland biopsies were taken before, at 48 (before LPS challenge) and at 56 h (after LPS challenge) of infusion, and mRNA abundance of genes involved in mammary gland metabolism was measured by RT-qPCR. During the 48 h of infusions, mRNA abundance of glucose transporters GLUT1, 3, 4, 8, 12, SGLT1, 2) was not affected in HypoG, while they were downregulated in EuG. The mRNA abundance of alpha-lactalbumin, insulin-induced gene 1, κ-casein and acetyl-CoA carboxylase was downregulated in HypoG, but not affected in EuG. Contrary during the intramammary LPS challenge, most of the glucose transporters were downregulated in NaCl and HypoG, but not in EuG. The mRNA abundance of glucose transporters in the mammary gland seems not to be affected by a shortage of glucose, while enzymes and milk constituents directly depending on glucose as a substrate are immediately downregulated. During LPS-induced mastitis in combination with hypoglycaemia, mammary gland metabolism was more aligned to save glucose for the immune system compared to a situation without limited glucose availability during EuG. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Walker, Randy M

Thousands of shipments of radioisotopes developed in the United States (US) are transported domestically and internationally for medical and industrial applications, including to partner laboratories in European Union (EU) countries. Over the past five years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have worked with state regulatory compliance personnel, key private sector shippers and carriers, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking and monitoring of medical and industrial radioisotopes inmore » commerce. The EPA Radiological Source Tracking and Monitoring (RadSTraM) project tested, evaluated, and integrated RFID technologies in laboratory settings, and at multiple private-sector shipping and distribution facilities (Perkin Elmer and DHL) using common radioisotopes used in everyday commerce. The RFID tracking was also tested in association with other deployed technologies including radiation detection, chemical/explosives detection, advanced imaging, lasers, and infrared scanning. At the 2007 EU-US Summit, the leaders of the US Department of Commerce (DOC) and EU European Commission (EC) committed to pursue jointly directed Lighthouse Priority Projects. These projects are intended to 'foster cooperation' and 'reduce regulatory burdens' with respect to transatlantic commerce. The Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) Lighthouse Project on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has been directed to 'develop a joint framework for cooperation on identification and development of best practices for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies.' The RFID Lighthouse Priority Project commits both sides to endeavor to align U.S. and EU regulatory and policy approaches on RFID technologies, including pilot projects in the public sector. The RadSTraM project was specifically cited as a candidate for a RFID Lighthouse Project by the EU/DOC collaboration in meeting their mutual goal of developing a 'joint framework for cooperation on identification and development of best practices for RFID technologies.' Concurrently, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) identified this project as a candidate for radioisotope packages shipped by the postal service between the United State Postal Service (USPS). and European Post Agencies.« less

Differences in national legislation for the implementation of lead regulations included in the European directive for the protection of the health and safety of workers with occupational exposure to chemical agents (98/24/EC).

PubMed

Taylor, Andrew; Angerer, Jurgen; Arnaud, Josiane; Claeys, Françoise; Kristiansen, Jesper; Mazarrasa, Olav; Menditto, Antonio; Patriarca, Marina; Pineau, Alain; Valkonen, Sinikka; Weykamp, Cas

2007-01-01

The European Council Directive 98/24 on the protection of the health and safety of workers exposed to chemical agents sets out provisions for environmental and biological monitoring, making specific reference to binding limit values and health surveillance measures for those with exposure to lead To compare how the Directive has been implemented at a national level in EU countries and to determine whether workers receive equivalent protection. Information on selected key issues was collected from 14 EU countries by means of a structured questionnaire. National occupational exposure limit values generally reflect that set by the Directive (0.15 mg/m(3)), but in five cases lower limits are set. National binding biological limit values range from 20 microg/100 ml blood in one country up to 80 microg/100 ml blood in others. The risk to the unborn child is generally recognised with specific measures for women of child-bearing potential or those that are pregnant or breast feeding. In only three countries are special arrangements included for young workers. Limits at which medical surveillance is put into effect are more consistent at 40 microg/100 ml in most countries. The Directive also refers to guidelines for health surveillance but none have been issued with respect to lead. Thus monitoring strategies and requirements for analytical performance vary considerably. The results of this survey suggest that protection of workers against the risk of exposure to lead at work is far from uniform across the European Union. Such disparity may also have implications on the requirements set at national level for laboratories measuring lead in blood and/or air. In the interest of harmonisation within the EU, further consideration should be given to the Annex II of the EC Directive 98/24, taking into account the suggestions for lower binding limit values for lead; this should include full guidelines for medical surveillance and requirements for laboratories should be issued.

Quality assurance: the key for amendments of the EU-directive/s regulating veterinary training in Europe.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Martínez, H

2004-08-01

The free movement of persons, goods and services within the European Union (EU) is one of the major principles established by the European treaties. This free movement shall now be reinforced through the full application of the new general system for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, in which veterinary medicine is included. The success of this measure for internal market development imposes availability of professionals with the highest possible basic training and opportunities for continuing education and specialisation. Such benchmark definition requires the establishment of veterinary training throughout the EU to focus on the qualitative aspects of the basic training they impart. New production forms, new labour markets and a higher degree of consciousness of the producers and the consumers, together with an ever-increasing load of new information and knowledge in most veterinary fields had forced changes in veterinary education strategies. These changes have led to the adaptation of curricula and the application of new pedagogical concepts ultimately leading to the design of new, exciting programmes of veterinary training. Some of them use a combination of basic education and elective terms while others have focused training in species-oriented tracks already by the time students enter the clinical level. There is general consent that the quality of basal training must enable the student to achieve a level of confidence in life-long learning so he/she would be able to follow relevant CPD's and, eventually, pursue specialisation. At the same time, veterinary establishments are concerned with their ability to achieve these goals, mostly due to the usual high costs of veterinary training that constrain their chances to maintain equality of training levels through the EU. We need to find tools to harmonise veterinary training among the establishments of veterinary education in Europe, beyond the compulsory subject and training minimum requirements laid down by the Directive 78/1027. Harmonisation requires regulations but also awareness. Establishments of veterinary education must not only comply with regulations but also become aware of the advantages of quality assurance of their basic training. The present paper is a series of personal reflections by the author who ultimately addresses veterinary educators and interest organisations such as the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) to focus on strategies of quality assurance as the basis for claims of amendments of the EU-Directive/s regulating veterinary training in Europe.

Potential application of ecological models in the European environmental risk assessment of chemicals. I. Review of protection goals in EU directives and regulations.

PubMed

Hommen, Udo; Baveco, J M Hans; Galic, Nika; van den Brink, Paul J

2010-07-01

Several European directives and regulations address the environmental risk assessment of chemicals. We used the protection of freshwater ecosystems against plant protection products, biocidal products, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals and priority substances under the Water Framework Directive as examples to explore the potential of ecological effect models for a refined risk assessment. Our analysis of the directives, regulations, and related guidance documents lead us to distinguish the following 5 areas for the application of ecological models in chemical risk assessment: 1) Extrapolation of organism-level effects to the population level: The protection goals are formulated in general terms, e.g., avoiding "unacceptable effects" or "adverse impact" on the environment or the "viability of exposed species." In contrast, most of the standard ecotoxicological tests provide data only on organism-level endpoints and are thus not directly linked to the protection goals which focus on populations and communities. 2) Extrapolation of effects between different exposure profiles: Especially for plant protection products, exposure profiles can be very variable and impossible to cover in toxicological tests. 3) Extrapolation of recovery processes: As a consequence of the often short-term exposures to plant protection products, the risk assessment is based on the community recovery principle. On the other hand, assessments under the other directives assume a more or less constant exposure and are based on the ecosystem threshold principle. 4) Analysis and prediction of indirect effects: Because effects on 1 or a few taxa might have consequences on other taxa that are not directly affected by the chemical, such indirect effects on communities have to be considered. 5) Prediction of bioaccumulation within food chains: All directives take the possibility of bioaccumulation, and thus secondary poisoning within the food chain, into account. (c) 2010 SETAC.

Visions for a Pan-European digital data infrastructure for groundwater quantity and quality data relevant for implementation of the Water Framework Directive.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinsby, Klaus; Broers, Hans Peter

2014-05-01

The EU Water Framework and Groundwater Directives stipulate that EU member states (MS) should ensure good groundwater chemical and quantitative by 2015. For the assessment of good chemical status the MS have to establish Natural Background Levels (NBLs) and Threshold Values (TVs) for groundwater bodies at risk and compare current concentration levels to these. In addition the MS shall ensure trend reversals in cases where contaminants or water levels show critical increasing or decreasing trends. The EU MS have to demonstrate that the quantitative and chemical status of its groundwater bodies does not put drinking water, ecosystems or other legitimate uses at risk. Easy on-line access to relevant visualizations of groundwater quality and quantity data of e.g. nitrate, chloride, arsenic and water tables in Europe's major aquifer types compiled from national databases would be of great importance for managers, authorities and scientists conducting risk and status assessments. The Water Resources Expert Group of the EuroGeoSurveys propose to develop Pan-European interactive on-line digital maps and visualizations of concentrations levels and trends, as well as calculated natural background levels and threshold values for the most important aquifer types of Europe mainly derived based on principles established in the former EU project "BRIDGE" - Background cRiteria for the IDentification of Groundwater Thresholds. Further, we propose to develop Pan-European digital and dynamic maps and cross sections in close collaboration with ecologists, which delineate dependent or associated terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems across Europe where groundwater quantity and quality plays a significant role in sustaining good ecological status of the ecosystem, and where the water resources and ecosystems are most vulnerable to climate change. Finally, integrated water resources management requires integrated consideration of both deep and shallow groundwater and surface water issues and interaction. It is therefore proposed to map regions of Europe that use coupled groundwater-surface water models in integrated water resources and river basin management. In the presentation we will show selected examples of data visualizations of importance to integrated water resources and river basin management and the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.

The impact of the EU Directive on patients' rights and cross border health care in Malta.

PubMed

Azzopardi-Muscat, Natasha; Aluttis, Christoph; Sorensen, Kristine; Pace, Roderick; Brand, Helmut

2015-10-01

The patients' rights and cross-border health care directive was implemented in Malta in 2013. Malta's transposition of the directive used the discretionary elements allowable to retain national control on cross-border care to the fullest extent. This paper seeks to analyse the underlying dynamics of this directive on the Maltese health care system through the lens of key health system stakeholders. Thirty-three interviews were conducted. Qualitative content analysis of the interviews reveals six key themes: fear from the potential impact of increased patient mobility, strategies employed for damage control, opportunities exploited for health system reform, moderate enhancement of patients' rights, negligible additional patient mobility and unforeseen health system reforms. The findings indicate that local stakeholders expected the directive to have significant negative effects and adopted measures to minimise these effects. In practice the directive has not affected patient mobility in Malta in the first months following its implementation. Government appears to have instrumentalised the implementation of the directive to implement certain reforms including legislation on patients' rights, a health benefits package and compulsory indemnity insurance. Whilst the Maltese geo-demographic situation precludes automatic generalisation of the conclusions from this case study to other Member States, the findings serve to advance our understanding of the mechanisms through which European legislation on health services is influencing health systems, particularly in small EU Member States. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Laser resonance ionization spectroscopy on lutetium for the MEDICIS project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gadelshin, V.; Cocolios, T.; Fedoseev, V.; Heinke, R.; Kieck, T.; Marsh, B.; Naubereit, P.; Rothe, S.; Stora, T.; Studer, D.; Van Duppen, P.; Wendt, K.

2017-11-01

The MEDICIS-PROMED Innovative Training Network under the Horizon 2020 EU program aims to establish a network of early stage researchers, involving scientific exchange and active cooperation between leading European research institutions, universities, hospitals, and industry. Primary scientific goal is the purpose of providing and testing novel radioisotopes for nuclear medical imaging and radionuclide therapy. Within a closely linked project at CERN, a dedicated electromagnetic mass separator system is presently under installation for production of innovative radiopharmaceutical isotopes at the new CERN-MEDICIS laboratory, directly adjacent to the existing CERN-ISOLDE radioactive ion beam facility. It is planned to implement a resonance ionization laser ion source (RILIS) to ensure high efficiency and unrivaled purity in the production of radioactive ions. To provide a highly efficient ionization process, identification and characterization of a specific multi-step laser ionization scheme for each individual element with isotopes of interest is required. The element lutetium is of primary relevance, and therefore was considered as first candidate. Three two-step excitation schemes for lutetium atoms are presented in this work, and spectroscopic results are compared with data of other authors.

Occurrence of aflatoxin M1 in UHT milk in Turkey.

PubMed

Unusan, Nurhan

2006-11-01

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) appears in milk as a direct result of the ingestion of food contaminated with aflatoxin B1 by cattle. The role of milk in human nutrition is well-known. The purpose of the study was to determine the levels of AFM1 in UHT milk samples in Central Anatolia, Turkey. The occurrence of AFM1 contamination in UHT milk samples was investigated by ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique. A total of 129 samples of commercial UHT whole milk were analysed. The mean value was 108.17 ng/L. There was a high incidence rate of AFM1, with 75 (58.1%) milk samples being contaminated. Although 68 (53%) were below the limit, the remaining 61 (47%) were well above the limit permitted by the EU. Four of the samples exceeded the prescribed limit of US regulations. It can be concluded that AFM1 levels in the samples purchased in Central Anatolia Region, appear to be a serious public health problem at the moment. Dairy farmers must be educated by the government authorities on potential health consequences of aflatoxins.

Chiral Silver-Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks Comprised of One-Dimensional Triple Right-Handed Helical Chains Based on [Ln7(μ3-OH)8]13+ Clusters.

PubMed

Guo, Yan; Zhang, Lijuan; Muhammad, Nadeem; Xu, Yan; Zhou, Yunshan; Tang, Fang; Yang, Shaowei

2018-02-05

Three new isostructural chiral silver-lanthanide heterometal-organic frameworks [Ag 3 Ln 7 (μ 3 -OH) 8 (bpdc) 6 (NO 3 ) 3 (H 2 O) 6 ](NO 3 )·2H 2 O [Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2, Sm (3); H 2 bpdc = 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-dicarboxylic acid] based on heptanuclear lanthanide clusters [Ln 7 (μ 3 -OH) 8 ] 13+ comprised of one-dimensional triple right-handed helical chains were hydrothermally synthesized. Various means such as UV-vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis were used to characterize the compounds, wherein compound 3 was crystallographically characterized. In the structure of compound 3, eight μ 3 -OH - groups link seven Sm 3+ ions, forming a heptanuclear cluster, [Sm 7 (μ 3 -OH) 8 ] 13+ , and the adjacent [Sm 7 (μ 3 -OH) 8 ] 13+ clusters are linked by the carboxylic groups of bpdc 2- ligands, leading to the formation of a one-dimensional triple right-handed helical chain. The adjacent triple right-handed helical chains are further joined together by coordinating the pyridyl N atoms of the bpdc 2- ligands with Ag + , resulting in a chiral three-dimensional silver(I)-lanthanide(III) heterometal-organic framework with one-dimensional channels wherein NO 3 - anions and crystal lattice H 2 O molecules are trapped. The compounds were studied systematically with respect to their photoluminescence properties and energy-transfer mechanism, and it was found that H 2 bpdc (the energy level for the triplet states of the ligand H 2 bpdc is 21505 cm -1 ) can sensitize Eu 3+ luminescence more effectively than Tb 3+ and Sm 3+ luminescence because of effective energy transfer from bpdc 2- to Eu 3+ under excitation in compound 1.

General sale of non-prescription medicinal products: Comparing legislation in two European countries.

PubMed

Lind, Johanna; Schafheutle, Ellen; Hägg, Annika Nordén; Sporrong, Sofia Kälvemark

2016-01-01

The number of non-prescription medicines (NPMs) available for self-medication is increasing within the European Union (EU). This can enhance the autonomy of individuals but is also connected with risks. Under an existing EU Directive, Sweden has only recently deregulated and made NPMs available in non-pharmacy outlets; The United Kingdom (UK) is a more established NPM market; both are guided by the same EU directives. The aim of this study was to compare specific requirements under the legislation, rationales and outcomes regarding the sale of NPMs through non-pharmacy outlets between Sweden and the UK. The main method was analysis of legislative text and policy documents, conducted in 2012. Both countries had specified medicines available to the public in non-pharmacy outlets, but with restrictions on different factors, e.g. placement and package size of the NPMs. The main rationales for legislation were quality and patient safety. NPMs for 51 ailments were available in the UK, compared to 35 in Sweden. Sweden had more extensive requirements, probably due to the market being more recently deregulated, while the UK represented a more mature market. There is a difference in the balance between confidence and control, as well as availability and safety when it comes to NPMs in non-pharmacy settings that needs to be further discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The use of existing environmental networks for the post-market monitoring of GM crop cultivation in the EU.

PubMed

Smets, G; Alcalde, E; Andres, D; Carron, D; Delzenne, P; Heise, A; Legris, G; Martinez Parrilla, M; Verhaert, J; Wandelt, C; Ilegems, M; Rüdelsheim, P

2014-07-01

The European Union (EU) Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment requires that both Case-Specific Monitoring (CSM) and General Surveillance (GS) are considered as post-market implementing measures. Whereas CSM is directed to monitor potential adverse effects of GMOs or their use identified in the environmental risk assessment, GS aims to detect un-intended adverse effects of GMOs or their use on human and animal health or the environment. Guidance documents on the monitoring of genetically modified (GM) plants from the Commission and EFSA clarify that, as appropriate, GS can make use of established routine surveillance practices. Networks involved in routine surveillance offer recognised expertise in a particular domain and are designed to collect information on important environmental aspects over a large geographical area. However, as the suitability of existing monitoring networks to provide relevant data for monitoring impacts of GMOs is not known, plant biotechnology companies developed an approach to describe the processes and criteria that will be used for selecting and evaluating existing monitoring systems. In this paper, the availability of existing monitoring networks for this purpose is evaluated. By cataloguing the existing environmental monitoring networks in the EU, it can be concluded that they can only be used, in the context of GMO cultivation monitoring, as secondary tools to collect baseline information.

[Health policy in the European Union: impact on the Spanish health system].

PubMed

Guimarães, Luisa; Freire, José-Manuel

2007-01-01

This text reviews the impact of European integration on the health sector (public health and health services) by studying European Union (EU) institutions, functioning, and responsibilities through the literature, documents, and authors' observations. The EU does not have direct health responsibilities, but Community legislation has important repercussions on all member states' health policies. This influence affects health protection issues, consumer safety, regulation of medicines and medical devices, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, freedom of movement for health professionals and patients, public contracts and bidding, research, etc. The evolution of EU health policy shows a progressive reinforcement of responsibilities consistent with the objective of reaching a high level of health protection, which in turn affects other European policies. The impact of European integration on the Spanish health system is analyzed as a case study, and key aspects and present and future challenges are highlighted. Lessons are also drawn for regional integration processes to foster equity and efficiency in health.

Emission of biocides from hospitals: comparing current survey results with European Union default values.

PubMed

Tluczkiewicz, Inga; Bitsch, Annette; Hahn, Stefan; Hahn, Torsten

2010-04-01

Under the European Union (EU) Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC, comprehensive evaluations on substances of the Third Priority List were conducted until 31 July 2007. This list includes, among other categories, disinfectants for human hygiene (e.g., skin and surface disinfection). For environmental exposure assessment of biocides, the EU emission scenarios apply. Currently available default values for disinfectants are based on consumption data from not more than 8 hospitals and were originally assembled for other purposes. To revalidate these default values, a survey on annual consumption data was performed in 27 German hospitals. These data were analyzed to provide consumption data per bed and day and per nurse and day for particular categories of active ingredients and were compared with default values from the EU emission scenario documents. Although several deviations were detected, an overall acceptable correspondence between Emission Scenario Documents default values and the current survey data was found. (c) 2009 SETAC

The accession countries benefit in the field of plant protection products.

PubMed

Stanek, A

2004-04-01

Ten candidate countries are expected to join EU in 2004. In the field of plant protection product (PPP) regulation, at EU level, acceding states will have roles in evaluation for listing of active substances in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC and ensuring that at national level, regulatory procedures comply with the acquis communautaire. This paper briefly outlines the impact of the acquis on the roles of Member States at both EU and national levels. It then briefly explains the current Czech Republic regulatory system as operated by the State Phytosanitary Administration and the National Institute of Public Health and the steps that the Czech Republic will have to take to implement the acquis requirements. Finally it makes an assessment as to how successful implementation of the acquis will prove beneficial to the acceding states and the parties which rely on the service that the regulatory authorities provide (i.e. the public, farmers and growers and the agrochemical industry).

Metal recovery by bioleaching of sulfidic mining wastes — Application to a European case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guézennec, A. G.; Jacob, J.; Joulian, C.; Dupraz, S.; Menard, Y.; d'Hugues, P.

The non-energy extractive industry (NEEI) of the EU-25 generated a direct turnover of about €40 billion, and provided employment to about 250000 people in 16629 companies in 2004. The use of primary raw materials in the production of other branches of EU industry means they have a central role in guaranteeing industrial and economic sustainability. Nevertheless current demand exceeds production, and so the EU is heavily dependent on minerals and metals imports. In this context of securing access to metals, turning mining wastes into new resources of currently unexploited valuable metals is an important challenge. The mining wastes can contain base and precious metals, but also metalloids and rare earth elements that are nowadays considered as highly critical for the industrial development of the European Union. Nevertheless, the development of alternative routes to conventional processing is still required in order to decrease the cost associated to the treatment of these unconventional resources which are more complex in composition and with lower grades.

The emerging mental health strategy of the European Union: a multi-level work-in-progress.

PubMed

Kelly, Brendan D

2008-01-01

Policy-making in the European Union (EU) is a complex process that can appear impenetrable and opaque. This paper examines the ongoing process of mental health policy-making in the EU. In 2005, the Health and Consumer Protectorate Director-General of the European Commission published a Green Paper and launched a consultation process aimed at mental health service-users, advocates, providers, business, social services and governments. While there were varying levels of participation between member states, a range of trans-national, national and infra-national actors made contributions. Based on these consultations, a 'Consultative Platform' was created and made 10 recommendations centered on the principles of partnership; establishing policy competencies; integrating mental health into national policies; involving stakeholders; and protecting human rights. This ongoing process illustrates many features of EU policy-making: (a) the European Commission generates an initiative; (b) policy focuses on EU standardization, with member states remaining central actors in service-delivery; (c) policy focuses on social inclusion; (d) the European Commission coordinates diverse networks of actors; and (e) there is 'multi-level' involvement, with direct interaction between trans-national, national and infra-national actors. An enhanced focus on epidemiological data and 'evidence-based policy' would increase rigor and focus further attention on this relatively neglected policy area.

Safety evaluation of cosmetics in the EU. Reality and challenges for the toxicologist.

PubMed

Pauwels, Marleen; Rogiers, Vera

2004-06-15

Council Directive 76/768/EEC, its seven amendments and 30 adaptations to technical progress form the basis of the cosmetic EU legislation today. There are actually four key principles for safety in the cosmetic legislation. (i) The full responsibility for the safety of cosmetics for human health is placed on the manufacturer, first importer in the EU or marketer. (ii) The safety evaluation of finished products is based on safety of individual ingredients, more specifically on their chemical structure, toxicological profile and their level of exposure. (iii) A compilation of information on each cosmetic product (dossier) must be kept readily available for inspection by the competent authorities of the Member State concerned. This information source, usually called a technical information file (TIF) or product information file/requirements (PIF(R)), contains, as the most important part, the safety assessment of the product undersigned by a competent safety assessor. (iv) The use of validated replacement alternative methods instead of animal testing forms the 4th key principle for safety of cosmetic products on the EU market. The 7th amendment imposes strict deadlines for the abolition of animal in vivo studies on cosmetic ingredients. These legal requirements induce a number of important challenges for the cosmetic industry and more specifically for the toxicologist involved as safety assessor.

Immigration Policies in Europe: Impact on Crime -- A Case Study of Germany

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-01

2180188,00.html? maca =en-bulletin- 433-html. Accessed 24 Feb 2008. 51 448,000 illegal immigrants up until September 2006 without EU assistance.168 The...asylum. 168 Your Link to Germany. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,2180188,00.html? maca =en...for a European Response to Illegal Immigration" 21 September 2006. .http://www.dw- world.de/dw/article/0,,2180188,00.html? maca =en-bulletin-433-html

Application of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to the air quality SHERPA modelling tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pisoni, E.; Albrecht, D.; Mara, T. A.; Rosati, R.; Tarantola, S.; Thunis, P.

2018-06-01

Air quality has significantly improved in Europe over the past few decades. Nonetheless we still find high concentrations in measurements mainly in specific regions or cities. This dimensional shift, from EU-wide to hot-spot exceedances, calls for a novel approach to regional air quality management (to complement EU-wide existing policies). The SHERPA (Screening for High Emission Reduction Potentials on Air quality) modelling tool was developed in this context. It provides an additional tool to be used in support to regional/local decision makers responsible for the design of air quality plans. It is therefore important to evaluate the quality of the SHERPA model, and its behavior in the face of various kinds of uncertainty. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis techniques can be used for this purpose. They both reveal the links between assumptions and forecasts, help in-model simplification and may highlight unexpected relationships between inputs and outputs. Thus, a policy steered SHERPA module - predicting air quality improvement linked to emission reduction scenarios - was evaluated by means of (1) uncertainty analysis (UA) to quantify uncertainty in the model output, and (2) by sensitivity analysis (SA) to identify the most influential input sources of this uncertainty. The results of this study provide relevant information about the key variables driving the SHERPA output uncertainty, and advise policy-makers and modellers where to place their efforts for an improved decision-making process.

One WEEE, many species: lessons from the European experience.

PubMed

Deepali Sinha Khetriwal; Widmer, Rolf; Kuehr, Ruediger; Huisman, Jaco

2011-09-01

Electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) pervades modern lifestyles, but its quick obsolescence is resulting in huge quantities of EEE to be disposed of. This fast-growing waste stream has been recognized for its hazard potential. The European Union's (EU) Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was essentially in response to the toxicity of e-waste - to ensure that it was collected and treated in an environmentally sound manner. Since then, the WEEE Directive has expanded its aims to include recovery of valuable resources as a means to reduce raw material extraction. With these objectives in mind, the Directive sets a common minimum legislative framework for all EU member states. However, the transposition of the Directive into national legislations has meant many differences in actual implementation models. There are 27 national transpositions of the Directive with different definitions, provisions and agreements. Each legislation reflects national situations, whether they are geographical considerations, legislative history, the influence of lobby groups and other national priorities. Although this diversity in legislations has meant massive problems in compliance and enforcement, it provides an opportunity to get an insight into the possible operational models of e-waste legislation. Building on the study by the United Nations University commissioned by the European Commission as part of its 2008 Review of the WEEE Directive, the paper identifies some key features of the Directive as well as legislative and operational differences in transposition and implementation in the various members states. The paper discusses the successes and challenges of the Directive and concludes with lessons learnt from the European experience.

Protecting Animals and Enabling Research in the European Union: An Overview of Development and Implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU.

PubMed

Olsson, I Anna S; Silva, Sandra Pinto da; Townend, David; Sandøe, Peter

2016-05-01

In 1986, European Directive 86/609/EEC, regulating the use of animals in research, was one of the first examples of common legislation to set standards for animal protection across the Member States of the former European Economic Community, now the European Union, with the aim of securing a level European playing field. Starting in 2002, a process of revising European animal experimentation legislation was undertaken, with one of its key aims being to ensure high standards of welfare for laboratory animals across Europe. This resulted in Directive 2010/63/EU, which has regulated this activity in Europe since 2013. Since this is a European Union Directive, transposition into national legislation is a necessary and important part of the implementation of the new legislation. This paper gives an overview of the transposition process followed by an analysis of the potential to reach the different objectives of the directive, particularly with a focus on securing the same high standards of animal protection across member countries. The analysis focuses on three separate issues: (1) minimum standards for laboratory animal housing and care, (2) restrictions on the use of certain animal species, and (3) project review and authorization. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The upper limits of pain and suffering in animal research.

PubMed

Beauchamp, Tom L; Morton, David B

2015-10-01

The control of risk and harm in human research often calls for the establishment of upper limits of risk of pain, suffering, and distress that investigators must not exceed. Such upper limits are uncommon in animal research, in which limits of acceptability are usually left to the discretion of individual investigators, institutions, national inspectors, or ethics review committees. We here assess the merits of the European Directive 2010/63/EU on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes and its accompanying instruments, such as guides and examples. These documents present a body of legislation governing animal research in the European Union. We argue that the directive supplies a promising approach, but one in need of revision. We interpret the directive's general conception of upper limits and show its promise for the establishment of high-quality policies. We provide a moral rationale for such policies, address the problem of justified exceptions to established upper limits, and show when causing harm is and is not wrongful. We conclude that if the standards we propose for improving the directive are not realized in the review of research protocols, loose and prejudicial risk-benefit assessments may continue to be deemed sufficient to justify morally questionable research. However, a revised EU directive and accompanying instruments could have a substantial influence on the ethics of animal research worldwide, especially in the development of morally sound legal frameworks.

End-of-Life vehicle recovery in china: Consideration and innovation following the EU ELV directive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Ming; Zhang, Fan

2009-03-01

Implementation of the EU’s end-of-life vehicle (ELV) directive eight years ago had a profound influence on China’s automotive industry, leading to the consideration of concepts such as extended producer responsibility. It also provided some impetus for ELV recycling industry developments within China. This article provides insight into current thinking within China about ELV recycling as well as vehicle recovery activities.

Occupational exposure to electric fields and induced currents associated with 400 kV substation tasks from different service platforms.

PubMed

Korpinen, Leena H; Elovaara, Jarmo A; Kuisti, Harri A

2011-01-01

The aim of the study was to investigate the occupational exposure to electric fields, average current densities, and average total contact currents at 400 kV substation tasks from different service platforms (main transformer inspection, maintenance of operating device of disconnector, maintenance of operating device of circuit breaker). The average values are calculated over measured periods (about 2.5 min). In many work tasks, the maximum electric field strengths exceeded the action values proposed in the EU Directive 2004/40/EC, but the average electric fields (0.2-24.5 kV/m) were at least 40% lower than the maximum values. The average current densities were 0.1-2.3 mA/m² and the average total contact currents 2.0-143.2 µA, that is, clearly less than the limit values of the EU Directive. The average values of the currents in head and contact currents were 16-68% lower than the maximum values when we compared the average value from all cases in the same substation. In the future it is important to pay attention to the fact that the action and limit values of the EU Directive differ significantly. It is also important to take into account that generally, the workers' exposure to the electric fields, current densities, and total contact currents are obviously lower if we use the average values from a certain measured time period (e.g., 2.5 min) than in the case where exposure is defined with only the help of the maximum values. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The European Working Time Directive and the effects on training of surgical specialists (doctors in training): a position paper of the surgical disciplines of the countries of the EU.

PubMed

Benes, V

2006-11-01

Legislation launched with the EWTD was born as a "Protection of the clinical personnel against overwork for the benefit of Patients" (consumer protection and safety). It appeared that this legislation is in direct and severe conflict with former EU legislation to train competent surgical specialists. First experiences with the EWTD show far reaching and serious consequences on the training of surgical specialists as well as on medical care. There will be a reduction of about 30-35% of clinical and operative experience acquired during the usual 6 yrs of training, with many other negative aspects (see p. 7). All measures proposed so far to overcome the ensuing problems are unworkable. The training of competent surgical specialists as required by the Directive 93/16 EEC is no longer possible and serious problems with safe patient care will occur in the short term, if no political actions are taken. The surgical specialties, represented in the UEMS, provide a proposal for a working hour model consisting of 48 hrs working time (incl. service duties) plus additional 12 hrs reserved and protected for teaching and training. This model would adhere to the EWTD on the one hand, yet maintain the desired standard of training. This proposed exemption from the EWTD would be limited to the time of specialist training. We ask the responsible politicians to find a solution rapidly to prevent serious negative consequences. This motion is supported by the surgical specialties (neurosurgery, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, paediatric surgery, cardio-thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, oto-rhino-laryngology, list not complete) of the member states of the EU, representing more than 80,000 surgical specialists.

Necessary, but Not Sufficient. The Benefit Concept in the Project Evaluation of Animal Research in the Context of Directive 2010/63/EU.

PubMed

Eggel, Matthias; Grimm, Herwig

2018-02-28

Directive 2010/63/EU (henceforth "Directive") on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes mandates that every project proposal in EU member states involving procedures on living non-human vertebrates and cephalopods has to be approved in an review process, including a harm-benefit-analysis (HBA), to assess "whether the harm to the animals in terms of suffering, pain and distress is justified by the expected outcome taking into account ethical consideration and may ultimately benefit human beings, animals or the environment". Despite the justifying relevance of "outcome" and "benefit", it remains unclear how to understand these concepts. However, national authorities and applicants require a clear understanding of this to carry out a HBA. To analyze the underlying premises of the HBA and its consequences for the evaluation process, we introduce a heuristic to analyze the relation between "outcome", "benefit" and "prospective benefit assessment". We then apply the heuristic to all seven legitimate purposes for animal research stated in the Directive, namely basic research, translational or applied research, product safety, education and training, protection of the environment, preservation of species and forensic inquiries. As we show, regardless of which purpose is aimed for, applicants are hard-pressed to demonstrate tangible benefits in a prospective assessment. In the HBA, this becomes a problem since-as we argue-the only reasonable, expected and tangible outcome of research can ever be knowledge. The potential long-term benefits on the basis of gained knowledge are unforeseeable and impossible to predict. Research is bound to fall short of these proclaimed societal benefits and its credibility will suffer as long as research has to validate itself through short-term societal benefit. We propose to revise the ethical evaluation based on the HBA and we think it necessary to develop an alternative model for project evaluation that focuses on the value of knowledge as a scientific outcome as a necessary but not sufficient condition for societal benefit.

Pepino mosaic virus genotype shift in North America and development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid genotype identification

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Pepino mosaic, once an emerging disease a decade ago, has become endemic on greenhouse tomatoes worldwide in recent years. Three distinct genotypes of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), including EU, US1 and CH2 have been recognized. Our earlier study conducted in 2006–2007 demonstrated a predominant EU genotype in Canada and United States. The objective of the present study was to monitor the dynamic of PepMV genetic composition and its current status in North America. Results Through yearly monitoring efforts in 2009–2012, we detected a dramatic shift in the prevalent genotype of PepMV from the genotype EU to CH2 in North America since early 2010, with another shift from CH2 to US1 occurring in Mexico only two years later. Through genetic diversity analysis using the coat protein gene, such genotype shifting of PepMV in North America was linked to the positive identification of similar sequence variants in two different commercial tomato seed sources used for scion and rootstock, respectively. To allow for a quick identification, a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) system was developed and demonstrated to achieve a rapid identification for each of the three genotypes of PepMV, EU, US1 and CH2. Conclusion Through systemic yearly monitoring and genetic diversity analysis, we identified a linkage between the field epidemic isolates and those from commercial tomato seed lots as the likely sources of initial PepMV inoculum that resulted in genetic shifting as observed on greenhouse tomatoes in North America. Application of the genotype-specific RT-LAMP system would allow growers to efficiently determine the genetic diversity on their crops. PMID:23587202

JRC GMO-Amplicons: a collection of nucleic acid sequences related to genetically modified organisms

PubMed Central

Petrillo, Mauro; Angers-Loustau, Alexandre; Henriksson, Peter; Bonfini, Laura; Patak, Alex; Kreysa, Joachim

2015-01-01

The DNA target sequence is the key element in designing detection methods for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Unfortunately this information is frequently lacking, especially for unauthorized GMOs. In addition, patent sequences are generally poorly annotated, buried in complex and extensive documentation and hard to link to the corresponding GM event. Here, we present the JRC GMO-Amplicons, a database of amplicons collected by screening public nucleotide sequence databanks by in silico determination of PCR amplification with reference methods for GMO analysis. The European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) provides these methods in the GMOMETHODS database to support enforcement of EU legislation and GM food/feed control. The JRC GMO-Amplicons database is composed of more than 240 000 amplicons, which can be easily accessed and screened through a web interface. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt at pooling and collecting publicly available sequences related to GMOs in food and feed. The JRC GMO-Amplicons supports control laboratories in the design and assessment of GMO methods, providing inter-alia in silico prediction of primers specificity and GM targets coverage. The new tool can assist the laboratories in the analysis of complex issues, such as the detection and identification of unauthorized GMOs. Notably, the JRC GMO-Amplicons database allows the retrieval and characterization of GMO-related sequences included in patents documentation. Finally, it can help annotating poorly described GM sequences and identifying new relevant GMO-related sequences in public databases. The JRC GMO-Amplicons is freely accessible through a web-based portal that is hosted on the EU-RL GMFF website. Database URL: http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/jrcgmoamplicons/ PMID:26424080

JRC GMO-Amplicons: a collection of nucleic acid sequences related to genetically modified organisms.

PubMed

Petrillo, Mauro; Angers-Loustau, Alexandre; Henriksson, Peter; Bonfini, Laura; Patak, Alex; Kreysa, Joachim

2015-01-01

The DNA target sequence is the key element in designing detection methods for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Unfortunately this information is frequently lacking, especially for unauthorized GMOs. In addition, patent sequences are generally poorly annotated, buried in complex and extensive documentation and hard to link to the corresponding GM event. Here, we present the JRC GMO-Amplicons, a database of amplicons collected by screening public nucleotide sequence databanks by in silico determination of PCR amplification with reference methods for GMO analysis. The European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF) provides these methods in the GMOMETHODS database to support enforcement of EU legislation and GM food/feed control. The JRC GMO-Amplicons database is composed of more than 240 000 amplicons, which can be easily accessed and screened through a web interface. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt at pooling and collecting publicly available sequences related to GMOs in food and feed. The JRC GMO-Amplicons supports control laboratories in the design and assessment of GMO methods, providing inter-alia in silico prediction of primers specificity and GM targets coverage. The new tool can assist the laboratories in the analysis of complex issues, such as the detection and identification of unauthorized GMOs. Notably, the JRC GMO-Amplicons database allows the retrieval and characterization of GMO-related sequences included in patents documentation. Finally, it can help annotating poorly described GM sequences and identifying new relevant GMO-related sequences in public databases. The JRC GMO-Amplicons is freely accessible through a web-based portal that is hosted on the EU-RL GMFF website. Database URL: http://gmo-crl.jrc.ec.europa.eu/jrcgmoamplicons/. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.

Developments in Laser-Ablation Split-Stream Petrochronology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kylander-Clark, Andrew R.

2017-04-01

One of the biggest challenges in assessing the timing and rates of petrogenesis and deformation is having the ability to match the age of a dated mineral to the conditions at which that mineral grew. This is especially challenging for high-temperature chonometers that can grow and remain stable over a wide range of pressures and temperatures. The development of the laser-ablation split-stream method has afforded the ability to rapidly aquire chemical and chronologic data that are directly linked; as such, timing and rates of processes are better constrained than before. Several examples are given within: 1) Zircon and monazite from a single, coesite-bearing sample from the Western Gneiss Region in western Norway record the entire 30+ Myr history of metamorphism during Caledonian orogenesis, from intial burial, through ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) conditions, and back to crustal levels. Early monazite ( 425 Ma) contains low concentrations of Sr and HREE, consistent with plagioclase and garnet stability during prograde metamorphism. 420-400 Ma ages from monazite (high Sr, increased Eu/Eu*, low HREE) and zircon (increased Eu/Eu*, low HREE) indicate the timing of HP conditions, and monazite with low Sr and high HREE indicates the breakdown of omphacite and garnet at 390 Ma. 2) Titanite is becoming more widely used as chronometer, primarly because laser ablation has made analysis more feasible. Nevertheless, dates produced from titanite can be difficult to interpret because titanite may alter more easily than zircon and monazite. LASS analyses of titanite, combined with X-ray maps and backscattered electron images provide insight into processes involved in growth, recrystallization and dissolution/reprecipitation, and allow us to better interpret ages and the geologic process that they represent. This study presents recrystallized titanite from metamorphic terranes as well as ocillatory-zoned titanite from igneous rocks, and suggests some possible processes that explain the TE/age trends. 3) Detrital zircons have long been used to investigate the location and geology of landforms in the past. By adding chemical information to the age data, a clearer history can be produced. Recent LASS data from Mesozoic sedimentary rocks indicate changes in chemistry of the Sierra Nevada-Peninsular Ranges batholith, as well and the exposure and erosion of distinct units (e.g., ophiolites) over discrete time periods. 4) Isotopic data retrieved in combination with age data across an orogeny or batholith can aid in the understanding of the areal and temporal evolution of both deformation and source rocks over time. This can be done with a number of petrochronometers: Hf in zircon, Nd in titanite and monazite, This study presents examples that show how significant advances can be made in understanding lithosphere evolution using this quick and efficient analytical technique.

Optical spectroscopy of rare earth ion-doped TiO2 nanophosphors.

PubMed

Chen, Xueyuan; Luo, Wenqin

2010-03-01

Trivalent rare-earth (RE3+) ion-doped TiO2 nanophosphors belong to one kind of novel optical materials and have attracted increasing attention. The luminescence properties of different RE3+ ions in various TiO2 nanomaterials have been reviewed. Much attention is paid to our recent progresses on the luminescence properties of RE3+ (RE = Eu, Er, Sm, Nd) ions in anatase TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by a sol-gel-solvothermal method. Using Eu3+ as a sensitive optical probe, three significantly different luminescence centers of Eu3+ in TiO2 nanoparticles were detected by means of site-selective spectroscopy at 10 K. Based on the crystal-field (CF) splitting of Eu3+ at each site, C2v and D2 symmetries were proposed for Eu3+ incorporated at two lattice sites. A structural model for the formation of multiple sites was proposed based on the optical behaviors of Eu3+ at different sites. Similar multi-site luminescence was observed in Sm(3+)- or Nd(3+)-doped TiO2 nanoparticles. In Eu(3+)-doped TiO2 nanoparticles, only weak energy transfer from the TiO2 host to the Eu3+ ions was observed at 10 K due to the mismatch of energy between the TiO2 band-gap and the Eu3+ excited states. On the contrary, efficient host-sensitized luminescences were realized in Sm(3+)- or Nd(3+)-doped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles due to the match of energy between TiO2 band-gap and the Sm3+ and Nd3+ excited states. The excitation spectra of both Sm(3+)- and Nd(3+)-doped samples exhibit a dominant broad peak centered at approximately 340 nm, which is associated with the band-gap of TiO2, indicating that sensitized emission is much more efficient than direct excitation of the Sm3+ and Nd3+ ions. Single lattice site emission of Er3+ in TiO2 nanocrystals can be achieved by modifying the experimental conditions. Upon excitation by a Ti: sapphire laser at 978 nm, intense green upconverted luminescence was observed. The characteristic emission of Er3+ ions was obtained both in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and near-infrared regions through the high-resolution experiments at 10 K. The CF experienced by Er3+ in TiO2 nanocrystal was systematically studied by means of the energy level fitting.

Growth of 2 Inch Eu-doped SrI2 single crystals for scintillator applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshikawa, Akira; Shoji, Yasuhiro; Yokota, Yuui; Kurosawa, Shunsuke; Hayasaka, Shoki; Chani, Valery I.; Ito, Tomoki; Kamada, Kei; Ohashi, Yuji; Kochurikhin, Vladimir

2016-10-01

A vertical Bridgman (VB) crystal growth process was established using modified micro-pulling-down (μ-PD) crystal growth system with a removable chamber that was developed for the growth of deliquescent halide single crystals because conventional μ-PD method does not allow growth of large bulk single crystals. Eu:SrI2 crystals were grown from the melt of (Sr0.98Eu0.02)I2 composition using carbon crucibles. Undoped μ-PD SrI2 crystals were used as seeds that were affixed to the bottom of the crucible. All the preparations preceding the growths and the hot zone assembling were performed in a glove box with Ar gas. Then the removable chamber was taken out of the glove box, attached to the μ-PD system, connected with a Turbo Molecular pump, and evacuated down to 10-4 Pa at 300 °C. After the baking procedure, high purity Ar gas (6N) was injected into the chamber. The crucible was heated by a high frequency induction coil up to the melting point of Eu:SrI2. After melting the starting materials, the crucible was displaced in downward direction for the crystal growth and then cooled down to room temperature. Thus, 2 in. and crack-free Eu:SrI2 bulk crystals were produced. The crystals had high transparency and did not contain any visible inclusions. The crystals were cut and polished in the glove box and then sealed in an aluminum container with an optical window for characterization. The details of the crystal growth are discussed.

Competence areas of nursing students in Europe.

PubMed

Satu, Kajander-Unkuri; Leena, Salminen; Mikko, Saarikoski; Riitta, Suhonen; Helena, Leino-Kilpi

2013-06-01

The focus of this study is on European nursing education, where there have been several reforms over the last two decades attempting to harmonise curricula and degree structures. One of the most powerful reforms was started by the Bologna Declaration in 1999; since then, significant progress has been made towards achieving the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) in education practice. The Directive of recognition of professional qualifications (2005/36/EC) regulates nursing education. All these strategies aim to harmonise nursing education, but specific competence areas in nursing are still missing within the European Union (EU). The purpose of this review was to seek competence areas for nursing students within the EU as identified in previous studies and other documents. Altogether, 67 competence areas were identified and classified into eight main categories: (1) professional and ethical values and practice, (2) nursing skills and intervention, (3) communication and interpersonal skills, (4) knowledge and cognitive ability, (5) assessment and improving quality in nursing, (6) professional development, (7) leadership, management and teamwork, and (8) research utilisation. In order to obtain a comprehensive concept of competence, more research is needed on nursing students' competence areas across the EU due to the fact that the EU is a common labour market and nurses are educated for the EU as a whole. Nursing is a global profession and nurse competence is central to patient care outcomes, so it is also internationally important that nurses have good competence. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Double-Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescent Center for Monitoring of Food Spoilage based on Dye Covalently Modified EuMOFs: From Sensory Hydrogels to Logic Devices.

PubMed

Xu, Xiao-Yu; Lian, Xiao; Hao, Ji-Na; Zhang, Chi; Yan, Bing

2017-10-01

Unsafe food is a huge threat to human health and the economy, and detecting food spoilage early is an ongoing and imperative need. Herein, a simple and effective strategy combining a fluorescence sensor and one-to-two logic operation is designed for monitoring biogenic amines, indicators of food spoilage. Sensors (methyl red@lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (MR@EuMOFs)) are created by covalently modifying MR into NH 2 -rich EuMOFs, which have a high quantum yield (48%). A double-stimuli-responsive fluorescence center is produced via energy transfer from the ligands to Eu 3+ and MR. Portable sensory hydrogels are obtained by dispersing and solidifying MR@EuMOFs in water-phase sodium salt of carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC-Na). The hydrogels exhibit a color transition upon "smelling" histamine (HI) vapor. This transition and shift in the MR-based emission peak are closely related to the HI concentration. Using the HI concentration as the input signal and the two fluorescence emissions as output signals, an advanced analytical device based on a one-to-two logic gate is constructed. The four output combinations, NOT (0, 1), YES (1, 0), PASS 1 (1, 1), and PASS 0 (0, 0), allow the direct analysis of HI levels, which can be used for real-time food-freshness evaluation. The novel strategy suggested here may be a new application for a molecular logic system in the sensing field. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Superconducting spin switch with infinite magnetoresistance induced by an internal exchange field.

PubMed

Li, Bin; Roschewsky, Niklas; Assaf, Badih A; Eich, Marius; Epstein-Martin, Marguerite; Heiman, Don; Münzenberg, Markus; Moodera, Jagadeesh S

2013-03-01

A theoretical prediction by de Gennes suggests that the resistance in a FI/S/FI (where FI is a ferromagnetic insulator, and S is a superconductor) structure will depend on the magnetization direction of the two FI layers. We report a magnetotransport measurement in a EuS/Al/EuS structure, showing that an infinite magnetoresistance can be produced by tuning the internal exchange field at the FI/S interface. This proximity effect at the interface can be suppressed by an Al(2)O(3) barrier as thin as 0.3 nm, showing the extreme confinement of the interaction to the interface giving rise to the demonstrated phenomena.

Flux pinning forces in irradiated a-axis oriented EuBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martin, J. I.; Gonzalez, E. M.; Kwok, W.-K

1999-10-12

{alpha}-axis oriented EuBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} films have been irradiated with high energy heavy ions in different configurations to study the possible pinning role of the artificial defects in this kind of samples. The original pinning limiting mechanism of the samples is not essentially altered what the irradiation is parallel to the CuO{sub 2} planes. However, when it is deviated from this direction, an increase in critical current density and a change in pinning force are observed when the magnetic field is parallel to the columnar defects at values around the matching field.

Contrasting Cu-Au and Sn-W Granite Metallogeny through the Zircon Geochemical and Isotopic Record

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardiner, Nicholas; Hawkesworth, Chris; Robb, Laurence; Whitehouse, Martin; Roberts, Nick; Kirkland, Chris

2017-04-01

Magmatic genesis and evolution - mediated by geodynamic setting - exert a primary control on the propensity of granites to be metal fertile. A revolution in our understanding of these petrogenetic processes has been made through a range of mineral-based tools, most notably the common accessory mineral zircon. There is consequently considerable interest in whether the geochemical and isotopic compositions of zircon can be applied to metallogenic problems. The paired magmatic belts of Myanmar have broadly contrasting metallogenic affinities (Sn-W versus Cu-Au), and are interpreted to have formed on the accretionary margin of the subducting Neo-Tethys Ocean. They therefore present the opportunity to geochemically compare and contrast the zircon compositions in two end-member types of granite-hosted mineral deposits generated in collisional settings. We present an integrated zircon isotope (U-Pb, Lu-Hf, O) and trace element dataset that fingerprint: (a) source; (b) redox conditions; and (c) degree of fractionation. These variables all impact on magma fertility, and our key question to address is whether they can be reliably traced and calibrated within the Myanmar zircon record. Granitoid-hosted zircons from the I-type copper arc have juvenile ɛHf (+7 to +12) and mantle-like δ18O (5.3 ‰), whereas zircons from the S-type tin belt have low ɛHf (-7 to -13) and heavier δ18O (6.2-7.7 ‰). Plotting Hf versus U/Yb reaffirms that the tin belt magmas contain greater crustal contributions than the copper arc rocks. Links between whole rock Rb/Sr and zircon Eu/Eu* highlights that the latter can be used to monitor magma fractionation in systems that crystallize plagioclase (low Sr/Y). Ce/Ce* and Eu/Eu* in zircon are thus sensitive to redox and fractionation respectively, and can be used to evaluate the sensitivity of zircons to the metallogenic affinity of their host rocks. Tin contents that exceed the solubility limit are required in order to make a magmatic-hydrothermal deposit, and empirical observations suggest that this threshold may be marked by zircon Eu/Eu* values of ca. < 0.08. The isotope and trace element signatures of both magmatic and detrital zircons can be developed into a useful exploration tool.

Report of Workshop on Euthanasia for Zebrafish-A Matter of Welfare and Science.

PubMed

Köhler, Almut; Collymore, Chereen; Finger-Baier, Karin; Geisler, Robert; Kaufmann, Larissa; Pounder, Kieran C; Schulte-Merker, Stefan; Valentim, Ana; Varga, Zoltan M; Weiss, Jürgen; Strähle, Uwe

2017-12-01

The increasing importance of zebrafish as a biomedical model organism is reflected by the steadily growing number of publications and laboratories working with this species. Regulatory recommendations for euthanasia as issued in Directive 2010/63/EU are, however, based on experience with fish species used for food production and do not take the small size and specific physiology of zebrafish into account. Consequently, the currently recommended methods of euthanasia in the Directive 2010/63/EU are either not applicable or may interfere with research goals. An international workshop was held in Karlsruhe, Germany, March 9, 2017, to discuss and propose alternative methods for euthanasia of zebrafish. The aim was to identify methods that adequately address the physiology of zebrafish and its use as a biomedical research model, follow the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in animal experimentation and consider animal welfare during anesthesia and euthanasia. The results of the workshop are summarized here in the form of a white paper.

A review of the National pharmacovigilance system in Malta - implementing and operating a pharmacovigilance management system.

PubMed

Tanti, Amy; Micallef, Benjamin; Serracino-Inglott, Anthony; Borg, John-Joseph

2017-01-01

Regulatory authorities have a legal mandate to implement and maintain a Pharmacovigilance System designed to monitor the safety of authorised medicinal products and detect any change to their risk-benefit balance. Areas covered: This review maps the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities in Malta since accession in the EU in mid 2004 and discusses the challenges the Maltese Regulator encountered while setting up adequate and effective systems to fulfil its legal mandate. Areas reviewed are those around ADR reporting, promotion and safety communications including rapid alerts and recalls, direct healthcare professional communications, risk minimisation measures and safety circulars and quality systems. Expert opinion: Within a ten year period, 3 EU directives on pharmacovigilance were implemented by our agency. Despite limitations to resources, based on a prioritised implementation, the legislation provisions are now fully operational with a good level of sustainability. Lessons learnt from this process are discussed in this review. The coming years will involve strengthening and consolidation of existing processes.

Exploratory visualization of earth science data in a Semantic Web context

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, X.; Fox, P. A.

2012-12-01

Earth science data are increasingly unlocked from their local 'safes' and shared online with the global science community as well as the average citizen. The European Union (EU)-funded project OneGeology-Europe (1G-E, www.onegeology-europe.eu) is a typical project that promotes works in that direction. The 1G-E web portal provides easy access to distributed geological data resources across participating EU member states. Similar projects can also be found in other countries or regions, such as the geoscience information network USGIN (www.usgin.org) in United States, the groundwater information network GIN-RIES (www.gw-info.net) in Canada and the earth science infrastructure AuScope (www.auscope.org.au) in Australia. While data are increasingly made available online, we currently face a shortage of tools and services that support information and knowledge discovery with such data. One reason is that earth science data are recorded in professional language and terms, and people without background knowledge cannot understand their meanings well. The Semantic Web provides a new context to help computers as well as users to better understand meanings of data and conduct applications. In this study we aim to chain up Semantic Web technologies (e.g., vocabularies/ontologies and reasoning), data visualization (e.g., an animation underpinned by an ontology) and online earth science data (e.g., available as Web Map Service) to develop functions for information and knowledge discovery. We carried out a case study with data of the 1G-E project. We set up an ontology of geological time scale using the encoding languages of SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System) and OWL (Web Ontology Language) from W3C (World Wide Web Consortium, www.w3.org). Then we developed a Flash animation of geological time scale by using the ActionScript language. The animation is underpinned by the ontology and the interrelationships between concepts of geological time scale are visualized in the animation. We linked the animation and the ontology to the online geological data of 1G-E project and developed interactive applications. The animation was used to show legends of rock age layers in geological maps dynamically. In turn, these legends were used as control panels to filter out and generalize geospatial features of certain rock ages on map layers. We tested the functions with maps of various EU member states. As a part of the initial results, legends for rock age layers of EU individual national maps were generated respectively, and the functions for filtering and generalization were examined with the map of United Kingdom. Though new challenges are rising in the tests, like those caused by synonyms (e.g., 'Lower Cambrian' and 'Terreneuvian'), the initial results achieved the designed goals of information and knowledge discovery by using the ontology-underpinned animation. This study shows that (1) visualization lowers the barrier of ontologies, (2) integrating ontologies and visualization adds value to online earth science data services, and (3) exploratory visualization supports the procedure of data processing as well as the display of results.

Na(7)Mg(13)Nd(PO(4))(12).

PubMed

Jerbi, Hasna; Hidouri, Mourad; Mongi, Ben Amara

2012-06-01

Investigations of the quasi-ternary system Na(3)PO(4)-Mg(3)(PO(4))(2)-NdPO(4) allowed us to obtain the new phosphate hepta-sodium trideca-magnesium neodymium dodeca-kis-phosphate, Na(7)Mg(13)Nd(PO(4))(12), by applying a flux method. The crystal structure is isotypic with that of the previously reported Na(7)Mg(13)Ln(PO(4))(12) (Ln = Eu, La) compounds. It consists of a complex three-dimensional framework built up from an NdO(8) polyhedron (m symmetry), an MO(6) octa-hedron statistically occupied by M = Mg and Na, and eight MgO(x) (x = 5, 6) polyhedra (four with site symmetry m), linked either directely by sharing corners, edges and faces, or by one of the eight unique PO(4) tetra-hedra through common corners. Two of the PO(4) tetra-hedra are statisticaly disordered over a mirror plane. The whole structure can be described as resutling from an assembly of two types of structural units, viz [Mg(4)MP(4)O(22)](∞) (2) layers extending parallel to (100) and stacked along [100], and [Mg(4)NdP(4)O(36)](∞) (1) undulating chains running along the [010] direction. The six different Na(+) cations (five with site symmetry m and one with 0.5 occupancy) are situated in six distinct cavities delimited by the framework. The structure was refined from data of a racemic twin.

Deep Atmosphere Ammonia Mixing Ratio at Jupiter from the Galileo Probe Mass Spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mahaffy, P. R.; Niemann, H. B.; Demick, J. E.

1999-01-01

New laboratory studies employing the Engineering Unit (EU) of the Galileo Probe Mass Spectrometer (GPMS) have resulted in a substantial reduction in the previously reported upper limit on the ammonia mixing ratio derived from the GPMS experiment at Jupiter. This measurement is complicated by background ammonia contributions in the GPMS during direct atmospheric sampling produced from the preceding gas enrichment experiments. These backgrounds can be quantified with the data from the EU studies when they are carried out in a manner that duplicates the descent profile of pressure and enrichment cell loading. This background is due to the tendency of ammonia to interact strongly with the walls of the mass spectrometer and on release to contribute to the gas being directly directed into the ion source from the atmosphere through a capillary pressure reduction leak. It is evident from the GPMS and other observations that the mixing ratio of ammonia at Jupiter reaches the deep atmosphere value at substantially higher pressures than previously assumed. This is a likely explanation for the previously perceived discrepancy between ammonia values derived from ground based microwave observations and those obtained from attenuation of the Galileo Probe radio signal.

Rare-earth metal oxide doped transparent mesoporous silica plates under non-aqueous condition as a potential UV sensor.

PubMed

Lee, Sang-Joon; Park, Sung Soo; Lee, Sang Hyun; Hong, Sang-Hyun; Ha, Chang-Sik

2013-11-01

Transparent mesoporous silica plates doped with rare-earth metal oxide were prepared using solvent-evaporation method based on the self-organization between structure-directing agent and silicate in a non-aqueous solvent. A triblock copolymer, Pluronic (F127 or P123), was used as the structure-directing agent, while tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as a silica source. The pore diameter and the surface area of the mesoporous silica plate prepared with the optimized conditions were ca 40 A and 600 m2 g(-1), respectively, for both structure-directing agent. Rare-earth metal oxides (Eu, Tb, Tm oxide) in mesochannel were formed via one-step synthetic route based on the preparation method of a silica plate. Optical properties of rare-earth metal oxide-doped mesoporous silica plates were investigated by UV irradiation and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Under the exitation wavelength of 254 nm, the doped mesoporous silica plates emitted red, green and blue for Eu, Tb and Tm oxides, respectively. Rare-earth metal oxide-doped mesoporous silica plates showed enhanced PL intensity compared to that of the bulk rare-earth metal oxide.

Field_ac: a research project on ocean modelling in coastal areas. The experience in the Catalan Sea.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grifoll, Manel; Pallarès, Elena; Tolosana-Delgado, Raimon; Fernandez, Juan; Lopez, Jaime; Mosso, Cesar; Hermosilla, Fernando; Espino, Manuel; Sanchez-Arcilla, Agustín

2013-04-01

The EU founded Field_ac project has investigated during the last three years methods and strategies for improving operational services in coastal areas. The objective has been to generate added value for shelf and regional scale predictions from GMES Marine Core Services. In this sense the experience in the Catalan Sea site has allowed to combine high-resolution numerical modeling tools nested into regional GMES services, data from intensive field campaigns or local observational networks and remote sensing products. Multi-scale coupled models have been implemented to evaluate different temporal and spatial scales of the dominant physical processes related with waves, currents, continental/river discharges or sediment transport. In this sense the experience of the Field_ac project in the Catalan Sea has permit to "connect" GMES marine core service results to the coastal (local) anthropogenic forcing (e.g. causes of morphodynamic evolution and ecosystem degradation) and will support a knowledge-based assessment of decisions in the coastal zone. This will contribute to the implementation of EU directives (e.g., the Water Framework Directive for water quality at beaches near harbour entrances or the Risk or Flood Directives for waves and sea-level at beach/river-mouth scales).

Occupational exposure to whole body vibration-train drivers.

PubMed

Birlik, Gülin

2009-01-01

Whole body vibration exposure of the train drivers working for State Railway Lines is assessed by referring to ISO standard 2631 -1 and EU directive 2002/44/EC. The vibration measurements were done in the cabins of suburban and intercity train drivers. Suburban train driver performs his job usually in standing posture. Whereas intercity train driver works generally in seated (bending forward) posture and exposed to longer periods of continuous vibration, compared to suburban train drivers. The mean accelerations, a, along lateral, y, and vertical, z, directions measured on the driver seat (on the cabin floor) of the intercity (suburban) train were 1.4a (y) = 0.55 (0.28) m/s(2) and a (z) = 0.65 (0.23) m/s(2). Daily exposure action values suggested in EU directive are exceeded in case of intercity train drivers and their exposure falls within the health caution zone of ISO 2631-1. Intercity train drivers are therefore under the risk of having spinal disorders. A health surveillance plan requiring every five years the reassessment of the state of the spinal system of train drivers is suggested. As an early preventive measure, extended work day or more than one shift in a day is advised to be discouraged.

Policy and science of FMD control: the stakeholders' contribution to decision making. A call for integrated animal disease management.

PubMed

Marshall, M; Roger, P

Effective control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)--prevention, surveillance and response--requires integrated animal disease management as a cooperative effort between stakeholders, scientists and decision makers, at all levels: local, national, regional and international. This paper suggests a process and outlines specific critical issues that need to be addressed in order to best use the science and technology that is available now and to develop new technologies that will lead to significant improvements. The overall objective is not to allow the disease or the disease control measures to damage, violate or destroy public health, the environment, or the economy, or to allow politics to drive disease control policies at the expense of the ethical relationship between man and animals. Critical issues of prevention, surveillance and response policies are examined, and specific recommendations are made to reduce the risk or effect of natural and deliberate introductions. For prevention: a) rapid portable diagnostics and provision of vaccines to control and eradicate the reservoirs of disease. b) alerts, leading to increased controls at borders, animal movement restrictions and biosecurity on farms. For surveillance: a) reporting of unusual symptoms, rapid diagnostics and identification of patterns. b) enhanced role of geographic information systems (GIS) linked to an IT system. c) collection, storage and sharing of disease information. For response policies: a) the role and implementation of stamping out and of vaccination. b) simulation exercises with stakeholder participation. For all aspects of FMD control, consideration should be given to: a) the composition, responsibilities and role of the balanced, permanently operational Expert Group in EU member states as specified in the EU FMD Directive. b) establishment of a balanced, permanently operational European Expert Group. c) establishment of both a European and an International FMD Task Force. Stakeholders need access to accurate, up-to-date, unbiased information about the science of disease control, how the technologies work and can be used, and an assurance that the technologies best fit for the required purpose will be used. Researchers need to work together to avoid duplications and gaps in their research and to recognise the benefit of new, and sometimes innovative, technologies. They also need feedback from stakeholders on the acceptability and best use of the technologies. A process to achieve these goals through an EU funded collaborative research project will be described.

Preparedness for the prevention and control of influenza outbreaks on passenger ships in the EU: the SHIPSAN TRAINET project communication.

PubMed

Mouchtouri, Va; Black, N; Nichols, G; Paux, T; Riemer, T; Rjabinina, J; Schlaich, C; Menel Lemos, C; Kremastinou, J; Hadjichristodoulou, C

2009-05-28

Passenger ships carry a large number of people in confined spaces. A case of the new influenza A (H1N1) virus aboard a passenger ship is an expected event and would lead to rapid spread of the virus, if preventive measures are not in place. However, many cruise lines have detailed policies and procedures to deal with cases of influenza like illness (ILI). The EU SHIPSAN and SHIPSAN TRAINET projects include in their objectives guidelines for the prevention and control of communicable diseases aboard passenger ships. A literature review showed that from 1997 to 2005, nine confirmed outbreaks of influenza were linked to passenger ships, with attack rates up to 37%. It is important to establish and maintain a surveillance system for ILI aboard passenger ships, in order to systematically collect data that can help to determine the baseline illness levels. Monitoring these will enable early identification of outbreaks and allow timely implementation of control measures.

Separation of lanthanides and actinides using magnetic silica particles bearing covalently attached tetra-CMPO-calix[4]arenes.

PubMed

Böhmer, Volker; Dozol, Jean-François; Grüttner, Cordula; Liger, Karine; Matthews, Susan E; Rudershausen, Sandra; Saadioui, Mohamed; Wang, Pingshan

2004-08-21

Calix[4]arene tetraethers in the cone conformation bearing four -NH-CO-CH2-P(O)Ph2 (= CMPO) residues on their wide rim and one, two or four omega-amino alkyl residues of various lengths at the narrow rim were synthesized. Reaction with dichlorotriazinyl (DCT) functionalized magnetic particles led to complete coverage of the available surface by covalently linked CMPO-calix[4]arenes in all cases. Magnetically assisted removal of Eu(iii) and Am(iii) from acidic solutions was distinctly more efficient with these particles in comparison to analogous particles bearing the same amount of analogous single-chain CMPO-functions. The best result, an increase of the extraction efficiency by a factor of 140-160, was obtained for attachment via two propyl spacers. The selectivity Am/Eu was in the range of 1.9-2.8. No decrease of the extraction ability was observed, when the particles were repeatedly used, after simple back extraction with water.

Two sodium and lanthanide(III) MOFs based on oxalate and V-shaped 4,4‧-oxybis(benzoate) ligands: Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure, and luminescence properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chongchen; Guo, Guangliang; Wang, Peng

2013-01-01

Two lanthanide based metal-organic frameworks, [NaLn(oba)(ox)(H2O)] (Lndbnd6 Eu(1) and Sm(2)) were obtained from 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid, sodium oxalate and corresponding lanthanide salts by hydrothermal synthesis. They were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, and photoluminescent spectra. The crystallographic data reveals that complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphous and isostructural, composed of three-dimensional framework built up of distorted tricapped trigonal EuO9 units, distorted octahedron NaO6 units, 4,4'-oxybis(benzoate) and oxalate. The carboxylate oxygen atoms of the 4,4'-oxybis(benzoate) and oxalate ligand are coordinated to lanthanide ions and sodium ions, resulting into two-dimensional inorganic sheets, which are further linked into three-dimensional network by organic ligands. Thermogravimetric analyses of 1-2 display a considerable thermal stability. Photoluminescent measurements indicated that europium complex 1 displayed strong red emission.

Toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in public hot springs in Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Mohamed, Zakaria A

2008-01-01

Toxic cyanobacteria are well reported in rivers, lakes and even marine environments, but the toxin production of cyanobacteria in hot springs is largely unexplored. Therefore, the present study investigated the presence of toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in public hot springs in Saudi Arabia. The results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that Saudi spring cyanobacterial mats contained microcystins (MCYSTs) at concentrations ranging from 468 to 512.5 microg g(-1). The Limulus amebocyte lystae (LAL) assay detected lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins in these mats at concentrations ranging from 433.3 to 506.8 EU g(-1). MCYSTs and endotoxins were also detected in spring waters at levels of 5.7 microg l(-1) and 640 EU ml(-1), respectively, exceeding WHO's provisional guideline value for MCYST-LR in drinking-water. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that only Oscillatoria limosa and Synechococcus lividus can produce MCYSTs with a profile consisting of MCYST-RR and -LR. Based on the LAL assay, 12 out of 17 cyanobacterial species contained LPS at concentrations ranging from 0.93 to 21.06 EU g(-1). However, not all LPS of these species were toxic to mice. This study suggests that the hot springs in the world including Saudi Arabia should be screened for toxic cyanobacteria to avoid the exposure of people recreating and bathing in spring waters to cyanobacterial toxins.

Investigation assessing the publicly available evidence supporting postmarketing withdrawals, revocations and suspensions of marketing authorisations in the EU since 2012

PubMed Central

Lynn, Elizabeth; Shakir, Saad

2018-01-01

Objectives To assess the sources of publicly available evidence supporting withdrawal, revocation or suspension of marketing authorisations (‘regulatory actions’) due to safety reasons in the EU since 2012 and to investigate the time taken since initial marketing authorisation to reach these regulatory decisions. Setting This investigation examined the sources of evidence supporting 18 identified prescription medicinal products which underwent regulatory action due to safety reasons within the EU in the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2016. Results Eighteen single or combined active substances (‘medicinal products’) withdrawn, revoked or suspended within the EU for safety reasons between 2012 and 2016 met the inclusion criteria. Case reports were most commonly cited, supporting 94.4% of regulatory actions (n=17), followed by randomised controlled trial, meta-analyses, animal and in vitro, ex vivo or in silico study designs, each cited in 72.2% of regulatory actions (n=13). Epidemiological study designs were least commonly cited (n=8, 44.4%). Multiple sources of evidence contributed to 94.4% of regulatory decisions (n=17). Death was the most common adverse drug reaction leading to regulatory action (n=5; 27.8%), with four of these related to medication error or overdose. Median (IQR) time taken to reach a decision from the start of regulatory review was found to be 204.5 days (143, 535 days) and decreased across the study period. Duration of marketing prior to regulatory action, from the medicinal product’s authorisation date, increased across the period 2012–2016. Conclusions The sources of evidence supporting pharmacovigilance regulatory activities appear to have changed since implementation of Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) No. 1235/2010. This, together with a small improvement in regulatory efficiency, suggests progress towards more rapid regulatory decisions based on more robust evidence. Future research should continue to monitor sources of evidence supporting regulatory decisions and the time taken to reach these decisions over time. PMID:29362275

Partial Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolates from Ticks of Southern Ukraine.

PubMed

Yurchenko, Oksana O; Dubina, Dmytro O; Vynograd, Nataliya O; Gonzalez, Jean-Paul

2017-08-01

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Eurasia; thousands of human cases are annually reported from several European countries. Several tick species are vectors of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), while TBE appears to be spreading from the Eurasian continent westward to Europe. Fifteen study sites were chosen from five territories of southern Ukraine, including Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kherson Oblast, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and Sevastopol. Tick collection was performed in spring season of three consecutive years (1988-1990) using either flagging technique or direct collection of specimens feeding on cattle. A total of 15,243 tick imagoes and nymphs were collected from nine species, including Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Haemaphysalis parva, H. punctata, Hyalomma marginatum, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. rossicus, and R. sanguineus, pooled in 282 monospecific samples. Supernatant of grinded pool was used for inoculation to suckling mice for virus isolation. Eight TBEV isolates were identified from ticks among six study sites. Ticks showed a minimum infection rate from 0.11% to 0.81%. Phylogenetic analysis of the envelope (E) protein gene of seven isolates, assigned all to the European subtype (TBEV-Eu) showing a maximum identity of 97.17% to the "Pan" TBEV-Eu reference strain. Compared to 104 TBEV-Eu isolates they clustered within the same clade as the Pan reference strain and distinguished from other TBEV-Eu isolates. Amino acid sequence analysis of the South Ukrainian TBEV-Eu isolates revealed the presence of four amino acid substitutions 67 (N), 266 (R), 306 (V), and 407 (R), in the ectodomains II and III and in the stem-anchor region of the E protein gene. This study confirmed TBEV-Eu subtype distribution in the southern region of Ukraine, which eventually overlaps with TBEV-FE (Far Eastern subtype) and TBEV-Sib (Siberian subtype) domains, showing the heterogeneity of TBEV circulating in Ukraine.

Partial Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolates from Ticks of Southern Ukraine

PubMed Central

Dubina, Dmytro O.; Vynograd, Nataliya O.; Gonzalez, Jean-Paul

2017-01-01

Abstract Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Eurasia; thousands of human cases are annually reported from several European countries. Several tick species are vectors of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), while TBE appears to be spreading from the Eurasian continent westward to Europe. Fifteen study sites were chosen from five territories of southern Ukraine, including Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kherson Oblast, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and Sevastopol. Tick collection was performed in spring season of three consecutive years (1988–1990) using either flagging technique or direct collection of specimens feeding on cattle. A total of 15,243 tick imagoes and nymphs were collected from nine species, including Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Haemaphysalis parva, H. punctata, Hyalomma marginatum, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. rossicus, and R. sanguineus, pooled in 282 monospecific samples. Supernatant of grinded pool was used for inoculation to suckling mice for virus isolation. Eight TBEV isolates were identified from ticks among six study sites. Ticks showed a minimum infection rate from 0.11% to 0.81%. Phylogenetic analysis of the envelope (E) protein gene of seven isolates, assigned all to the European subtype (TBEV-Eu) showing a maximum identity of 97.17% to the “Pan” TBEV-Eu reference strain. Compared to 104 TBEV-Eu isolates they clustered within the same clade as the Pan reference strain and distinguished from other TBEV-Eu isolates. Amino acid sequence analysis of the South Ukrainian TBEV-Eu isolates revealed the presence of four amino acid substitutions 67 (N), 266 (R), 306 (V), and 407 (R), in the ectodomains II and III and in the stem-anchor region of the E protein gene. This study confirmed TBEV-Eu subtype distribution in the southern region of Ukraine, which eventually overlaps with TBEV-FE (Far Eastern subtype) and TBEV-Sib (Siberian subtype) domains, showing the heterogeneity of TBEV circulating in Ukraine. PMID:28654319

Definition of an intramolecular Eu-to-Eu energy transfer within a discrete [Eu2L] complex in solution.

PubMed

Nonat, Aline; Regueiro-Figueroa, Martín; Esteban-Gómez, David; de Blas, Andrés; Rodríguez-Blas, Teresa; Platas-Iglesias, Carlos; Charbonnière, Loïc J

2012-06-25

Ligand L, based on two do3a moieties linked by the methylene groups of 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, was synthesized and characterized. The addition of Ln salts to an aqueous solution of L (0.01 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.4) led to the successive formation of [LnL] and [Ln(2)L] complexes, as evidenced by UV/Vis and fluorescence titration experiments. Homodinuclear [Ln(2)L] complexes (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Yb, and Lu) were prepared and characterized. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of the Lu and Yb complexes in D(2)O solution (pD = 7.0) showed C(1) symmetry of these species in solution, pointing to two different chemical environments for the two lanthanide cations. The analysis of the chemical shifts of the Yb complex indicated that the two coordination sites present square antiprismatic (SAP) coordination environments around the metal ions. The spectroscopic properties of the [Tb(2)L] complex upon ligand excitation revealed conventional behavior with τ(H2O) = 2.05(1) ms and ϕ(H2O) = 51%, except for the calculation of the hydration number obtained from the luminescent lifetimes in H(2)O and D(2)O, which pointed to a non-integer value of 0.6 water molecules per Tb(III) ion. In contrast, the Eu complex revealed surprising features such as: 1) the presence of two and up to five components in the (5)D(0)→(7)F(0) and (5)D(0)→(7)F(1) emission bands, respectively; 2) marked differences between the normalized spectra obtained in H(2)O and D(2)O solutions; and 3) unconventional temporal evolution of the luminescence intensity at certain wavelengths, the intensity profile first displaying a rising step before the occurrence of the expected decay. Additional spectroscopic experiments performed on [Gd(2-x)Eu(x)L] complexes (x = 0.1 and 1.9) confirmed the presence of two distinct Eu sites with hydration numbers of 0 (site I) and 2 (site II), and showed that the unconventional temporal evolution of the emission intensity is the result of an unprecedented intramolecular Eu-to-Eu energy-transfer process. A mathematical model was developed to interpret the experimental data, leading to energy-transfer rates of 0.98 ms(-1) for the transfer from the site with q=0 to that with q=2 and vice versa. Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed at the B3LYP level were used to investigate the conformation of the complex in solution, and to estimate the intermetallic distance, which provided Förster radii (R(0)) values of 8.1 Å for the energy transfer from site I to site II, and 6.8 Å for the reverse energy transfer. These results represent the first evidence of an intramolecular energy-transfer equilibrium between two identical lanthanide cations within a discrete molecular complex in solution. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Multichannel Luminescence Properties of Mixed-Valent Eu2+/Eu3+ Coactivated SrAl3BO7 Nanocrystalline Phosphors for Near-UV LEDs.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaoming; Xie, Weijie; Lü, Ying; Feng, Jingchun; Tang, Xinghua; Lin, Jun; Dai, Yuhua; Xie, Yu; Yan, Liushui

2017-11-20

Up to now, orchestrating the coexistence of Eu 2+ and Eu 3+ activators in a single host lattice has been an extremely difficult task, especially for the appearance of the characteristic emission of Eu 2+ and Eu 3+ in order to generate white light. Nevertheless, here we demonstrate a new Eu 2+ /Eu 3+ coactivated SrAl 3 BO 7 nanocrystalline phosphor with abundant and excellent multichannel luminescence properties. A series of Eu 2+ /Eu 3+ coactivated SrAl 3 BO 7 nanocrystalline phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel method followed by a reduction process. With excitation of UV/NUV light, the prepared SrAl 3 BO 7 :Eu 2+ ,Eu 3+ phosphors show not only the characteristic f-f transitions of Eu 3+ ion ( 5 D J → 7 F J,J' , J, J' = 0-3), but also the 5d → 4f transitions of Eu 2+ ion with comparable intensity from 400 to 700 nm in the whole visible spectral region. The luminescence color of the SrAl 3 BO 7 :Eu 2+ ,Eu 3+ phosphor can be tuned from blue, blue-green, white, and orange to orange-red by changing the excitation wavelength, the overall doping concentration of europium ions (Eu 2+ , Eu 3+ ), and the relative ratio of Eu 2+ to Eu 3+ ions to some extent. A single-phase white-light emission has been realized in SrAl 3 BO 7 :Eu 2+ ,Eu 3+ phosphor. The obtained SrAl 3 BO 7 :Eu 2+ ,Eu 3+ phosphor has potential application in the area of NUV white-light-emitting diodes.

Health tourism and the UK: some new developments.

PubMed

McHale, Jean

Pre-empting the implementation of the EU draft Patient's Rights directive, the UK Government has issued regulations governing the reimbursement of costs of treatment to patients seeking treatment overseas. This article explores the new regulations and how they may impact on NHS resource allocation in the future.

High-Throughput Synthesis and Characterization of Eu Doped Ba xSr2- xSiO4 Thin Film Phosphors.

PubMed

Frost, Sara; Guérin, Samuel; Hayden, Brian E; Soulié, Jean-Philippe; Vian, Chris

2018-06-20

High-throughput techniques have been employed for the synthesis and characterization of thin film phosphors of Eu-doped Ba x Sr 2- x SiO 4 . Direct synthesis from evaporation of the constituent elements under a flux of atomic oxygen on a sapphire substrate at 850 °C was used to directly produce thin film libraries (415 nm thickness) of the crystalline orthosilicate phase with the desired compositional variation (0.24 > x > 1.86). The orthosilicate phase could be synthesized as a pure, or predominantly pure, phase. Annealing the as synthesized library in a reducing atmosphere resulted in the reduction of the Eu while retaining the orthosilicate phase, and resulted in a materials thin film library where fluorescence excited by blue light (450 nm) was observable by the naked eye. Parallel screening of the fluorescence from the combinatorial libraries of Eu doped Ba x Sr 2- x SiO 4 has been implemented by imaging the fluorescent radiation over the library using a monochrome digital camera using a series of color filters. Informatics tools have been developed to allow the 1931 CIE color coordinates and the relative quantum efficiencies of the materials library to be rapidly assessed and mapped against composition, crystal structure and phase purity. The range of compositions gave values of CIE x between 0.17 and 0.52 and CIE y between 0.48 and 0.69 with relative efficiencies in the range 2.0 × 10 -4 -7.6 × 10 -4 . Good agreement was obtained between the thin film phosphors and the fluorescence characteristics of a number of corresponding bulk phosphor powders. The thermal quenching of fluorescence in the thin film libraries was also measured in the temperature range 25-130 °C: The phase purity of the thin film was found to significantly influence both the relative quantum efficiency and the thermal quenching of the fluorescence.

Recent progress in Open Data production and consumption - examples from a Governmental institute (SMHI) and a collaborative EU research project (SWITCH-ON)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arheimer, Berit; Falkenroth, Esa

2014-05-01

The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) has a long tradition both in producing and consuming open data on a national, European and global scale. It is also promoting community building among water scientists in Europe by participating in and initiating collaborative projects. This presentation will exemplify the contemporary European movement imposed by the INSPIRE directive and the Open Data Strategy, by showing the progress in openness and shift in attitudes during the last decade when handling Research Data and Public Sector Information at a national European institute. Moreover, the presentation will inform about a recently started collaborative project (EU FP7 project No 603587) coordinated by SMHI and called SWITCH-ON http://water-switch-on.eu/. The project addresses water concerns and currently untapped potential of open data for improved water management across the EU. The overall goal of the project is to make use of open data, and add value to society by repurposing and refining data from various sources. SWITCH-ON will establish new forms of water research and facilitate the development of new products and services based on principles of sharing and community building in the water society. The SWITCH-ON objectives are to use open data for implementing: 1) an innovative spatial information platform with open data tailored for direct water assessments, 2) an entirely new form of collaborative research for water-related sciences, 3) fourteen new operational products and services dedicated to appointed end-users, 4) new business and knowledge to inform individual and collective decisions in line with the Europe's smart growth and environmental objectives. The presentation will discuss challenges, progress and opportunities with the open data strategy, based on the experiences from working both at a Governmental institute and being part of the global research community.

Polyethylene recycling: Waste policy scenario analysis for the EU-27.

PubMed

Andreoni, Valeria; Saveyn, Hans G M; Eder, Peter

2015-08-01

This paper quantifies the main impacts that the adoption of the best recycling practices together with a reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic bags and the adoption of a kerbside collection system could have on the 27 Member States of the EU. The main consequences in terms of employment, waste management costs, emissions and energy use have been quantified for two scenarios of polyethylene (PE) waste production and recycling. That is to say, a "business as usual scenario", where the 2012 performances of PE waste production and recycling are extrapolated to 2020, is compared to a "best practice scenario", where the best available recycling practices are modelled together with the possible adoption of the amended Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive related to the consumption of single-use plastic bags and the implementation of a kerbside collection system. The main results show that socio-economic and environmental benefits can be generated across the EU by the implementation of the best practice scenario. In particular, estimations show a possible reduction of 4.4 million tonnes of non-recycled PE waste, together with a reduction of around €90 million in waste management costs in 2020 for the best practice scenario versus the business as usual scenario. An additional 35,622 jobs are also expected to be created. In environmental terms, the quantity of CO2 equivalent emissions could be reduced by around 1.46 million tonnes and the net energy requirements are expected to increase by 16.5 million GJ as a consequence of the reduction in the energy produced from waste. The main analysis provided in this paper, together with the data and the model presented, can be useful to identify the possible costs and benefits that the implementation of PE waste policies and Directives could generate for the EU. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cross-border healthcare in Spain and the implementation of the Directive 2011/24/EU on the Application of Patient's Rights in Cross-border Healthcare.

PubMed

Requejo, M Teresa

2014-03-01

This work describes and assesses the implementation of the Cross-border Healthcare Directive in Spain. Although implementation has not yet taken place, the Government has already adopted a draft implementing regulation, on which this article is based. In addition, this article deals with a number of other rules that have been adopted in Spain, which are not strictly aimed at the implementation of the Directive but which are expected to facilitate its implementation and to help cement its effectiveness.

Elemental analysis of printed circuit boards considering the ROHS regulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wienold, Julia, E-mail: julia.wienold@bam.de; Recknagel, Sebastian, E-mail: sebastian.recknagel@bam.de; Scharf, Holger, E-mail: holger.scharf@bam.de

2011-03-15

The EU RoHS Directive (2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council) bans the placing of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants on the EU market. It necessitates methods for the evaluation of RoHS compliance of assembled electronic equipment. In this study mounted printed circuit boards from personal computers were analyzed on their content of the three elements Cd, Pb and Hg which were limited by the EU RoHS directive. Main focus of the investigations was the influence ofmore » sample pre-treatment on the precision and reproducibility of the results. The sample preparation steps used were based on the guidelines given in EN 62321. Five different types of dissolution procedures were tested on different subsequent steps of sample treatment like cutting and milling. Elemental analysis was carried out using ICP-OES, XRF and CV-AFS (Hg). The results obtained showed that for decision-making with respect to RoHS compliance a size reduction of the material to be analyzed to particles {<=}1.5 mm can already be sufficient. However, to ensure analytical results with relative standard deviations of less than 20%, as recommended by the EN 62321, a much larger effort for sample processing towards smaller particle sizes might be required which strongly depends on the mass fraction of the element under investigation.« less

The application of chiroptical spectroscopy (circular dichroism) in quantifying binding events in lanthanide directed synthesis of chiral luminescent self-assembly structures† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 999267–999270 and 1026036. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c4sc02474e Click here for additional data file. Click here for additional data file.

PubMed Central

Blasco, Salvador; Twamley, Brendan; O'Brien, John; Peacock, Robert D.; Kitchen, Jonathan A.; Martínez-Calvo, Miguel

2015-01-01

The binding of asymmetrical and optically pure tridentate ligands (L = 1(S) and 1(R)) containing one carboxylic group and 2-naphthyl as an antenna to lanthanide ions (M = La(iii) and Eu(iii)) was studied in CH3CN, showing the successive formation of M:L, M:L2 and M:L3 stoichiometric species in solution. The europium complexes EuL3 were also synthesised, structurally characterised and their photophysical properties probed in CH3OH and CH3CN. The changes in the chiroptical properties of both 1(S) and 1(R) were used (by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy) to monitor the formation of these chiral self-assemblies in solution. While circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) showed the formation of Eu(1(S))3 and Eu(1(R))3 as enantiomers, with high luminescence dissymmetry factors (g lum), fitting the CD changes allowed for binding constants to be determined that were comparable to those seen in the analyses of absorbance and luminescence changes. PMID:28936303

Application of the Metal-Organic Framework [Eu(BTC)] as a Luminescent Marker for Gunshot Residues: A Synthesis, Characterization, and Toxicity Study.

PubMed

Lucena, Marcella A M; Oliveira, Marina F L; Arouca, Aline M; Talhavini, Márcio; Ferreira, Eduardo A; Alves, Severino; Veiga-Souza, Fabiane H; Weber, Ingrid T

2017-02-08

The 3D metal-organic framework (MOF) [Eu(BTC)] (where BTC = trimesic acid) was synthesized in 20 min by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method with a yield of 89%. A structural and spectroscopic study, performed by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, showed that this framework has high crystallinity, thermal stability, and luminescence. This MOF had a red-orange luminescence when excited with ultraviolet (UV) radiation (λ = 254 nm) and a high potential for use as a luminescent marker for gunshot residues (GSR). When added to 9 mm nontoxic ammunition, it greatly improved quality of the crime scene investigation, allowing for direct visualization of the luminescent GSR on the shooter's hand and firearm and at the firing range using only a portable UV lamp. The marked luminescent GSR was easily collected and characterized by nondestructive techniques, including with a Video Spectral Comparator and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy, wherein the presence of Eu 3+ ions was confirmed. Furthermore, the oral acute toxicity of this MOF was assessed in adult female Wistar rats using the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 423 guidelines. This study classified the MOF [Eu(BTC)] in a less toxic Globally Harmonized System category (category 5), with a LD 50 (lethal dose) of 5000 mg/kg, ensuring a wide security range for its application.

Identification of the CAD gene from Eucalyptus urophylla GLU4 and its functional analysis in transgenic tobacco.

PubMed

Chen, B W; Xiao, Y F; Li, J J; Liu, H L; Qin, Z H; Gai, Y; Jiang, X N

2016-12-02

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) catalyzes the final step in lignin biosynthesis. The genus Eucalyptus belongs to the family Myrtaceae, which is the main cultivated species in China. Eucalyptus urophylla GLU4 (GLU4) is widely grown in Guangxi. It is preferred for pulping because of its excellent cellulose content and fiber length. Based on GLU4 and CAD gene expression, a Eucalyptus variety low in lignin content should be obtained using transgenic technology, which could reduce the cost of pulp and improve the pulping rate, and have favorable prospects for application. However, the role and function of CAD in GLU4 is still unclear. In the present study, EuCAD was cloned from GLU4 and identified using bioinformatic tools. Subsequently, in order to evaluate its impact on lignin synthesis, a full-length EuCAD RNAi vector was constructed, and transgenic tobacco was obtained via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. A significant decrease in CAD expression and lignin content in transgenic tobacco demonstrated a key role for EuCAD in lignin biosynthesis and established a regulatory role for RNAi. In our study, the direct molecular basis of EuCAD expression was determined, and the potential regulatory effects of this RNAi vector on lignin biosynthesis in E. urophylla GLU4 were demonstrated. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the study of lignin biosynthesis in Eucalyptus.

Carbon, land, and water footprint accounts for the European Union: consumption, production, and displacements through international trade.

PubMed

Steen-Olsen, Kjartan; Weinzettel, Jan; Cranston, Gemma; Ercin, A Ertug; Hertwich, Edgar G

2012-10-16

A nation's consumption of goods and services causes various environmental pressures all over the world due to international trade. We use a multiregional input-output model to assess three kinds of environmental footprints for the member states of the European Union. Footprints are indicators that take the consumer responsibility approach to account for the total direct and indirect effects of a product or consumption activity. We quantify the total environmental pressures (greenhouse gas emissions: carbon footprint; appropriation of biologically productive land and water area: land footprint; and freshwater consumption: water footprint) caused by consumption in the EU. We find that the consumption activities by an average EU citizen in 2004 led to 13.3 tCO(2)e of induced greenhouse gas emissions, appropriation of 2.53 gha (hectares of land with global-average biological productivity), and consumption of 179 m(3) of blue water (ground and surface water). By comparison, the global averages were 5.7 tCO(2)e, 1.23 gha, and 163 m(3) blue water, respectively. Overall, the EU displaced all three types of environmental pressures to the rest of the world, through imports of products with embodied pressures. Looking at intra-EU displacements only, the UK was the most important displacer overall, while the largest net exporters of embodied environmental pressures were Poland (greenhouse gases), France (land), and Spain (freshwater).

Control of Eu Luminescence Centers by Codoping of Mg and Si into Eu-Doped GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Dong-gun; Wakamatsu, Ryuta; Koizumi, Atsushi; Terai, Yoshikazu; Fujiwara, Yasufumi

2013-08-01

The effects of Mg and Si codoping on Eu luminescence properties have been investigated in Eu-doped GaN (GaN:Eu). The Mg codoping into GaN:Eu produced novel luminescence centers consisting of Eu and Mg, and increased photoluminescence (PL) intensity in Eu,Mg-codoped GaN (GaN:Eu,Mg). However, this increased PL intensity was quenched by thermal annealing in N2 ambient, which is due to activation of Mg acceptors. In GaN:Eu,Mg codoped additionally with Si (GaN:Eu,Mg,Si), on the other hand, the Eu-Mg centers disappeared, while an additional luminescence center appeared. Furthermore, the additional luminescence center showed no quenching under N2 annealing because Si donors compensated for the Mg acceptors in GaN. Thermal quenching of the luminescence center was also approximately half of that in GaN:Eu. These results indicate that the codoping with additional impurities in GaN:Eu is a powerful technique to control Eu luminescence centers for realization of improved device performance in red light-emitting diodes using GaN:Eu.

Controlled synthesis and novel photoluminescence properties of BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+}/Eu{sup 2+} nanocrystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Li; Li, Ying; Wang, Guofeng, E-mail: wanggf75@gmail.com

2015-01-15

Highlights: • Tetragonal phase BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu nanocrystals were successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method. • Under 398 nm excitation, the emissions from Eu{sup 2+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions were observed. • The emission band of Eu{sup 2+} from BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu was observed to broaden with increasing Eu concentration. - Abstract: Tetragonal phase BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu nanocrystals were successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method and a subsequent calcination treatment. The structures and morphologies of nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The photoluminescence properties of BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu were investigated in detail. Under 398 nmmore » excitation, the emissions from Eu{sup 2+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions were observed, indicating that Eu{sup 2+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions coexisted in BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu nanocrystals. Especially, the emission band of Eu{sup 2+} from BaTiO{sub 3}:Eu was observed to broaden with increasing Eu concentration. When the Eu concentration was 0.5 mol%, the {sup 5}D{sub 0} → {sup 7}F{sub 0} and {sup 5}D{sub 1} → {sup 7}F{sub 0} emissions were observed. In addition, under 537 nm excitation, the emission intensity increased with increasing Eu concentration.« less

A Strategy to enhance Eu3+ emission from LiYF4:Eu nanophosphors and green-to-orange multicolor tunable, transparent nanophosphor-polymer composites

PubMed Central

Kim, Su Yeon; Won, Yu-Ho; Jang, Ho Seong

2015-01-01

LiYF4:Eu nanophosphors with a single tetragonal phase are synthesized, and various strategies to enhance the Eu3+ emission from the nanophosphors are investigated. The optimized Eu3+ concentration is 35 mol%, and the red emission peaks due to the 5D0 →7FJ (J = 1 and 2) transitions of Eu3+ ions are further enhanced by energy transfer from a sensitizer pair of Ce3+ and Tb3+. The triple doping of Ce, Tb, and Eu into the LiYF4 host more effectively enhances the Eu3+ emission than the core/shell strategies of LiYF4:Eu(35%)/LiYF4:Ce(15%), Tb(15%) and LiYF4:Ce(15%), Tb(15%)/LiYF4:Eu(35%) architectures. Efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+ through Tb3+ results in three times higher Eu3+ emission intensity from LiYF4:Ce(15%), Tb(15%), Eu(1%) nanophosphors compared with LiYF4:Eu(35%), which contains the optimized Eu3+ concentration. Owing to the energy transfer of Ce3+ → Tb3+ and Ce3+ → Tb3+ → Eu3+, intense green and red emission peaks are observed from LiYF4:Ce(13%), Tb(14%), Eu(1-5%) (LiYF4:Ce, Tb, Eu) nanophosphors, and the intensity ratio of green to red emission is controlled by adjusting the Eu3+ concentration. With increasing Eu3+ concentration, the LiYF4:Ce, Tb, Eu nanophosphors exhibit multicolor emission from green to orange. In addition, the successful incorporation of LiYF4:Ce, Tb, Eu nanophosphors into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) facilitates the preparation of highly transparent nanophosphor-PDMS composites that present excellent multicolor tunability. PMID:25597900

Restricted access to antiretroviral treatment for undocumented migrants: a bottle neck to control the HIV epidemic in the EU/EEA.

PubMed

Deblonde, Jessika; Sasse, André; Del Amo, Julia; Burns, Fiona; Delpech, Valerie; Cowan, Susan; Levoy, Michele; Keith, Lilana; Pharris, Anastasia; Amato-Gauci, Andrew; Noori, Teymur

2015-12-10

In the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA), migrants from high-endemic countries are disproportionately affected by HIV. Between 2007 and 2012, migrants represented 39 % of reported HIV cases. There is growing evidence that a significant proportion of HIV acquisition among migrant populations occurs after their arrival in Europe. Migrants are confronted with multiple risk factors that shape patterns of population HIV susceptibility and vulnerability, which simultaneously affect HIV transmission. Undocumented migrants incur additional risks for contracting HIV due to limited access to adequate health care services, protection and justice, alongside insecure housing and employment conditions. All EU/EEA countries have ratified a number of international and regional human rights instruments that enshrine access to health care as a human right that should be available to everyone without discrimination. From a clinical and public health perspective, early HIV care and treatment is associated with viral suppression, improved health outcomes and reductions in transmission risks. A current challenge of the HIV epidemic is to reach the highest proportion of overall viral suppression among people living with HIV in order to impact on HIV transmission. Although the majority of EU/EEA countries regard migrants as an important sub-population for their national responses to HIV, and despite the overwhelming evidence of the individual and public health benefits associated with HIV care and treatment, a significant number of EU/EEA countries do not provide antiretroviral treatment to undocumented migrants. HIV transmission dynamics in migrant populations depend on the respective weight of all risk and vulnerability factors to which they are exposed, which act together in a synergistic way. People who are not linked to HIV care will continue to unwillingly contribute to the on-going transmission of HIV. Following the recommendations of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, ensuring access to HIV-care for all sub-populations, including undocumented migrants, would fulfil the human rights of those populations and also strengthen the control of HIV incidence among those not currently able to access HIV care.

Occupational hygiene in terms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols at two solid waste management plants in Finland

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lehtinen, Jenni, E-mail: jenni.k.lehtinen@jyu.fi; Tolvanen, Outi; Nivukoski, Ulla

Highlights: ► Odorous VOCs: acetic acid, 2,3-butanedione, ethyl acetate, alpha-pinene and limonene. ► VOC concentrations did not exceed occupational exposure limit concentrations. ► 2,3-Butanedione as the health effecting compound is discussed. ► Endotoxin concentrations may cause health problems in waste treatment. - Abstract: Factors affecting occupational hygiene were measured at the solid waste transferring plant at Hyvinkää and at the optic separation plant in Hämeenlinna. Measurements consisted of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols including microbes, dust and endotoxins. The most abundant compounds in both of the plants were aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, esters of carboxylic acids, ketones and terpenes.more » In terms of odour generation, the most important emissions were acetic acid, 2,3-butanedione, ethyl acetate, alpha-pinene and limonene due to their low threshold odour concentrations. At the optic waste separation plant, limonene occurred at the highest concentration of all single compounds of identified VOCs. The concentration of any single volatile organic compound did not exceed the occupational exposure limit (OEL) concentration. However, 2,3-butanedione as a health risk compound is discussed based on recent scientific findings linking it to lung disease. Microbe and dust concentrations were low at the waste transferring plant. Only endotoxin concentrations may cause health problems; the average concentration inside the plant was 425 EU/m{sup 3} which clearly exceeded the threshold value of 90 EU/m{sup 3}. In the wheel loader cabin the endotoxin concentrations were below 1 EU/m{sup 3}. High microbial and endotoxin concentrations were measured in the processing hall at the optic waste separation plant. The average concentration of endotoxins was found to be 10,980 EU/m{sup 3}, a concentration which may cause health risks. Concentrations of viable fungi were quite high in few measurements in the control room. The most problematic factor was endotoxins whose average measured concentrations was 4853 EU/m{sup 3}.« less

Concept of sustainable waste management in the city of Zagreb: Towards the implementation of circular economy approach.

PubMed

Ribić, Bojan; Voća, Neven; Ilakovac, Branka

2017-02-01

Improvement of the current waste management is one of the main challenges for most municipalities in Croatia, mainly due to legal obligations set in different European Union (EU) directives regarding waste management, such as reduction of waste generation and landfilling, or increase of separately collected waste and recycling rates. This paper highlights the current waste management in the city of Zagreb by analyzing the waste generation, collection, and disposal scenario along with the regulatory and institutional framework. Since the present waste management system mainly depends upon landfilling, with the rate of separate waste collection and recycling far from being adequate, it is necessary to introduce a new system that will take into account the current situation in the city as well as the obligations imposed by the EU. Namely, in the coming years, the Waste Framework and Landfill Directives of the European Union will be a significant driver of change in waste management practices and governance of the city of Zagreb. At present, the yearly separate waste collection makes somewhat less than 5 kg per capita of various waste fractions, i.e., far below the average value for the (28) capital cities of the EU, which is 108 kg per capita. This is possible to achieve only by better and sustainable planning of future activities and facilities, taking into account of environmental, economic, and social aspects of waste management. This means that the city of Zagreb not only will have to invest in new infrastructure to meet the targets, but also will have to enhance public awareness in diverting this waste at the household level. The solution for the new waste management proposed in this paper will certainly be a way of implementing circular economy approach to current waste management practice in the city of Zagreb. Municipal waste management in the developing countries in the EU (new eastern EU members) is often characterized by its limited utilization of recycling activities, inadequate management of nonindustrial hazardous waste, and inadequate landfill disposal. Many cities in Eastern Europe and Zagreb as well are facing serious problems in managing municipal wastes due to the existing solid waste management system that is found to be highly inefficient. The proposed scenario for city of Zagreb in the paper is an innovative upgrading of municipal waste management based on the waste management hierarchy and circular economy approach.

1D hetero-bimetallic regularly alternated 4f-3d coordination polymers based on N-oxide-4,4'-bipyridine (bipyMO) as a linker: photoluminescence and magnetic properties.

PubMed

Armelao, Lidia; Belli Dell'Amico, Daniela; Bottaro, Gregorio; Bellucci, Luca; Labella, Luca; Marchetti, Fabio; Mattei, Carlo Andrea; Mian, Federica; Pineider, Francesco; Poneti, Giordano; Samaritani, Simona

2018-06-13

Heterotopic divergent ligand N-oxide-4,4'-bipyridine (bipyMO) has been herein exploited for the preparation of hetero-bimetallic coordination polymers where Ln(hfac)3 and M(hfac)2 nodes regularly alternate (Hhfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione), bipyMO being able to selectively use its two potential coordination sites to discriminate the metal ions. The synthesis of three coordination polymers, [Ln(hfac)3M(hfac)2(bipyMO)2]n (Ln = Eu, M = Zn, 1; Ln = Eu, M = Cu, 2, Ln = Dy, M = Co, 3), was carried out by reacting the appropriate [M(hfac)2(bipyMO)]n and [Ln(hfac)3] precursors in toluene in the presence of a given stoichiometric amount of bipyMO. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, and FTIR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies carried out on 2 showed that it was formed by chains containing the hexa-coordinated 3d metal (Cu(hfac)2[N]2) and the octa-coordinated lanthanide (Eu(hfac)3[O]2) nodes, where [N] and [O] stand for the donor atom of the bridging divergent ligand. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the three compounds and the comparison of their cell constant values allowed establishing that the derivatives were isotypic. Photoluminescence (PL) studies on microcrystalline sample powders evidenced a bright red emission for 1 with an absolute PL quantum yield of 0.24. The sensitized emission of Eu3+ can be excited in a wide wavelength range, from UV to visible, up to ≈450 nm. Conversely, europium emissions are not detectable in 2 due to the presence of Cu(hfac)2(bipyMO) moieties whose strong absorption overlaps Eu3+ transitions. Magnetic measurements conducted on 3 revealed the presence of a weak ferromagnetic interaction below 2.1 K. An ac susceptibility study highlighted a slow relaxation of the magnetization of 3 with an applied static magnetic field of 0.1 T, which could be equally fitted with a Orbach-direct or a Raman-direct mechanism. No relaxation dynamics was detected without the application of a static magnetic field.

Pharmaceutical expenditure forecast model to support health policy decision making.

PubMed

Rémuzat, Cécile; Urbinati, Duccio; Kornfeld, Åsa; Vataire, Anne-Lise; Cetinsoy, Laurent; Aballéa, Samuel; Mzoughi, Olfa; Toumi, Mondher

2014-01-01

With constant incentives for healthcare payers to contain their pharmaceutical budgets, modelling policy decision impact became critical. The objective of this project was to test the impact of various policy decisions on pharmaceutical budget (developed for the European Commission for the project 'European Union (EU) Pharmaceutical expenditure forecast' - http://ec.europa.eu/health/healthcare/key_documents/index_en.htm). A model was built to assess policy scenarios' impact on the pharmaceutical budgets of seven member states of the EU, namely France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The following scenarios were tested: expanding the UK policies to EU, changing time to market access, modifying generic price and penetration, shifting the distribution chain of biosimilars (retail/hospital). Applying the UK policy resulted in dramatic savings for Germany (10 times the base case forecast) and substantial additional savings for France and Portugal (2 and 4 times the base case forecast, respectively). Delaying time to market was found be to a very powerful tool to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure. Applying the EU transparency directive (6-month process for pricing and reimbursement) increased pharmaceutical expenditure for all countries (from 1.1 to 4 times the base case forecast), except in Germany (additional savings). Decreasing the price of generics and boosting the penetration rate, as well as shifting distribution of biosimilars through hospital chain were also key methods to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure. Change in the level of reimbursement rate to 100% in all countries led to an important increase in the pharmaceutical budget. Forecasting pharmaceutical expenditure is a critical exercise to inform policy decision makers. The most important leverages identified by the model on pharmaceutical budget were driven by generic and biosimilar prices, penetration rate, and distribution. Reducing, even slightly, the prices of generics had a major impact on savings. However, very aggressive pricing of generic and biosimilar products might make this market unattractive and can be counterproductive. Worth noting, delaying time to access innovative products was also identified as an effective leverage to increase savings but might not be a desirable policy for breakthrough products. Increasing patient financial contributions, either directly or indirectly via their private insurances, is a more likely scenario rather than expanding the national pharmaceutical expenditure coverage.

Pharmaceutical expenditure forecast model to support health policy decision making

PubMed Central

Rémuzat, Cécile; Urbinati, Duccio; Kornfeld, Åsa; Vataire, Anne-Lise; Cetinsoy, Laurent; Aballéa, Samuel; Mzoughi, Olfa; Toumi, Mondher

2014-01-01

Background and objective With constant incentives for healthcare payers to contain their pharmaceutical budgets, modelling policy decision impact became critical. The objective of this project was to test the impact of various policy decisions on pharmaceutical budget (developed for the European Commission for the project ‘European Union (EU) Pharmaceutical expenditure forecast’ – http://ec.europa.eu/health/healthcare/key_documents/index_en.htm). Methods A model was built to assess policy scenarios’ impact on the pharmaceutical budgets of seven member states of the EU, namely France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The following scenarios were tested: expanding the UK policies to EU, changing time to market access, modifying generic price and penetration, shifting the distribution chain of biosimilars (retail/hospital). Results Applying the UK policy resulted in dramatic savings for Germany (10 times the base case forecast) and substantial additional savings for France and Portugal (2 and 4 times the base case forecast, respectively). Delaying time to market was found be to a very powerful tool to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure. Applying the EU transparency directive (6-month process for pricing and reimbursement) increased pharmaceutical expenditure for all countries (from 1.1 to 4 times the base case forecast), except in Germany (additional savings). Decreasing the price of generics and boosting the penetration rate, as well as shifting distribution of biosimilars through hospital chain were also key methods to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure. Change in the level of reimbursement rate to 100% in all countries led to an important increase in the pharmaceutical budget. Conclusions Forecasting pharmaceutical expenditure is a critical exercise to inform policy decision makers. The most important leverages identified by the model on pharmaceutical budget were driven by generic and biosimilar prices, penetration rate, and distribution. Reducing, even slightly, the prices of generics had a major impact on savings. However, very aggressive pricing of generic and biosimilar products might make this market unattractive and can be counterproductive. Worth noting, delaying time to access innovative products was also identified as an effective leverage to increase savings but might not be a desirable policy for breakthrough products. Increasing patient financial contributions, either directly or indirectly via their private insurances, is a more likely scenario rather than expanding the national pharmaceutical expenditure coverage. PMID:27226830

Input analysis for two public consultations on the EU Clinical Trials Regulation.

PubMed

Langhof, Holger; Lander, Jonas; Strech, Daniel

2016-09-17

The European Union's (EU) Clinical Trials Directive was replaced by an EU-Regulation as of 2016. The policy revision process was subject to a formal impact assessment exercised by the European Commission (EC) from 2008 to 2014. Following the EU principles of Good Governance, deliberation with stakeholders was an integral part of this impact assessment and the policy formulation process. Hence, two public consultations (PCs) were held by the EC in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Various stakeholders contributed and submitted their written input to the EC. Though often cited in the further revision process, the input gathered in the PC was not communicated with full transparency and it is unclear how and to what extent the input has been processed and used in the policy formulation. The objective of this study was an analysis of submissions to both PCs in order to systematically present what topics have been discussed and which possible policy options have been raised by the stakeholders. All written submissions publicly available were downloaded from the EC's homepage and assessed for stakeholder characteristics. Thematic text analysis was applied to assess the full text of a random sample of 33% of these submissions. A total of 198 different stakeholders from the EU and the United States of America contributed to one or both of the two PCs. In total, 44 various themes have been addressed that could be clustered under 24 main themes, including the articulation of problems as well as possible policy solutions to face these problems. The two PCs on the Clinical Trials Directive were highly appreciated by the various stakeholders and their input allowed an in-depth view on their particular interests. This input provided a rich source of information for all stakeholders in the field of clinical trials as well as to the EC's impact assessment. Although the EC obviously gathered a large quantity of expert knowledge on practical implications of trials legislation by consulting stakeholders, it remained unclear how this input was used in the development of the new regulation. For the sake of transparency, it is recommended that in future PCs the EC uses better standardized methods for a more transparent analysis and presentation of results.

76 FR 33703 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-09

...) administers the U.S.-European Union (EU) and U.S.- Swiss Safe Harbor Frameworks (Frameworks). These Frameworks allow U.S. companies to meet the requirements of the European Union's Data Protection Directive and the...: International Trade Administration. Title: Survey of Participating Companies in the United States- European...

Reducing Stress within the Rehabilitative Work Setting - A Report on the ROSE Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, John S. G.; Denny, Margaret

Reducing Occupational Stress in Employment (ROSE) is an EU funded project which aims to develop a combined person and work directed stress management programme in order to improve the long-term retention of staff in the vocational rehabilitation sector for mental health and intellectual disabilities.

Metamagnetism, sign reversal and low temperature magnetocaloric effect in single-crystalline EuV2Al20

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramesh Kumar, K.; Nair, Harikrishnan S.; Bhattacharyya, A.; Thamizhavel, A.; Strydom, André M.

2018-04-01

The Frank-Kasper cage compound EuV2Al20 crystallizes in the cubic structure with Fd 3 ‾ m space group and exhibits unusual magnetic and transport properties. The system undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition below 5.6 K wherein the Eu2+ moments are aligned anti-parallel along 〈1 1 1〉 direction and the system exhibits a weak metamagetic transition at the field of 1 T. Arrott plots (M2 vs H / M) show a "S" shaped variation in the low fields below TN and the plausible reason for the occurrence of negative slope is discussed. Isothermal magnetic entropy change is estimated from both magnetization and heat capacity measurements invoking the Maxwell's thermodynamic relations. Temperature variation of ΔSm showed a weak negative minimum and a sign reversal at the field value of 1 T due to field induced metamagnetic transition. Universal master curve is constructed by rescaling the ΔSm vs T curves in the context of analysing the nature of the magnetic transition.

Study on Laws, Regulations and Standards on Energy Efficiency, Energy Conserving and Emission Reduction of Industrial Boilers in EU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ren; Zhao, Yuejin; Chen, Haihong; Liang, Xiuying; Yang, Ming

2017-12-01

Industrial boilers are widely applied in such fields as factory power, building heating, and people’s lives; China is the world’s largest producer and user of industrial boilers, with very high annual energy consumption; clear requirements have been put forward by China on the energy efficiency since the “11th Five-year Plan” with the hope to save energy and reduce emission by means of energy efficiency standards and regulations on the supervision and control of various special equipment. So far, the energy efficiency of industrial boilers in China has been improved significantly but there is still a gap with the EU states. This paper analyzes the policies of energy efficiency, implementation models and methods of supervision and implementation at the EU level from laws, regulations, directives as well as standards; the paper also puts forward suggestions of energy conserving and emission reduction on the improvement of energy conserving capacity of industrial boilers in China through studying the legislations and measures of the developed countries in energy conserving of boilers.

Improved water resistance of SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphor directly achieved in a water-containing medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Tonggang; Xia, Haofu; Zhang, Zhanhui; Kong, Shijin; Peng, Weikang; Zhao, Qi; Huang, Zhiliang

2017-03-01

In this paper, a heterogeneous precipitation method utilizing urea hydrolysis was adopted to coat a SiO2 layer on the surface of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ long persistence phosphors. To avoid phosphor hydrolysis in a water-containing coating medium, the hydrolysis and polymerization reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) were concerned and carried out. The crystal phases, surface morphologies, hydrolysis stability and water resistance on afterglow properties of coated phosphors were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrum analysis, transmission electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrum results confirmed that a continuous, uniform and compact SiO2 coating layer was successfully obtained on the phosphors surface. A theoretical coating amount of 5% or higher was found to be good for hydrolysis stability. Photoluminescence results revealed the coated phosphors showed much better water resistance on afterglow properties than the uncoated phosphor. We also discussed and proposed the hydrolysis restriction mechanism of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ in the water-containing coating medium.

Influence of europium (Eu3+) ions on the optical properties of lithium zinc phosphate glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shwetha, M.; Eraiah, B.

2018-02-01

Europium doped lithium zinc phosphate glasses with composition xEu2O3-(15-x) Li2O-45ZnO-40P2O5 (where x=0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mol %) named as EP0, EP1, EP3 and EP5 respectively, are prepared by melt-quenching method and the influence of Eu3+ ions on physical and optical properties of these glasses has been studied. Optical properties were studied using optical absorption spectra which was recorded at room temperature in the UV-Visible region. Optical direct band gap and indirect band gap energies were measured and their values range from 3.167 to 4.23eV and 2.08 to 3.02eV, respectively. Refractive indices have been measured with respect to different concentration of europium ions. Fluorescence spectroscopy measurements have been performed by excitation in the UV-Visible range, which resulted in the significant fluorescence peaks. The luminescence color of the glass system is characterized using Commission International de l’Eclairage de France 1931 standards.

Maritime Spatial Planning in Cyprus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadjimitsis, Diofantos; Agapiou, Athos; Themistocleous, Kyriakos; Mettas, Christodoulos; Evagorou, Evagoras; Soulis, Giorgos; Xagoraris, Zafeiris; Pilikou, Maria; Aliouris, Kyriakos; Ioannou, Nicolas

2016-01-01

Spatial Planning is a critical tool for land management and is extensively used in all developed nations. The Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), at the European Union (EU) level, is based on Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and Council of 23rd July 2014 which establishes a common framework for MSP in the EU, which each Member State is called to apply in relation to the maritime space under its jurisdiction (marine waters). In this paper the overall results from the "Cross-Border Cooperation for the development of Marine Spatial Planning" project are presented for the area of Cyprus. A variety of activities fall within the MSP such as maritime transport routes and traffic flows, exploration, exploitation and extraction of energy resources, tourism, underwater cultural heritage etc. In addition, the legal framework, activities maps are also shown. The variety of conflicts maps for the area of Limassol are illustrated both in 2D and 3D. A hypothetical scenario of Limassol town in Cyprus as an energy center is presented based on the overall results. The paper ends with some conclusions regarding the framework of MSP in Cyprus.

Occurrence and removal of organic micropollutants: An overview of the watch list of EU Decision 2015/495.

PubMed

Barbosa, Marta O; Moreira, Nuno F F; Ribeiro, Ana R; Pereira, Manuel F R; Silva, Adrián M T

2016-05-01

Although there are no legal discharge limits for micropollutants into the environment, some regulations have been published in the last few years. Recently, a watch list of substances for European Union-wide monitoring was reported in the Decision 2015/495/EU of 20 March 2015. Besides the substances previously recommended to be included by the Directive 39/2013/EU, namely two pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and the synthetic hormone 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2)) and a natural hormone (17-beta-estradiol (E2)), the first watch list of 10 substances/groups of substances also refers three macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin), other natural hormone (estrone (E1)), some pesticides (methiocarb, oxadiazon, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, acetamiprid and triallate), a UV filter (2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate) and an antioxidant (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) commonly used as food additive. Since little is known about the removal of most of the substances included in the Decision 2015/495/EU, particularly regarding realistic concentrations in aqueous environmental samples, this review aims to: (i) overview the European policy in the water field; (ii) briefly describe the most commonly used conventional and advanced treatment processes to remove micropollutants; (iii) summarize the relevant data published in the last decade, regarding occurrence and removal in aqueous matrices of the 10 substances/groups of substances that were recently included in the first watch list for European Union monitoring (Decision 2015/495/EU); and (iv) highlight the lack of reports concerning some substances of the watch list, the study of un-spiked aquatic matrices and the assessment of transformation by-products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validation of The Scenarios Designed For The Eu Registration of Pesticides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piñeros Garcet, J. D.; de Nie, D.; Vanclooster, M.; Tiktak, A.; Klein, M.

As part of recent efforts to harmonise registration procedures for pesticides within the EU, a set of uniform principles were developed, setting out the detailed evaluation and decision making criteria for pesticide registration. The EU directive 91/414/EEC places great importance on the use of validated models to calculate Predicted Envi- ronmental Concentrations (PECs), as a basis for assessing the environmental risks and health effects. To be used in a harmonised registration process, the quality of PEC modelling needs to be assured. Quality assurance of mathematical modelling implies, amongst others, the validation of the environmental modelling scenarios. The FOrum for the CO-ordination of pesticide fate models and their USe (FOCUS), is the cur- rent platform where common modelling methodologies are designed and subjected for approval to the European authorities. In 2000, the FOCUS groundwater scenarios working group defined the procedures for realising tier 1 PEC groundwater calcula- tions for the active substances of plant protection products at the pan-european level. The procedures and guidelines were approved by the Standing Committee on Plant Health, and are now recommended for tier 1 PEC groundwater calculations in the reg-istration dossier. Yet, the working group also identified a range of uncertainties related to the validity of the present leaching scenarios. To mitigate some of these problems,the EU R&D project APECOP was designed and approved for support in the frame-work of the EU-FP5-Quality of Life Programme. One of the objectives of the project is to evaluate the appropriateness of the current Tier 1 groundwater scenarios. In this paper, we summarise the methodology and results of the scenarios validation.

Validation of The Scenarios Designed For The Eu Registration of Pesticides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piñeros Garcet, J. D.; de Nie, D.; Vanclooster, M.; Tiktak, A.; Klein, M.; Jones, A.

As part of recent efforts to harmonise registration procedures for pesticides within the EU, a set of uniform principles were developed, setting out the detailed evaluation and decision making criteria for pesticide registration. The EU directive 91/414/EEC places great importance on the use of validated models to calculate Predicted Envi- ronmental Concentrations (PECs), as a basis for assessing the environmental risks and health effects. To be used in a harmonised registration process, the quality of PEC modelling needs to be assured. Quality assurance of mathematical modelling implies, amongst others, the validation of the environmental modelling scenarios. The FOrum for the CO-ordination of pesticide fate models and their USe (FOCUS), is the cur- rent platform where common modelling methodologies are designed and subjected for approval to the European authorities. In 2000, the FOCUS groundwater scenarios working group defined the procedures for realising tier 1 PEC groundwater calcula- tions for the active substances of plant protection products at the pan-european level. The procedures and guidelines were approved by the Standing Committee on Plant Health, and are now recommended for tier 1 PEC groundwater calculations in the reg- istration dossier. Yet, the working group also identified a range of uncertainties related to the validity of the present leaching scenarios. To mitigate some of these problems, the EU R&D project APECOP was designed and approved for support in the frame- work of the EU-FP5-Quality of Life Programme. One of the objectives of the project is to evaluate the appropriateness of the current Tier 1 groundwater scenarios. In this paper, we summarise the methodology and results of the scenarios validation.

Development and production of good manufacturing practice grade human embryonic stem cell lines as source material for clinical application.

PubMed

De Sousa, P A; Downie, J M; Tye, B J; Bruce, K; Dand, P; Dhanjal, S; Serhal, P; Harper, J; Turner, M; Bateman, M

2016-09-01

From 2006 to 2011, Roslin Cells Ltd derived 17 human embryonic stem cells (hESC) while developing (RCM1, RC-2 to -8, -10) and implementing (RC-9, -11 to -17) quality assured standards of operation in a facility operating in compliance with European Union (EU) directives and United Kingdom (UK) licensure for procurement, processing and storage of human cells as source material for clinical application, and targeted to comply with an EU Good Manufacturing Practice specification. Here we describe the evolution and specification of the facility, its operation and outputs, complementing hESC resource details communicated in Stem Cell Research Lab Resources. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Novel ways of creating and detecting topological order with cold atoms and ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewenstein, Maciej

2015-03-01

In my talk I will focus on novel physics and novel quantum phases that are expected in lattice systems of ultra-cold atoms or ions in synthetic gauge fields, generated via lattice modulations and shaking. I will discuss fractal energy spectra and topological phases in long-range spin chains realized with trapped ions or atoms in nanofibers, and synthetic gauge fields in synthetic dimensions. I will spend large part of the talk discussing the ways to detect topological effects and order, via tomography of band insulators from quench dynamics, or via direct imaging of topological edge states. This work was supported by ERC AdG OSYRIS, EU IP SIQS, EU STREP EQUAM and Spanish Ministry Grant FOQUS.

Research relative to the development of a cryogenic microwave cavity gradiometer for orbital use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grossi, M. D.

1985-01-01

Technical approaches to increase the sensitivity of a non-cryogenic gradiometer toward the goal of 0.001 EU/square root of Hz, with solutions that have the potential of achieving an even more ambitious threshold, such as 0.0001 EU/square root of Hz are discussed. This goal can be achieved with a gradiometer design in which the proof masses are each suspended from two small arms, the torsion of which is directly related to the displacement of the sensing element. A negative-spring action, aimed at reducing the resonance frequency, is provided in this design by means of an external electrostatic field. This configuration of the instrument is also suitable for use in a tensorial arrangement.

European Union policy on smokeless tobacco: a statement in favour of evidence based regulation for public health

PubMed Central

Bates, C; Fagerstrom, K; Jarvis, M; Kunze, M; McNeill, A; Ramstrom, L

2003-01-01

Rationale: This statement is an updated version of one released by the same authors in February 2003. The statement was produced to follow up the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Tobacco Advisory Group report "Protecting smokers, saving lives: the case for a tobacco and nicotine regulatory authority",1 which argued for an evidence based regulatory approach to smokeless tobacco and harm reduction and posed a series of questions that regulators must address in relation to smokeless tobacco. The purpose of this statement is to provide arguments of fact and principle to follow the RCP's report and to outline the public health case for changing existing European Union (EU) regulation in this area. A review of regulation in relation to harm reduction and regulation of tobacco products other than cigarettes is required in Article 11 of EU directive 2001/37/EC,2 and this is a contribution towards forming a consensus in the European public health community about what policy the EU should adopt in the light of this review, or following ongoing legal action that may potentially strike out the existing regulation altogether. Public health case: We believe that the partial ban applied to some forms of smokeless tobacco in the EU should be replaced by regulation of the toxicity of all smokeless tobacco. We hold this view for public health reasons: smokeless tobacco is substantially less harmful than smoking and evidence from Sweden suggests it is used as a substitute for smoking and for smoking cessation. To the extent there is a "gateway" it appears not to lead to smoking, but away from it and is an important reason why Sweden has the lowest rates of tobacco related disease in Europe. We think it is wrong to deny other Europeans this option for risk reduction and that the current ban violates rights of smokers to control their own risks. For smokers that are addicted to nicotine and cannot or will not stop, it is important that they can take advantage of much less hazardous forms of nicotine and tobacco—the alternative being to "quit or die"... and many die. While nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) may have a role in harm reduction, tobacco based harm reduction options may reach more smokers and in a different, market based, way. Chewing tobacco is not banned or regulated in the EU but is often highly toxic, and our proposal could remove more products from the market than it permitted. Regulatory options: We believe that the EU policy on smokeless tobacco should adapt to new scientific knowledge and that the European Commission should bring forward proposals to amend or replace Article 8 of directive 2001/37/EC with a new regulatory framework. Canada has developed testing regimens for tobacco constituents and these could be readily adapted to the European situation. A review of EU policy in this area is required no later than December 2004, and we believe the Commission should expedite the part of its review that deals with harm reduction and regulation of tobacco products other than cigarettes so as to reconsider its policy on smokeless tobacco. We held this view before Swedish Match brought its legal proceedings to challenge EU legislation and we will continue to hold these views if its action fails. PMID:14660767

Study of Eu{sup 3+} → Eu{sup 2+} reduction in BaAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}:Eu prepared in different gas atmospheres

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rezende, Marcos V. dos S., E-mail: mvsrezende@gmail.com; Valerio, Mário E.G.; Jackson, Robert A.

2015-01-15

Highlights: • The effect of different gas atmospheres on the Eu reduction process was studied. • The Eu reduction was monitored analyzing XANES region at the Eu L{sub III}-edge. • Hydrogen reducing agent are the most appropriate gas for Eu{sup 2+} stabilization. • Only a part of the Eu ions can be stabilized in the divalent state. • A model of Eu reduction process is proposed. - Abstract: The effect of different gas atmospheres such as H{sub 2}(g), synthetic air, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen (N{sub 2}) on the Eu{sup 3+} → Eu{sup 2+} reduction process during the synthesis ofmore » Eu-doped BaAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} was studied using synchrotron radiation. The Eu{sup 3+} → Eu{sup 2+} reduction was monitored analyzing XANES region when the sample are excited at the Eu L{sub III}-edge. The results show that the hydrogen reducing agent are the most appropriate gas for Eu{sup 2+} stabilization in BaAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} and that only a part of the Eu ions can be stabilized in the divalent state. A model of Eu reduction process, based on the incorporation of charge compensation defects, is proposed.« less

Comparative study on Climate Change Policies in the EU and China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bray, M.; Han, D.

2012-04-01

Both the EU and China are among the largest CO2 emitters in the world; their climate actions and policies have profound impacts on global climate change and may influence the activities in other countries. Evidence of climate change has been observed across Europe and China. Despite the many differences between the two regions, the European Commission and Chinese government support climate change actions. The EU has three priority areas in climate change: 1) understanding, monitoring and predicting climate change and its impact; 2) providing tools to analyse the effectiveness, cost and benefits of different policy options for mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts; 3) improving, demonstrating and deploying existing climate friendly technologies and developing the technologies of the future. China is very vulnerable to climate change, because of its vast population, fast economic development, and fragile ecological environment. The priority policies in China are: 1) Carbon Trading Policy; 2) Financing Loan Policy (Special Funds for Renewable Energy Development); 3) Energy Efficiency Labelling Policy; 4) Subsidy Policy. In addition, China has formulated the "Energy Conservation Law", "Renewable Energy Law", "Cleaner Production Promotion Law" and "Circular Economy Promotion Law". Under the present EU Framework Programme FP7 there is a large number of funded research activities linked to climate change research. Current climate change research projects concentrate on the carbon cycle, water quality and availability, climate change predictors, predicting future climate and understanding past climates. Climate change-related scientific and technological projects in China are mostly carried out through national scientific and technological research programs. Areas under investigation include projections and impact of global climate change, the future trends of living environment change in China, countermeasures and supporting technologies of global environment change, formation mechanism and prediction theory of major climate and weather disasters in China, technologies of efficient use of clean energy, energy conservation and improvement of energy efficiency, development and utilisation technology of renewable energy and new energy. The EU recognises that developing countries, such as China and India, need to strengthen their economies through industrialisation. However this needs to be achieved at the same time as protecting the environment and sustainable use of energy. The EU has committed itself to assisting developing countries to achieve their goals in four priority areas: 1) raising the policy profile of climate change; 2) support for adaption to climate change; 3) support for mitigation of climate change; and 4) capacity development. This comparative study is part of the EU funded SPRING project which seeks to understand and assess Chinese and European competencies, with the aim of facilitating greater cooperation in future climate and environment research.

Application of Trophic Magnification Factors (TMFs) Under the ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Directive 2013/39/EU amending and updating the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and its Daughter Directive (the so-called EQS Directive: 2008/105/EC) sets Environmental Quality Standards for biota (EQSbiota) for a number of bioaccumulative chemicals which can pose a threat to both aquatic wildlife (piscivorous birds and mammals) and human health via the consumption of contaminated prey or the intake of contaminated food originating from the aquatic environment. Member States (MS) of the European Union will need to establish programs to monitor the concentration of 11 priority substances in biota and assess compliance against these new standards for surface water classification. The biota standards essentially refer to fish and should be applied to the trophic level (TL) at which contaminant concentrations peak, so that the predator of the species at that TL is exposed to the highest contaminant levels in its food. For chemicals that are subject to biomagnification, the peak concentrations are theoretically attained at TL 3 to 4 in freshwater food webs and TL 5 in marine food webs, where the risk of secondary poisoning of top predators should also be considered. An EU-wide guidance effectively addresses the implementation of EQSbiota (EC 2014). Flexibility is allowed in the choice of target species used for monitoring because of the diversity of both habitats and aquatic community composition across Europe. According to that guidance, the consistency and co

Non-European traditional herbal medicines in Europe: a community herbal monograph perspective.

PubMed

Qu, Liping; Zou, Wenjun; Zhou, Zhenxiang; Zhang, Tingmo; Greef, JanVander; Wang, Mei

2014-10-28

The European Directive 2004/24/EC introducing a simplified registration procedure for traditional herbal medicinal products, plays an important role in harmonising the current legislation framework for all herbal medicinal products in the European Union (EU). Although substantial achievements have been made under the new scheme, only a limited number of herbal medicinal products from non-European traditions commonly used in Europe have been registered. Therefore, identification of the obstacles, and determination of appropriate means to overcome the major challenges in the registration of non-European traditional herbal medicinal products are of critical importance for the EU herbal medicinal product market. The primary aims of this study were to understand the key issues and obstacles to registration of non-European traditional herbal medicinal products within the EU. The findings may identify the need for more attention on the Community herbal monographs elaborated by the Herbal Medicinal Products Committee (HMPC), as well as further evidence based scientific research on non-European herbal substances/preparations by the scientific community. A systematic evaluation of the herbal substances and preparations included in Community herbal monographs and public statements has been carried out. The focus was herbal substances and preparations derived from non-European traditions. Of the 109 adopted Community herbal monographs, 10 are herbal substances used in Chinese traditional medicine. Where the HMPC issued a public statement because it was unable to elaborate a monograph more than half-involved herbal substances/preparations from non-European traditions. The main reasons herbal substances/preparations from non-European traditions were not accepted for inclusion in the Community herbal monographs have been identified as due to unfulfilled requirements of Directive 2004/24/EC. The most common reasons were the lack of evidence to demonstrate a 15-year minimum medicinal use period in the EU and evidence of absence of health risk as required by Article 16a (1) (d), and Article 16a (1) (e). Under the current EU legislation, the requirement to demonstrate 15-year minimum medicinal use in the EU is a major obstacle to the registration of non-European traditional herbal medicinal products. Access to scientific data to support the product safety profile may be a possible solution to overcome the hurdle presented by the 15-year minimum medicinal use period. Furthermore, the Community herbal monographs play an important role in the registration process. Therefore, making full use of existing Community herbal monographs, and promoting scientific research and subsequent development of additional monographs for herbal substances and preparations, and combinations thereof from non-European traditions would be of benefit to herbal medicinal product registration from non-European traditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The combination of direct and paired link graphs can boost repetitive genome assembly

PubMed Central

Shi, Wenyu; Ji, Peifeng

2017-01-01

Abstract Currently, most paired link based scaffolding algorithms intrinsically mask the sequences between two linked contigs and bypass their direct link information embedded in the original de Bruijn assembly graph. Such disadvantage substantially complicates the scaffolding process and leads to the inability of resolving repetitive contig assembly. Here we present a novel algorithm, inGAP-sf, for effectively generating high-quality and continuous scaffolds. inGAP-sf achieves this by using a new strategy based on the combination of direct link and paired link graphs, in which direct link is used to increase graph connectivity and to decrease graph complexity and paired link is employed to supervise the traversing process on the direct link graph. Such advantage greatly facilitates the assembly of short-repeat enriched regions. Moreover, a new comprehensive decision model is developed to eliminate the noise routes accompanying with the introduced direct link. Through extensive evaluations on both simulated and real datasets, we demonstrated that inGAP-sf outperforms most of the genome scaffolding algorithms by generating more accurate and continuous assembly, especially for short repetitive regions. PMID:27924003

The Sea Monitoring Virtual Research Community (VRC) in the EVER-EST Project (a virtual research environment for the Earth Sciences).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foglini, Federica; Boero, Ferdinando; Guarino, Raffaele

2016-04-01

The EU's H2020 EVER-EST Project is dedicated to the realization of a Virtual Research Environment (VRE) for Earth Science researchers during 2015-2018. In this framework the Sea monitoring represents one of the four use case VRCs chosen to validate the EVER-EST e-infrastructure, which is aimed at representing a wide and multidisciplinary Earth Science domain. The objective of the Sea Monitoring Virtual Research Community (VRC) is to provide useful and applicable contributions to the identification and definition of variables indicated by the European Commission in the Marine Directive under the framework for Good Environment Status (GES). The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/index_en.htm) has defined the descriptors for Good Environmental Status in marine waters. The first descriptor is biodiversity; the second one is the presence of non-indigenous species while the remaining nine (even when they consider physical, chemical or geological variables) require proper functioning of the ecosystem, linked to a good state of biodiversity. The Sea Monitoring VRC is direct to provide practical methods, procedures and protocols to support coherent and widely accepted interpretation of the Descriptors 1(Biodiversity), 2 (non- indigenous species), 4 (food webs) and 6 (seafloor integrity) identified in GES. In that context, the criteria and methodological standards already identified by the European Commission, and at same time considering the activities and projects in progress in the marine framework, will be taken into account. This research of practical methods to estimate and measure GES parameters requires a close cooperation among different disciplines including: biologists, geologists, geophysics, oceanographers, Earth observation experts and others. It will also require a number of different types of scientific data and observations (e.g. biology related, chemico-physical, etc.) from different inputs and sensors (e.g. remote sensing, on-site buoys, marine stations, administrations, citizen observations, etc.). Furthermore, different communities require support and guidance to be able to effectively interoperate and share practices, methods, standards and terminologies. The EVER-EST VRE will provide the Sea Monitoring VRC users community with an innovative framework aimed at enhancing their ability to interoperate and share knowledge, experience and methods for GES assessment and monitoring. Furthermore the Sea monitoring VRC will focus the attention on the implementation of Research Object (RO, a semantically rich aggregation of resources bringing together data, documents and methods in scientific investigations) for GES assessment to be shared among the wide sea monitoring community for the first time.

SMART GROUND Project: SMART data collection and inteGRation platform to enhance availability and accessibility of data and infOrmation in the EU territory on SecoNDary Raw Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossetti, Piergiorgio; Antonella Dino, Giovanna; de la Feld, Marco; Pizza, Antonietta; Coulon, Frederic; Wagland, Stuart; Gomes, Diogo

2016-04-01

The issue of resource security has come to the forefront of the debate over recent years, partly due to considerable concern over the security of supply of the so called 'critical' materials, with rare earths attracting the greatest attention in the press. Their supply is fundamental to maintain and develop EU economy and its industries relied on a steady supply of Raw Materials. Thus considering the increasing scarcity and raising prices of both, energy raw materials and other raw materials, such as metals and minerals, the recycling and recovery of these materials from anthropogenic deposits such as landfills is of increasing relevance. Europe has somewhere between 150,000 and 500,000 landfill sites, with an estimated 90% of them being "non-sanitary" pre-dating the EU Landfill Directive of 1999. Thus historical background makes the numerous old waste dumps as possible sources of critical and secondary raw materials (SRM and CRM). However, to date there is no inventory available of SRM and CRM present in EU landfills, and best management practices to recover SRM from landfill activities are inefficient. In this context, the EU SMART GROUND (SG) project (Grant Agreement No 641988) intends to foster resource recovery in landfills by improving both the availability and the accessibility of data and information on SRM in the EU and creating synergies among the different stakeholders involved in the SRM value chain. To do so, the project aims to collect and integrate in a single EU databank (SMART GROUND Data Bank) all the data from existing databases and new information retrieved during project activities. Such data will be collected from the different waste streams including municipal, industrial and mining wastes across EU landfills. It will improve data gathering on SRM from different types of waste, by defining new and integrated data acquisition methods and standards. At last, but not least, the project will also improve the SRM economic and employment potential, by i) providing training on the assessment of landfill sites material recovery to targeting end-users, ii) establishing a dedicated network of academic, industrial, regulators and other stakeholders committed to cost-effective research, technology transfer and training. The present contribution will provide an overview of the SMART GROUND project and highlights the results obtained during the first six months of project activity.

Preparation, characterization and application of EVA film containing Eu3+ complex with 1-tridecanecarboxylic acid ligand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Jin; Lin, Baoping

2017-11-01

In this study, on the basis of complex Eu(DBM)3Phen which was widely applied in polymer matrices, quaternary complex Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA) was synthesized by the introduction of 1-tridecanecarboxylic acid (TA). XRD analyses show that Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA) inclines to amorphization compared with Eu(DBM)3Phen which is crystal. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) film doped with Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA) was prepared by casting method. SEM and AFM analyses show that the compatibility of Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA) with EVA is better than that of Eu(DBM)3Phen with EVA. Under the same addition amount of Eu3+ complexes, visible light transmittance of Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA)/EVA film is obviously greater than that of Eu(DBM)3Phen/EVA film, and the fluorescence intensity of Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA)/EVA film is only slightly lower than that of Eu(DBM)3Phen/EVA film. With the optimum addition amount of Eu3+ complexes, the energy conversion efficiency of the polycrystalline silicon solar cell coated with Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA)/EVA film is improved to 12.14%, and in comparison, that of the solar cell coated with Eu(DBM)3Phen/EVA film is only 11.98%. Hence Eu(DBM)2Phen(TA)/EVA film has a potential prospect as luminescent down-shifting material.

Functionalisation of lanthanide complexes via microwave-enhanced Cu(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition.

PubMed

Szíjjártó, Csongor; Pershagen, Elias; Borbas, K Eszter

2012-07-07

Cu(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions were used to functionalise lanthanide(III)-complexes (Ln; La, Eu and Tb) incorporating alkyne or azide reactive groups. Microwave irradiation significantly accelerated the reactions, enabling full conversion to the triazole products in some cases in 5 min. Alkyl and aryl azides and alkyl and aryl alkynes could all serve as coupling partners. These reaction conditions proved efficient for cyclen-tricarboxylates and previously unreactive cyclen-tris-primary amide chelates. The synthesis of heterobimetallic (Eu/Tb, EuTb17 and Eu/La, EuLa17) and heterotrimetallic (Eu/La/Eu) complexes was achieved in up to 60% isolated yield starting from coumarin 2-appended alkynyl complexes Tb16 or La16 and an azido-Eu complex Eu4, and bis-alkynyl La-complex La5 and Eu4, respectively. EuTb17 displayed dual Eu(III) and Tb(III)-emission upon antenna-centred excitation.

Temperature dependent luminescence and energy transfer properties of Na2SrMg(PO4)2:Eu2+, Mn2+ phosphors.

PubMed

Geng, Dongling; Shang, Mengmeng; Zhang, Yang; Lian, Hongzhou; Lin, Jun

2013-11-21

Eu(2+) singly and Eu(2+)/Mn(2+) co-doped Na2SrMg(PO4)2 (NSMP) phosphors have been prepared via a high-temperature solid-state reaction process. Upon UV excitation of 260-360 nm, the NSMP:xEu(2+) phosphors exhibit a violet band located at 399 nm and a blue band centered at 445 nm, which originate from Eu(2+) ions occupying two different crystallographic sites: Eu(2+)(I) and Eu(2+)(II), respectively. Excitation wavelengths longer than 380 nm can selectively excite Eu(2+)(II) to emit blue light. Energy transfer processes in the Eu(2+)(I)-Eu(2+)(II) and Eu(2+)-Mn(2+) pairs have been observed and investigated by luminescence spectra and decay curves. The emission color of as-prepared samples can be tuned by changing the relative concentrations of Eu(2+) and Mn(2+) ions and adjusting the excitation wavelength. Under UV excitation of 323 nm, the absolute quantum yield of NSMP:0.005Eu(2+) is 91%, which is higher than most of the other Eu(2+)-doped phosphors reported previously. The temperature dependent luminescence properties and decay curves (4.3-450 K) of NSMP:Eu(2+) and NSMP:Eu(2+), Mn(2+) phosphors have been studied in detail. Thermal quenching of Eu(2+) has been observed while the emission band of Mn(2+) shows a blue-shift and an abnormal increase of intensity with increasing temperature. The unusual thermal quenching behavior indicates that the NSMP compound can serve as a good lattice host for Mn(2+) ions which can be used as a red-emitting phosphor. Additionally, the lifetimes for Eu(2+)(I) and Eu(2+)(II) increase with increasing temperatures.

Strong Eu2+ light emission in Eu silicate through Eu3+ reduction in Eu2O3/Si multilayer deposited on Si substrates

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Eu2O3/Si multilayer nanostructured films are deposited on Si substrates by magnetron sputtering. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrate that multicrystalline Eu silicate is homogeneously distributed in the film after high-temperature treatment in N2. The Eu2+ silicate is formed by the reaction of Eu2O3 and Si layers, showing an intense and broad room-temperature photoluminescence peak centered at 610 nm. It is found that the Si layer thickness in nanostructures has great influence on Eu ion optical behavior by forming different Eu silicate crystalline phases. These findings open a promising way to prepare efficient Eu2+ materials for photonic application. PMID:23618344

Mineralogical and geochemical features of the coarse saprolite developed on orthogneiss in the SW of Yaoundé, South Cameroon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ndjigui, P.-D.; Badinane, M. F. B.; Nyeck, B.; Nandjip, H. P. K.; Bilong, P.

2013-03-01

A petrological investigation was performed in the coarse saprolite on orthogneiss in Yaoundé (South Cameroon) using combined whole rock geochemical (XRF, ICP-MS) and mineralogical (XRD, SEM) techniques. The orthogneiss has high contents in SiO2 (61.56 wt.%), Ba (916 ppm) and REE (209 ppm), moderate content in Al2O3 (14.34 wt.%) and negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.68). The weathering leads to the formation of three main constituents in the coarse saprolite: (i) the loose materials (∼85 vol.%) are basically clayey silty with relic structure. They are composed of kaolinite, quartz and goethite. The loose materials have high contents in SiO2 (56-64.83 wt.%) and Al2O3 (21.48-23.96 wt.%), and moderate contents in V (163-236 ppm), Ba (95-340 ppm) and Zr (160-313 ppm). The REE content is low (∼49-169 ppm) relative to the parent rock with LREE-enrichment (LREE/HREE ∼ 7-17). Positive Ce anomaly (Ce/Ce* ∼ 3.35) is observed in the white veins and slight positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* ∼ 1.2-1.4) are noted in all loose samples. The (La/Yb)N ratios (∼0.8-1.5) indicate high REE-fractionation. The mass balance calculation reveals the depletion of several elements except Al, Ti, Sc, Y, Th, Sb and Hf; (ii) the iron duricrust (∼10 vol.%) is located at the bottom and the top of the horizon. The mineral assemblage is dominated by hematite and goethite. The upper iron duricrust has high contents in Fe2O3 (45.60 wt.%) and Cr (1641 ppm), moderate contents in V (459 ppm) and Zn (143 ppm), and low REE content (47 ppm) with low LREE/HREE ratio (4.28). The upper iron duricrust is more enriched in Fe2O3 (53.26 wt.%) than the lower one. Vanadium, Cr and Zr have high contents relative to other trace elements. The REE content is low (39 ppm) as well as the LREE/HREE ratio (2.94). The iron duricrust has negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* ∼ 0.66-0.69) and very low (La/Yb)N ratios (0.1-0.3). Several elements reported in the iron duricrust are highly leached except Fe, Cr, Zn, Sc, V, Pb, Zr, Cu and Th; and (iii) the Mn-rich materials (<5 vol.%) are made up of birnessite, cryptomelane, and low quantities of quartz, kaolinite and goethite. The SEM investigation reveals that Ba and Pb are linked in Mn-bearing phases and Ce-oxides appear as fine-grained intergrowth between Mn-bearing phases. The Mn-bearing phases are enriched in MnO (33.86 wt.%), BaO (4.30 wt.%), Co (1716 ppm), Pb (1315 ppm) and Ce (5202 ppm). Positive Ce and Eu anomalies are observed (Ce/Ce* ∼ 15.60 and Eu/Eu* ∼ 2). The mass balance calculations indicate the strong accumulation of Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Sc, Cu, Ba, Pb, Y, Ga, Zr and REE. The Mn-bearing phases might be derived from the accumulation of silicate residues and Mn within the parent rock. The transition from the parent rock to the coarse saprolite is marked by high leaching of several elements.

75 FR 62502 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Information for Self-Certification Under FAQ 6...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-12

... Request; Information for Self-Certification Under FAQ 6 of the United States--European Union Safe Harbor.... SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract In response to the European Union Directive on Data Protection that... framework bridges the differences between the European Union (EU) and U.S. approaches to privacy protection...

High-resolution Thermal Micro-imaging Using Europium Chelate Luminescent Coatings

DOE PAGES

Benseman, Timothy M.; Hao, Yang; Vlasko-Vlasov, Vitalii K.; ...

2017-04-16

Europium thenoyltrifluoroacentonate (EuTFC) has an optical luminescence line at 612 nm, whose activation efficiency decreases strongly with temperature. If a sample coated with a thin film of this material is micro-imaged, the 612 nm luminescent response intensity may be converted into a direct map of sample surface temperature.

Two way assessment of other physical work demands while measuring the whole body vibration magnitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiemessen, Ivo J. H.; Hulshof, Carel T. J.; Frings-Dresen, Monique H. W.

2008-03-01

Direct observation, instead of using self-administered questionnaires might give more reliable and specific information about physical work demands at the workplace. This information is of use in a population already at risk of developing low back pain (LBP) due to whole body vibration (WBV) exposure. The aims of this study are to assess the WBV exposure in an exposed population and to assess other physical work demands in two ways, by direct observation and with the use of a self-administered questionnaire. We therefore assessed the WBV magnitude and 5 WBV-related physical work demands by using the PalmTrac system and a self-administered questionnaire in a group of drivers ( N=10). The main findings are 7 out of 10 drivers are exceeding the EU action value. About 50% of the drivers under-estimated the time 'bending', 60% the time 'walking+standing' and 60% over-estimated the time when 'lifting.' We concluded that 7 drivers from this group are at risk of developing LBP and substantial differences exists for the 5 physical work demands comparing the PalmTrac method with the questionnaire. Direct observational assessment in WBV measurements yields extra information. This is useful for preventive activities necessary as drivers are exceeding the EU action value.

Cephalopod biology and care, a COST FA1301 (CephsInAction) training school: anaesthesia and scientific procedures.

PubMed

Lopes, Vanessa M; Sampaio, Eduardo; Roumbedakis, Katina; Tanaka, Nobuaki K; Carulla, Lucía; Gambús, Guillermo; Woo, Theodosia; Martins, Catarina P P; Penicaud, Virginie; Gibbings, Colette; Eberle, Jessica; Tedesco, Perla; Fernández, Isabel; Rodríguez-González, Tania; Imperadore, Pamela; Ponte, Giovanna; Fiorito, Graziano

2017-09-01

Cephalopods are the sole invertebrates included in the list of regulated species following the Directive 2010/63/EU. According to the Directive, achieving competence through adequate training is a requisite for people having a role in the different functions (article 23) as such carrying out procedures on animals, designing procedures and projects, taking care of animals, killing animals. Cephalopod Biology and Care Training Program is specifically designed to comply with the requirements of the "working document on the development of a common education and training framework to fulfil the requirements under the Directive 2010/63/EU". The training event occurred at the ICM-CSIC in Barcelona (Spain) where people coming from Europe, America and Asia were instructed on how to cope with regulations for the use of cephalopod molluscs for scientific purposes. The training encompasses discussion on the guidelines for the use and care of animals and their welfare with particular reference to procedures that may be of interest for neuroscience. Intensive discussion has been carried out during the training sessions with focus on behavioural studies and paradigms, welfare assessment, levels of severity of scientific procedures, animal care, handling, transport, individual identification and marking, substance administration, anaesthesia, analgesia and humane killing.

Workers' exposure to electric fields during the task 'maintenance of an operating device of circuit breaker from a service platform' at 110-kV substations.

PubMed

Korpinen, Leena; Pääkkönen, Rauno

2018-02-26

The objective of the study was to investigate occupational exposure to electric fields during the task 'maintenance of an operating device of circuit breaker from a service platform' at 110-kV substations. The aim was also to compare the results to Directive 2013/35/EU. At 16 substations, 255 electric field measurements were performed. The highest mean value of the electric fields was 9.6 kV⋅m -1 . At 63% of substations the maximum values were over 10.0 kV⋅m -1 , and at 31% of the substations the 75th percentiles were over 10.0 kV⋅m -1 , which is the low action level (AL) according to Directive 2013/35/EU. All measured values were below the high AL (20.0 kV⋅m -1 ). In the future, it is important to take into account that the measurements were only taken at Finnish 110-kV substations; therefore, it is not possible to generalize these results to other countries and different types of substations.

Synthesis and functionalization of monodisperse near-ultraviolet and visible excitable multifunctional Eu3+, Bi3+:REVO4 nanophosphors for bioimaging and biosensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Escudero, Alberto; Carrillo-Carrión, Carolina; Zyuzin, Mikhail V.; Ashraf, Sumaira; Hartmann, Raimo; Núñez, Nuria O.; Ocaña, Manuel; Parak, Wolfgang J.

2016-06-01

Near-ultraviolet and visible excitable Eu- and Bi-doped NPs based on rare earth vanadates (REVO4, RE = Y, Gd) have been synthesized by a facile route from appropriate RE precursors, europium and bismuth nitrate, and sodium orthovanadate, by homogeneous precipitation in an ethylene glycol/water mixture at 120 °C. The NPs can be functionalized either by a one-pot synthesis with polyacrylic acid (PAA) or by a Layer-by-Layer approach with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and PAA. In the first case, the particle size can also be tuned by adjusting the amount of PAA. The Eu- Bi-doped REVO4 based nanophosphors show the typical red luminescence of Eu(iii), which can be excited through an energy transfer process from the vanadate anions, resulting in a much higher luminescence intensity in comparison to the direct excitation of the europium cations. The incorporation of Bi into the REVO4 structure shifts the original absorption band of the vanadate anions towards longer wavelengths, giving rise to nanophosphors with an excitation maximum at 342 nm, which can also be excited in the visible range. The suitability of such nanophosphors for bioimaging and biosensing applications, as well as their colloidal stability in different buffer media of biological interest, their cytotoxicity, their degradability at low pH, and their uptake by HeLa cells have been evaluated. Their suitability for bioimaging and biosensing applications is also demonstrated.Near-ultraviolet and visible excitable Eu- and Bi-doped NPs based on rare earth vanadates (REVO4, RE = Y, Gd) have been synthesized by a facile route from appropriate RE precursors, europium and bismuth nitrate, and sodium orthovanadate, by homogeneous precipitation in an ethylene glycol/water mixture at 120 °C. The NPs can be functionalized either by a one-pot synthesis with polyacrylic acid (PAA) or by a Layer-by-Layer approach with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and PAA. In the first case, the particle size can also be tuned by adjusting the amount of PAA. The Eu- Bi-doped REVO4 based nanophosphors show the typical red luminescence of Eu(iii), which can be excited through an energy transfer process from the vanadate anions, resulting in a much higher luminescence intensity in comparison to the direct excitation of the europium cations. The incorporation of Bi into the REVO4 structure shifts the original absorption band of the vanadate anions towards longer wavelengths, giving rise to nanophosphors with an excitation maximum at 342 nm, which can also be excited in the visible range. The suitability of such nanophosphors for bioimaging and biosensing applications, as well as their colloidal stability in different buffer media of biological interest, their cytotoxicity, their degradability at low pH, and their uptake by HeLa cells have been evaluated. Their suitability for bioimaging and biosensing applications is also demonstrated. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Additional details of experiments and results (NP characterization, NPs' uptake and imaging). See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr03369e

Direct mechanical stimulation of tip links in hair cells through DNA tethers

PubMed Central

Basu, Aakash; Lagier, Samuel; Vologodskaia, Maria; Fabella, Brian A; Hudspeth, AJ

2016-01-01

Mechanoelectrical transduction by hair cells commences with hair-bundle deflection, which is postulated to tense filamentous tip links connected to transduction channels. Because direct mechanical stimulation of tip links has not been experimentally possible, this hypothesis has not been tested. We have engineered DNA tethers that link superparamagnetic beads to tip links and exert mechanical forces on the links when exposed to a magnetic-field gradient. By pulling directly on tip links of the bullfrog's sacculus we have evoked transduction currents from hair cells, confirming the hypothesis that tension in the tip links opens transduction channels. This demonstration of direct mechanical access to tip links additionally lays a foundation for experiments probing the mechanics of individual channels. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16041.001 PMID:27331611

Surveillance and laboratory detection for non-polio enteroviruses in the European Union/European Economic Area, 2016

PubMed Central

Harvala, Heli; Jasir, Aftab; Penttinen, Pasi; Pastore Celentano, Lucia; Greco, Donato; Broberg, Eeva

2017-01-01

Enteroviruses (EVs) cause severe outbreaks of respiratory and neurological disease as illustrated by EV-D68 and EV-A71 outbreaks, respectively. We have mapped European laboratory capacity for identification and characterisation of non-polio EVs to improve preparedness to respond to (re)-emerging EVs linked to severe disease. An online questionnaire on non-polio EV surveillance and laboratory detection was submitted to all 30 European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Twenty-nine countries responded; 26 conducted laboratory-based non-polio EV surveillance, and 24 included neurological infections in their surveillance. Eleven countries have established specific surveillance for EV-D68 via sentinel influenza surveillance (n = 7), typing EV-positive respiratory samples (n = 10) and/or acute flaccid paralysis surveillance (n = 5). Of 26 countries performing non-polio EV characterisation/typing, 10 further characterised culture-positive EV isolates, whereas the remainder typed PCR-positive but culture-negative samples. Although 19 countries have introduced sequence-based EV typing, seven still rely entirely on virus isolation. Based on 2015 data, six countries typed over 300 specimens mostly by sequencing, whereas 11 countries characterised under 50 EV-positive samples. EV surveillance activity varied between EU/EEA countries, and did not always specifically target patients with neurological and/or respiratory infections. Introduction of sequence-based typing methods is needed throughout the EU/EEA to enhance laboratory capacity for the detection of EVs. PMID:29162204

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of yttrium ultraphosphate YP 5O 14

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mbarek, A.; Graia, M.; Chadeyron, G.; Zambon, D.; Bouaziz, J.; Fourati, M.

2009-03-01

The crystal structure of monoclinic YP 5O 14 (space group C2/ c, a=12.919(2) Å, b=12.796(4) Å, c=12.457(2) Å, β=91.30(1)°, Z=8) has been refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Full-matrix least-squares refinement on F2 using 2249 independent reflections for 183 refinable parameters results in a final R value of 0.027 ( ωR=0.069). The structure is isotypic with HoP 5O 14. This structure is built up from infinite layers of PO 4 tetrahedra linked through isolated YO 8 polyhedra. The three-dimensional cohesion of the framework results from Y-O-P bridges. This crystal structure refinement leads to the calculated X-ray diffraction powder pattern of this monoclinic polymorph, which has been the starting point of a thorough study of the solid-state synthesis of this ultraphosphate. This investigation further leads to a better outstanding of features observed during the synthesis of powdered samples. The thermal behavior of this ultraphosphate has been studied by DTA and TGA analyses. The infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterizations have been carried out on polycrystalline samples. The luminescence properties of the Eu 3+ ion incorporated in the monoclinic C2/ c polymorph of YP 5O 14 as local structural probe show that in YP 5O 14: 5% Eu 3+ sample, the Eu 3+ ions are distributed over the two Y 3+ crystallographic sites of C 2 symmetry of this structure.

Regulation and innovation dynamics for nanoresponsible development: The case of the French code de l'environnement L 523-1 to L 523-5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Auplat, C.; Ben Slimane, S.

2015-05-01

This paper examines one aspect of innovation dynamics for nanoresponsible development: the links between regulation and innovation dynamics. It focuses on the case of the French Code de l'environnement, Articles L. 523-1 to L. 523-3. Articles L. 523-1 to L. 523-3 of the French environment code provide for the obligation to declare the quantities and uses of substances at nanoscale produced, distributed or imported in France. This procedure is intended to improve knowledge of these substances and their uses as well as of their markets and volumes sold, to ensure traceability and to collect available information on their toxicological and ecotoxicological properties. The paper builds on recent work on the emergence of a regulatory framework for nanotechnologies to take stock of the current situation in France, in the EU and globally and to explore how this specific law package may influence innovation and the shaping of new markets for nanobased materials. The study shows that nano-regulation does have an impact on innovation. However, the impact is not the same with EU regulation and with French regulation, and while EU regulation seems to create a favourable context for innovation, French regulation seems to do the opposite. With this study we hope to bring new perspectives to the field of the strategic management of innovation, and also to shed some light on the roles and challenges of institutions to facilitate nanoresponsible development.

Surveillance and laboratory detection for non-polio enteroviruses in the European Union/European Economic Area, 2016.

PubMed

Harvala, Heli; Jasir, Aftab; Penttinen, Pasi; Pastore Celentano, Lucia; Greco, Donato; Broberg, Eeva

2017-11-01

Enteroviruses (EVs) cause severe outbreaks of respiratory and neurological disease as illustrated by EV-D68 and EV-A71 outbreaks, respectively. We have mapped European laboratory capacity for identification and characterisation of non-polio EVs to improve preparedness to respond to (re)-emerging EVs linked to severe disease. An online questionnaire on non-polio EV surveillance and laboratory detection was submitted to all 30 European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Twenty-nine countries responded; 26 conducted laboratory-based non-polio EV surveillance, and 24 included neurological infections in their surveillance. Eleven countries have established specific surveillance for EV-D68 via sentinel influenza surveillance (n = 7), typing EV-positive respiratory samples (n = 10) and/or acute flaccid paralysis surveillance (n = 5). Of 26 countries performing non-polio EV characterisation/typing, 10 further characterised culture-positive EV isolates, whereas the remainder typed PCR-positive but culture-negative samples. Although 19 countries have introduced sequence-based EV typing, seven still rely entirely on virus isolation. Based on 2015 data, six countries typed over 300 specimens mostly by sequencing, whereas 11 countries characterised under 50 EV-positive samples. EV surveillance activity varied between EU/EEA countries, and did not always specifically target patients with neurological and/or respiratory infections. Introduction of sequence-based typing methods is needed throughout the EU/EEA to enhance laboratory capacity for the detection of EVs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schreck, S. J.; Schepers, J. G.

Continued inquiry into rotor and blade aerodynamics remains crucial for achieving accurate, reliable prediction of wind turbine power performance under yawed conditions. To exploit key advantages conferred by controlled inflow conditions, we used EU-JOULE DATA Project and UAE Phase VI experimental data to characterize rotor power production under yawed conditions. Anomalies in rotor power variation with yaw error were observed, and the underlying fluid dynamic interactions were isolated. Unlike currently recognized influences caused by angled inflow and skewed wake, which may be considered potential flow interactions, these anomalies were linked to pronounced viscous and unsteady effects.

Uncooled EuSbTe3 photodetector highly sensitive from ultraviolet to terahertz frequencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Ying Y.; Wu, Dong; Su, Yu Q.; Zhu, Hai; Wang, Biao; Wang, Ying X.; Zhao, Zi R.; Zheng, Ping; Niu, Jia S.; Zhou, Hui B.; Wei, Jian; Wang, Nan L.

2018-01-01

Light probe from Uv to THz is critical in photoelectronics and has great applications ranging from imaging, communication to medicine (Woodward et al 2002 Phys. Med. Biol. 47 3853-63 Pospischil et al 2013 Nat. Photon. 7 892-6 Martyniuk and Rogalski 2003 Prog. Quantum Electron. 27 59-210). However, the room temperature ultrabroadband photodetection across visible down to far-infrared is still challenging. The challenging arises mainly from the lack of suitable photoactive materials. Because that conventional semiconductors, such as silicon, have their photosensitive properties cut off by the bandgap and are transparent to spectrum at long-wavelength infrared side (Ciupa and Rogalski 1997 Opto-Electron. Rev. 5 257-66 Tonouchi 2007 Nat. Photon. 1 97-105 Sizov and Rogalski 2010 Prog. Quantum Electron. 34 278-347 Kinch 2000 J. Electron. Mater. 29 809-17). Comparatively, the dielectrics with very narrow band-gap but maintain the semiconductor-like electrical conduction would have priorities for ultrabroadband photodetection. Here we report on EuSbTe3 is highly sensitive from ultraviolet directly to terahertz (THz) at room temperature. High photoresponsivities 1-8 A W-1 reached in our prototype EuSbTe3 detectors with low noise equivalent power (NEP) recorded, for instances ~150 pW · Hz-1/2 (at λ  =  532 nm) and ~0.6 nW · Hz-1/2 (at λ  =  118.8 µm) respectively. Our results demonstrate a promising system with direct photosensitivity extending well into THz regime at room temperature, shed new light on exploring more sophisticated multi-band photoelectronics.

Pressure-induced valence change and moderate heavy fermion state in Eu-compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honda, Fuminori; Okauchi, Keigo; Sato, Yoshiki; Nakamura, Ai; Akamine, Hiromu; Ashitomi, Yosuke; Hedo, Masato; Nakama, Takao; Takeuchi, Tetsuya; Valenta, Jaroslav; Prchal, Jiri; Sechovský, Vladimir; Aoki, Dai; Ōnuki, Yoshichika

2018-05-01

A pressure-induced valence transition has attracted much attention in Eu-compounds. Among them, EuRh2Si2, EuNi2Ge2, and EuCo2Ge2 reveal the valence transition around 1, 2, and 3 GPa, respectively. We have succeeded in growing single crystals of EuT2X2 (T: transition metal, X: Si, Ge) and studied electronic properties under pressure. EuRh2Si2 indicates a first-order valence transition between 1 and 2 GPa, with a large and prominent hysteresis in the electrical resistivity. At higher pressures, the first-order valence transition changes to a cross-over regime with an intermediate valence state. Tuning of the valence state with pressure is reflected in a drastic change of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity in EuRh2Si2 single crystals. Effect of pressure on the valence states on EuRh2Si2, EuIr2Si2, EuNi2Ge2, and EuCo2Ge2, as well as an isostructural related compound EuGa4, are reviewed.

Ferromagnetic behavior in mixed valence europium (Eu2+/Eu3+) oxide EuTi1-xMxO3 (M = Al3+ and Ga3+)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akahoshi, Daisuke; Horie, Hiroki; Sakai, Shingo; Saito, Toshiaki

2013-10-01

We have investigated the Ti-site substitution effect on the magnetic properties of antiferromagnetic insulator EuTiO3 with a Néel temperature of ˜5 K. Partial substitution of Ti4+ with heterovalent Al3+ or Ga3+ turns the corresponding amount of magnetic Eu2+ into non-magnetic Eu3+. Both EuTi1-xAlxO3 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) and EuTi1-xGaxO3 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) exhibit ferromagnetic (FM) insulating behavior below ˜4 K. The Eu2+/Eu3+ mixed valence state probably contributes to the emergence of the FM behavior. Fine control of the magneto-electric (ME) phases of EuTi1-xAlxO3 and EuTi1-xGaxO3 would lead to intriguing ME phenomena such as giant ME effect.

Study on rheological properties of CMC/Eu-Tb solutions with different concentrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Z. C.; Ye, J.; Xiong, J.

2018-05-01

The rheological properties of polymer solution are sensitive to variations in the polymer structure. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) aqueous solution has been used in many fields, such as food, medicine and paper industry. In this paper, the effects of different concentrations (2% - 6%) of CMC/Eu-Tb on their rheological properties were investigeted, including steady-state flow and viscoelastic response. The results show that, the viscosity of CMC/Eu-Tb is lower than that of CMC, at the same concentrations; the products solutions present a nearly Newtonian behavior at the low concentrations (2% - 3%); while at the higher concentrations (4% - 6%), the products solutions present a pseudoplastic behavior; shear-thinning behavior is due to the polymer chains unravel under the action of flow and the molecular chains are oriented in the flow direction. The results also show that the viscosity of the solutions decreases with increasing temperature. Dynamic rheological tests show that CMC/Eu-Tb has viscoelasticity in the concentrations of 2% - 6%. At lower concentrations, the elastic modulus G‧ is slightly higher than the viscous modulus G″, and as the concentrations increase, the elastic modulus G‧ is significantly higher than the viscous modulus G″. It means that at the lower solution concentrations, the solutions tend to be less elastic and easier to flow. Most of the energies are lost through the viscous flow. As the solution concentrations increase, the solutions tend to be more elastic, and the system tends to form a gel.

The EU legislation on "GMOs" between nonsense and protectionism: An ongoing Schumpeterian chain of public choices.

PubMed

Tagliabue, Giovanni

2017-01-02

The EU regulation of agricultural biotechnology is botched and convoluted: the pseudo-concept of "Genetically Modified Organisms" has no coherent semantic or scientific content. The reasons of the paradox by which the cultivation of "GMOs" is substantially banned in Europe, while enormous quantities of recombinant-DNA cereals and legumes are imported to be used as feedstuff, are explained. The Directive 2015/412, giving Member states the choice to refuse the cultivation of genetically engineered crops at a national or local level, paves the way for a mosaic-like, Harlequinesque form of protectionism: nothing resembling a well-regulated free market. In the meantime, importation of "GMO" feed goes on at full speed all over Europe. A proposal by the Commission to adjust the rules on importation according to those for cultivation has been rejected by the Parliament.This dynamics may be seen as an ongoing "Schumpeterian" chain of public choices: the calculus of consent drives politicians more than a science-based approach to law-making.  The EU should restart from scratch with the right concept, i.e. the careful examination of the pros and cons, the costs and benefits of each new agricultural product ("GMO" or otherwise), freely cultivated and/or imported, assessed case by case, at last acknowledging that the biotech processes used to create new varieties are of no practical or legal relevance. In doing so, the EU would pursue its stated "better regulation" approach, cancelling any sectoral and sectarian regulation.

Synthesis and functionalization of monodisperse near-ultraviolet and visible excitable multifunctional Eu(3+), Bi(3+):REVO4 nanophosphors for bioimaging and biosensing applications.

PubMed

Escudero, Alberto; Carrillo-Carrión, Carolina; Zyuzin, Mikhail V; Ashraf, Sumaira; Hartmann, Raimo; Núñez, Nuria O; Ocaña, Manuel; Parak, Wolfgang J

2016-06-16

Near-ultraviolet and visible excitable Eu- and Bi-doped NPs based on rare earth vanadates (REVO4, RE = Y, Gd) have been synthesized by a facile route from appropriate RE precursors, europium and bismuth nitrate, and sodium orthovanadate, by homogeneous precipitation in an ethylene glycol/water mixture at 120 °C. The NPs can be functionalized either by a one-pot synthesis with polyacrylic acid (PAA) or by a Layer-by-Layer approach with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and PAA. In the first case, the particle size can also be tuned by adjusting the amount of PAA. The Eu- Bi-doped REVO4 based nanophosphors show the typical red luminescence of Eu(iii), which can be excited through an energy transfer process from the vanadate anions, resulting in a much higher luminescence intensity in comparison to the direct excitation of the europium cations. The incorporation of Bi into the REVO4 structure shifts the original absorption band of the vanadate anions towards longer wavelengths, giving rise to nanophosphors with an excitation maximum at 342 nm, which can also be excited in the visible range. The suitability of such nanophosphors for bioimaging and biosensing applications, as well as their colloidal stability in different buffer media of biological interest, their cytotoxicity, their degradability at low pH, and their uptake by HeLa cells have been evaluated. Their suitability for bioimaging and biosensing applications is also demonstrated.

Information technology law and health systems in the European Union.

PubMed

Mossialos, Elias; Thomson, Sarah; Ter Linden, Annemarie

2004-01-01

This study aims to examine the impact of European Union (EU) law relating to information technology (IT) on health systems. The study identifies EU directives relating to IT, analyzes them in terms of their impact on the use of IT in health systems, and outlines their implications for health technology assessment (HTA). Analysis is based on a review of literature identified through relevant databases and Internet searches. Developments in IT have serious implications for EU health systems, presenting policy makers with new challenges. The European Commission has adopted a range of legal measures to protect consumers in the "information society" However, as few of them are health-specific, it is not evident that they have implications for health, health systems, or HTA, and they may not be effective in protecting consumers in the health sector. In light of the growing importance of IT in the health sector, legal and nonlegal measures need to be further developed at EU and international level. Where possible, future initiatives should pay attention to the particular characteristics of health goods and services and health systems. Although definitions of HTA usually recognize the importance of evaluating both the indirect, unintended consequences of health technologies and the legal aspects of their application, it seems that, in practice, HTA often overlooks or underestimates legislative matters. Those involved in HTA should be aware of the legal implications of using IT to provide health goods and services and compile, store, transfer, and disseminate health information electronically.

Complementing the topsoil information of the Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) with modelled N2O emissions.

PubMed

Lugato, Emanuele; Paniagua, Lily; Jones, Arwyn; de Vries, Wim; Leip, Adrian

2017-01-01

Two objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013 (CAP, 2014-2020) in the European Union (EU) are the sustainable management of natural resources and climate smart agriculture. To understand the CAP impact on these priorities, the Land Use/Cover statistical Area frame Survey (LUCAS) employs direct field observations and soil sub-sampling across the EU. While a huge amount of information can be retrieved from LUCAS points for monitoring the environmental status of agroecosystems and assessing soil carbon sequestration, a fundamental aspect relating to climate change action is missing, namely nitrous oxide (N2O) soil emissions. To fill this gap, we ran the DayCent biogeochemistry model for more than 11'000 LUCAS sampling points under agricultural use, assessing also the model uncertainty. The results showed that current annual N2O emissions followed a skewed distribution with a mean and median values of 2.27 and 1.71 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively. Using a Random Forest regression for upscaling the modelled results to the EU level, we estimated direct soil emissions of N2O in the range of 171-195 Tg yr-1 of CO2eq. Moreover, the direct regional upscaling using modelled N2O emissions in LUCAS points was on average 0.95 Mg yr-1 of CO2eq. per hectare, which was within the range of the meta-model upscaling (0.92-1.05 Mg ha-1 yr-1 of CO2eq). We concluded that, if information on management practices would be made available and model bias further reduced by N2O flux measurement at representative LUCAS points, the combination of the land use/soil survey with a well calibrated biogeochemistry model may become a reference tool to support agricultural, environmental and climate policies.

Lanthanide luminescent displacement assays: the sensing of phosphate anions using Eu(III)-cyclen-conjugated gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution.

PubMed

Massue, Julien; Quinn, Susan J; Gunnlaugsson, Thorfinnur

2008-06-04

1.Eu, a cyclen based Eu(III)-thiol conjugate, was incorporated onto the surface of water-soluble gold nanoparticles to give AuNP-1.Eu. The self-assembly between AuNP-1.Eu and the antenna 2 resulted in the formation of the highly luminescent lanthanide system, AuNP-1.Eu-2, at pH 7.4. The sensing of flavin monophosphate 3 is demonstrated, whereby 3 displaced the antenna 2 in AuNP-1.Eu-2, resulting in the formation of AuNP-1.Eu-3 and quenching of the Eu(III) emission.

Drainage Basins as Large-Scale Field Laboratories of Change: Hydro-biogeochemical- economic Model Study Support for Water Pollution and Eutrophication Management Under Uncertainty

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Destouni, G.

2008-12-01

Excess nutrient and pollutant releases from various point and diffuse sources at and below the land surface, associated with land use, industry and households, pose serious eutrophication and pollution risks to inland and coastal water ecosystems worldwide. These risks must be assessed, for instance according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). The WFD demands economically efficient, basin-scale water management for achieving and maintaining good physico-chemical and ecological status in all the inland and coastal waters of EU member states. This paper synthesizes a series of hydro-biogeochemical and linked economic efficiency studies of basin-scale waterborne nutrient and pollutant flows, the development over the last decades up to the current levels of these flows, the main monitoring and modelling uncertainties associated with their quantification, and the effectiveness and economic efficiency of different possible abatement strategies for abating them in order to meet WFD requirements and other environmental goals on local, national and international levels under climate and other regional change. The studies include different Swedish and Baltic Sea drainage basins. Main findings include quantification of near-coastal monitoring gaps and long-term nutrient and pollutant memory in the subsurface (soil-groundwater-sediment) water systems of drainage basins. The former may significantly mask nutrient and pollutant loads to the sea while the latter may continue to uphold large loads to inland and coastal waters long time after source mitigation. A methodology is presented for finding a rational trade-off between the two resource-demanding options to reduce, or accept and explicitly account for the uncertainties implied by these monitoring gaps and long-term nutrient-pollution memories and time lags, and other knowledge, data and model uncertainties that limit the effectiveness and efficiency of water pollution and eutrophication management.

Progress towards an electron electric dipole moment search in Europium-Barium Titanates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckel, Stephen; Sushkov, Alexander; Lamoreaux, Steven

2012-06-01

We report on recent progress on a search for the electron's electric dipole moment (eEDM) using solid- state Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3. This material has many desirable properties including ferroelectricity below 200 K and paramagnetism above 1.8 K. When the sample has a non-zero electric polarization, the seven unpaired 4f electrons of the Eu^2+ ions in the lattice feel a large effective electric field of order 10 MV/cm in the direction of the polarization. This causes the electron spins to align with the electric polarization and generate a magnetization, which is measured using DC SQUID magnetometers. We will detail measurements of systematic effects along with recent results toward a measurement of the eEDM.

European regulations and their impact on tissue banking.

PubMed

Tatarenko, Alina

2006-01-01

Extensive CoE-EU cooperation ensures coherence and complementarities between the principles of the CoE guides which can be regarded as recommendations on best practice, and the technical requirements of the EU directives which set out legally binding requirements. This means that the same standards now exist throughout European continent. Having a common set of standards facilitates cooperation between different healthcare systems, especially in cases of emergencies, and the export-import issues. Adoption of the same quality management and traceability systems helps to minimise the risks and prevent disease transmissions. It reassures patients who undergo treatments outside of their countries. The tissue establishments need to introduce technical and structural changes to adhere to the new regulations which ultimately results in saving and improving of lives of many patients.

The future of European health policies.

PubMed

Koivusalo, Meri Tuulikki

2005-01-01

The role of the European Union in health policies is changing. The European social model is under threat due to shifts in E.U. policies on liberalization of service provision, limited public budgets, a focus on the health sector as a productive sector in the context of broader European policies and the Lisbon strategy, and changes in the context of the new Constitutional Treaty. These changes are evident in a new reflection paper on European health strategy and its focus. E.U. health policies are at a critical juncture. The danger is that the current processes will lead European health policies and the health systems of member states more in the direction of U.S. health policies and the commercialization of health systems than toward improvement of the current situation.

Distributed hydrological models to quantify ecosystem services and inform land use decisions in Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilebore, Beccy; Willis, Kathy

2016-04-01

Landcover conversion is one of the largest anthropogenic threats to ecological services globally; in the EU around 1500 ha of biodiverse land are lost every day to changes in infrastructure and urbanisation. This land conversion directly affects key ecosystem services that support natural infrastructure, including water flow regulation and the mitigation of flood risks. We assess the sensitivity of runoff production to landcover in the UK at a high spatial resolution, using a distributed hydrologic model in the regional land-surface model JULES (Joint UK Land Environment Simulator). This work, as part of the wider initiative 'NaturEtrade', will create a novel suite of easy-to-use tools and mechanisms to allow EU landowners to quickly map and assess the value of their land in providing key ecosystem services.

Eu 2+ –Eu 3+ valence transition in double, Eu-, and Na-doped PbSe from transport, magnetic, and electronic structure studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wiendlocha, Bartlomiej; Kim, SunPhil; Lee, Yeseul

The Eu atoms in Pb 1-xEu xSe have long been assumed to be divalent. We show that p-type doping of this magnetic semiconductor alloy with Na can modify the effective Eu valence: a mixed, Eu 2+–Eu 3+ state appears in Pb 1-x-yEu xNa ySe at particular values of y. Magnetization, carrier concentration, resistivity, and thermopower of Pb 1-x-yEu xNa ySe are reported for a number of samples with different x and y. A pronounced increase in thermopower at a given carrier concentration was identified and attributed to the presence of enhanced ionized impurity scattering. A strong decrease in the holemore » concentration is observed in Pb1-yNaySe when Eu is added to the system, which we attribute to a Eu 2+–Eu 3+ self-ionization process. This is evidenced by magnetization measurements, which reveal a significant reduction of the magnetic moment of Pb 1-xEu xSe upon alloying with Na. Further, a deviation of magnetization from a purely paramagnetic state, described by a Brillouin function, identifies antiferromagnetic interactions between the nearest-neighbor Eu atoms: a value of J ex/k B = -0.35 K was found for the exchange coupling parameter. The conclusion of a Eu 2+–Eu 3+ self-ionization process being in effect is supported further by the electronic structure calculations, which show that an instability of the 4f 7 configuration of the Eu 2+ ion appears with Na doping. In conclusion, schematically, it was found that the Eu 4f levels form states near enough to the Fermi energy that hole doping can lower the Fermi energy and trigger a reconfiguration of a 4f electronic shell.« less

Eu 2+ –Eu 3+ valence transition in double, Eu-, and Na-doped PbSe from transport, magnetic, and electronic structure studies

DOE PAGES

Wiendlocha, Bartlomiej; Kim, SunPhil; Lee, Yeseul; ...

2017-03-27

The Eu atoms in Pb 1-xEu xSe have long been assumed to be divalent. We show that p-type doping of this magnetic semiconductor alloy with Na can modify the effective Eu valence: a mixed, Eu 2+–Eu 3+ state appears in Pb 1-x-yEu xNa ySe at particular values of y. Magnetization, carrier concentration, resistivity, and thermopower of Pb 1-x-yEu xNa ySe are reported for a number of samples with different x and y. A pronounced increase in thermopower at a given carrier concentration was identified and attributed to the presence of enhanced ionized impurity scattering. A strong decrease in the holemore » concentration is observed in Pb1-yNaySe when Eu is added to the system, which we attribute to a Eu 2+–Eu 3+ self-ionization process. This is evidenced by magnetization measurements, which reveal a significant reduction of the magnetic moment of Pb 1-xEu xSe upon alloying with Na. Further, a deviation of magnetization from a purely paramagnetic state, described by a Brillouin function, identifies antiferromagnetic interactions between the nearest-neighbor Eu atoms: a value of J ex/k B = -0.35 K was found for the exchange coupling parameter. The conclusion of a Eu 2+–Eu 3+ self-ionization process being in effect is supported further by the electronic structure calculations, which show that an instability of the 4f 7 configuration of the Eu 2+ ion appears with Na doping. In conclusion, schematically, it was found that the Eu 4f levels form states near enough to the Fermi energy that hole doping can lower the Fermi energy and trigger a reconfiguration of a 4f electronic shell.« less

Simulated thermal energy demand and actual energy consumption in refurbished and non-refurbished buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilie, C. A.; Visa, I.; Duta, A.

2016-08-01

The EU legal frame imposes the Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) status to any new public building starting with January 1st, 2019 and for any other new building starting with 2021. Basically, nZEB represents a Low Energy Building (LEB) that covers more than half of the energy demand by using renewable energy systems installed on or close to it. Thus, two steps have to be followed in developing nZEB: (1) reaching the LEB status through state- of-the art architectural and construction solutions (for the new buildings) or through refurbishing for the already existent buildings, followed by (2) implementing renewables; in Romania, over 65% of the energy demand in a building is directly linked to heating, domestic hot water (DHW), and - in certain areas - for cooling. Thus, effort should be directed to reduce the thermal energy demand to be further covered by using clean and affordable systems: solar- thermal systems, heat pumps, biomass, etc. or their hybrid combinations. Obviously this demand is influenced by the onsite climatic profile and by the building performance. An almost worst case scenario is approached in the paper, considering a community implemented in a mountain area, with cold and long winters and mild summers (Odorheiul Secuiesc city, Harghita county, Romania). Three representative types of buildings are analysed: multi-family households (in blocks of flats), single-family houses and administrative buildings. For the first two types, old and refurbished buildings were comparatively discussed.

Colorimetric assay for on-the-spot alcoholic strength sensing in spirit samples based on dual-responsive lanthanide coordination polymer particles with ratiometric fluorescence.

PubMed

Deng, Jingjing; Shi, Guoyue; Zhou, Tianshu

2016-10-26

This study demonstrates a new strategy for colorimetric detection of alcoholic strength (AS) in spirit samples based on dual-responsive lanthanide infinite coordination polymer (Ln-ICP) particles with ratiometric fluorescence. The ICP used in this study are composed of two components: one is the supramolecular Ln-ICP network formed by the coordination between the ligand 2,2'-thiodiacetic acid (TDA) and central metal ion Eu 3+ ; and the other is a fluorescent dye, i.e., coumarin 343 (C343), both as the cofactor ligand and as the sensitizer, doped into the Ln-ICP network through self-adaptive chemistry. Upon being excited at 300 nm, the red fluorescence of Ln-ICP network itself at 617 nm is highly enhanced due to the concomitant energy transfer from C343 to Eu 3+ , while the fluorescence of C343 at 495 nm is supressed. In pure ethanol solvent, the as-formed C343@Eu-TDA is well dispersed and quite stable. However, the addition of water into ethanolic dispersion of C343@Eu-TDA destructs Eu-TDA network structure, resulting in the release of C343 from ICP network into the solvent. Consequently, the fluorescence of Eu-TDA turns off and the fluorescence of C343 turns on, leading to the fluorescent color change of the dispersion from red to blue, which constitutes a new mechanism for colorimetric sensing of AS in commercial spirit samples. With the method developed here, we could clearly distinguish the AS of different spirit samples within a wide linear range from 10% vol to 100% vol directly by "naked eye" with the help of UV-lamp (365 nm). This study not only offers a new method for on-the-spot visible detection of AS, but also provides a strategy for dual-responsive sensing mode by rational designing the optical properties of the Ln-ICP network and the guest, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Visualization of melanoma tumor with lectin-conjugated rare-earth doped fluoride nanocrystals

PubMed Central

Dumych, Tetiana; Lutsyk, Maxym; Banski, Mateusz; Yashchenko, Antonina; Sojka, Bartlomiej; Horbay, Rostyslav; Lutsyk, Alexander; Stoika, Rostyslav; Misiewicz, Jan; Podhorodecki, Artur; Bilyy, Rostyslav

2014-01-01

Aim To develop specific fluorescent markers for melanoma tumor visualization, which would provide high selectivity and reversible binding pattern, by the use of carbohydrate-recognizing proteins, lectins, combined with the physical ability for imaging deep in the living tissues by utilizing red and near infrared fluorescent properties of specific rare-earth doped nanocrystals (NC). Methods B10F16 melanoma cells were inoculated to C57BL/6 mice for inducing experimental melanoma tumor. Tumors were removed and analyzed by lectin-histochemistry using LABA, PFA, PNA, HPA, SNA, GNA, and NPL lectins and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. NPL lectin was conjugated to fluorescent NaGdF4:Eu3+-COOH nanoparticles (5 nm) via zero length cross-linking reaction, and the conjugates were purified from unbound substances and then used for further visualization of histological samples. Fluorescent microscopy was used to visualize NPL-NaGdF4:Eu3+ with the fluorescent emission at 600-720 nm range. Results NPL lectin selectively recognized regions of undifferentiated melanoblasts surrounding neoangiogenic foci inside melanoma tumor, PNA lectin recognized differentiated melanoblasts, and LCA and WGA were bound to tumor stroma regions. NPL-NaGdF4:Eu3+ conjugated NC were efficiently detecting newly formed regions of melanoma tumor, confirmed by fluorescent microscopy in visible and near infrared mode. These conjugates possessed high photostability and were compatible with convenient xylene-based mounting systems and preserved intensive fluorescent signal at samples storage for at least 6 months. Conclusion NPL lectin-NaGdF4:Eu3+ conjugated NC permitted distinct identification of contours of the melanoma tissue on histological sections using red excitation at 590-610 nm and near infrared emission of 700-720 nm. These data are of potential practical significance for development of glycans-conjugated nanoparticles to be used for in vivo visualization of melanoma tumor. PMID:24891277

Managing expectations from our land: 3 is the magic number.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Creamer, Rachel; Schulte, Rogier; O'Sullivan, Lilian; Staes, Jan; Vrebos, Dirk; Jones, Arwyn

2017-04-01

In recent years, sustainable food production has risen to the top of the EU policy agenda. Europe's land is now expected to provide multiple ecosystem services (soil functions) for society. These include: i) food production, ii) carbon storage, iii) the provision of clean water, iv) habitats for biodiversity and v) nutrient cycling. A tension exists between the demand for and supply of these soil functions on our land. We cannot expect all soil functions to be delivered simultaneously to optimal capacity, but with careful decision making we can optimise our soils to provide multiple functions. Our societal demands also vary in spatial extent, for example we may require nutrient cycling and food production to be focussed at local scale, but carbon sequestration may be a national target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Every day, farmers make decisions on how they manage their land and soil. At the same time, national and European policy makers make long-term decisions on how to manage their soil resources at larger scales. Therefore, the contemporary challenge for researchers and stakeholders is to link the decision making on land management across scales, so that the practicalities of how farmers make decisions is reflected in policy formation and that policies enable farmers to make decisions that meet EU policy objectives. LANDMARK (LAND Management: Assessment, Research, Knowledge base) is a Horizon 2020 consortium of 22 partner institutes from 14 EU countries plus Switzerland, China and Brazil. The primary objective of the LANDMARK project is to provide a policy framework for Functional Land Management at EU level. This implies the identification of policy instruments that could guide the management of soil functions at the appropriate scale. This presentation will provide an overview of the challenge faced across these scales, from local to European, it will demonstrate how local decision making must try and account for the delivery of at least three soil functions to contribute to sustainable soil management.

Synthesis and effect of Ce and Mn co-doping on photoluminescence characteristics of Ca6AlP5O20:Eu novel phosphors.

PubMed

Shinde, K N; Dhoble, S J

2013-01-01

A series of Ca6AlP5O20 doped with rare earths (Eu and Ce) and co-doped (Eu, Ce and Eu,Mn) were prepared by combustion synthesis. Under Hg-free excitation, Ca6AlP5O20:Eu exhibited Eu(2+) (486 nm) emission in the blue region of the spectrum and under near Hg excitation (245 nm), Ca6AlP5O20:Ce phosphor exhibited Ce(3+) emission (357 nm) in the UV range. Photoluminescence (PL) peak intensity increased in Ca6AlP5O20:Eu,Ce and Ca6AlP5O20:Eu, Mn phosphors due to co-activators of Ce(3+) and Mn(2+) ions. As a result, these ions played an important role in PL emission in the present matrix. Ca6AlP5O20:Eu, Ce and Ca6AlP5O20:Eu, Mn phosphors provided energy transfer mechanisms via Ce(3+) → Eu(2+) and Eu(2+) → Mn(2+), respectively. Eu ions acted as activators and Ce ions acted as sensitizers. Ce emission energy was well matched with Eu excitation energy in the case of Ca6AlP5O20:Eu, Ce and Eu ions acted as activators and Mn ions acted as sensitizers in Ca6AlP5O20:Eu, Mn. This study included synthesis of new and efficient phosphate phosphors. The impact of doping and co-doping on photoluminescence properties and energy transfer mechanisms were investigated and we propose a feasible interpretation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Strain-induced modification of magnetic structure and new magnetic phases in rare-earth epitaxial films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dufour, C.; Dumesnil, K.; Mangin, Ph

2006-07-01

Rare earths exhibit complex magnetic phase diagrams resulting from the competition between various contributions to the magnetic energy: exchange, anisotropy and magnetostriction. The epitaxy of a rare-earth film on a substrate induces (i) a clamping to the substrate and (ii) pseudomorphic strains. Both these effects are shown to lead to modifications of the magnetic properties in (0 0 1)Dy, (0 0 1)Tb and (1 1 0)Eu films. In Dy and Tb films, spectacular variations of the Curie temperature have been evidenced. Additionally, Tb films exhibit a new large wavelength magnetic modulation. In Eu films, one of the helical magnetic domains disappears at low temperature whereas the propagation vectors of the other helices are tilted. The link between structural and magnetic properties is underlined via magnetoelastic models. Moreover, molecular beam epitaxy permits the growth of Sm in a metastable dhcp phase. The magnetic structure of dhcp Sm has been elucidated for the first time. In this review, neutron scattering is shown to be a powerful technique to reveal the magnetic structures of rare-earth films.

The Relationship between the Brexit Vote and Individual Predictors of Prejudice: Collective Narcissism, Right Wing Authoritarianism, Social Dominance Orientation

PubMed Central

Golec de Zavala, Agnieszka; Guerra, Rita; Simão, Cláudia

2017-01-01

The Leave campaign in the U.K., which advocated exiting the European Union, emphasized anxiety over immigration and the need to take control of the U.K.'s borders. Citizens who expressed concerns about immigration to the U.K. were more likely to vote to leave. Two correlational studies examined the previously unexplored question of whether the Brexit vote and support for the outcome of the E.U. referendum were linked to individual predictors of prejudice toward foreigners: British collective narcissism (a belief in national greatness), right wing authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation. The results converged to indicate that all three variables were independently related to the perceived threat of immigrants and, via this variable, to the Brexit vote and a support for the outcome of the E.U. referendum. These variables explained the variance in the perceived threat of immigrants and support for the Brexit vote over and above other previously examined predictors such as age, education, or ethnicity, as well as, national identification and national attachment. PMID:29230185

A pre-crisis vs. crisis analysis of peripheral EU stock markets by means of wavelet transform and a nonlinear causality test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polanco-Martínez, J. M.; Fernández-Macho, J.; Neumann, M. B.; Faria, S. H.

2018-01-01

This paper presents an analysis of EU peripheral (so-called PIIGS) stock market indices and the S&P Europe 350 index (SPEURO), as a European benchmark market, over the pre-crisis (2004-2007) and crisis (2008-2011) periods. We computed a rolling-window wavelet correlation for the market returns and applied a non-linear Granger causality test to the wavelet decomposition coefficients of these stock market returns. Our results show that the correlation is stronger for the crisis than for the pre-crisis period. The stock market indices from Portugal, Italy and Spain were more interconnected among themselves during the crisis than with the SPEURO. The stock market from Portugal is the most sensitive and vulnerable PIIGS member, whereas the stock market from Greece tends to move away from the European benchmark market since the 2008 financial crisis till 2011. The non-linear causality test indicates that in the first three wavelet scales (intraweek, weekly and fortnightly) the number of uni-directional and bi-directional causalities is greater during the crisis than in the pre-crisis period, because of financial contagion. Furthermore, the causality analysis shows that the direction of the Granger cause-effect for the pre-crisis and crisis periods is not invariant in the considered time-scales, and that the causality directions among the studied stock markets do not seem to have a preferential direction. These results are relevant to better understand the behaviour of vulnerable stock markets, especially for investors and policymakers.

[Prevention of accidental needle sticks before the Directive 2010/32/EU in a sample of Italian hospitals].

PubMed

Di Bari, Virginia; De Carli, Gabriella; Puro, Vincenzo

2015-05-04

Needlesticks and cuts are the most common occupational injuries in healthcare workers (HCWs). Directive 2010/32/EU defines principles and preventive interventions. To assess, in hospitals participating in the Italian Study on Occupational Risk of HIV (SIROH) project, which are very active in prevention, the degree of application of the measures provided for by the Directive, prior to its incorporation into Italian law. An open questionnaire covering the 9 focal points of the Directive, as a guide for a presentation at the SIROH meeting in 2013. Of 100 SIROH hospitals, 97% and 96% respectively provide specific information and education initiatives (54% and 73% of which expressly for new employees). All centres reinforce the ban on recapping, and 30 monitor its application by inspecting sharps containers; all hospitals place containers on mobile trolleys and 78 provide operating procedures for their replacement; all introduced at least one needlestick-prevention device (NPD; 4 on average, range 1-11), most frequently intravenous catheters (91%) and winged needles (87%), but 39% only in selected units; 14 centres implemented initiatives to eliminate unnecessary needles. Regarding hepatitis B, all centres screen and vaccinate HCWs but only 78% monitor their response: 89% of HCWs were immunized. Post-exposure management protocols, although based on the same rationale, differ significantly causing considerable differences in  costs. Most of the preventive interventions covered by the Directive were implemented in SIROH hospitals. It is necessary to invest in NPD availability and dissemination, elimination of unnecessary needles, and streamline post-exposure protocols. The situation in the remaining Italian facilities should be investigated.

Controlled synthesis of Eu 2+ and Eu 3+ doped ZnS quantum dots and their photovoltaic and magnetic properties

DOE PAGES

Horoz, Sabit; Yakami, Baichhabi; Poudyal, Uma; ...

2016-04-27

Eu-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized by wet-chemical method and found to form in zinc blende (cubic) structure. Both Eu 2+ and Eu 3+ doped ZnS can be controllably synthesized. The Eu 2+ doped ZnS QDs show broad photoluminescence emission peak around 512 nm, which is from the Eu2+ intra-ion transition of 4f 6d1 – 4f 7, while the Eu 3+ doped samples exhibit narrow emission lines characteristic of transitions between the 4f levels. The investigation of the magnetic properties shows that the Eu 3+ doped samples exhibit signs of ferromagnetism, on the other hand, Eu 2+ dopedmore » samples are paramagnetic of Curie-Weiss type. The incident photon to electron conversion efficiency is increased with the Eu doping, which suggests the QD solar cell efficiency can be enhanced by Eu doping due to widened absorption windows. This is an attractive approach to utilize benign and environmentally friendly wide band gap ZnS QDs in solar cell technology.« less

Abnormal Eu behavior at formation of H2O- and Cl-bearing fluids during degassing of granite magmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukanin, Oleg

2010-05-01

One of the important features of REE behavior in the process of decompression degassing of granite melts is the presence of europium anomalies in REE spectrum of forming fluid phase. Negative Eu anomaly in REE spectrum of fluids enriched by chlorine that were formed under high pressures at early stages of degassing relative to REE spectrum of granite melts may take place. Negative Eu anomaly in fluid is replaced by positive one with pressure decrease and decline of Cl concentration in fluid [1, 2]. Observable unique features of europium redistribution between fluid and melt find an explanation in such a fact that Eu in contrast to the other REE under oxidation-reduction conditions, being typical for magmatic process, is present in acidic silica-alumina melts in two valency forms Eu3+ and Eu2+ whereas the dominant form for the other REE in such a melts is (REE)3+ [3, 4]. From the analysis of melt-fluid exchange reactions with participation of two valency forms of europium Eu3+ and Eu2+ follows that the total distribution coefficient of Eu between fluid and melt D(Eu)f-m is equal as a first approximation to [5, 6]: D(Eu)f-m = a1α [C(Cl)f]3 + a2 (1 - α)[C(Cl)f]2, where C(Cl)f - the concentration of Cl in fluid, α = Eu3+/(Eu3+ + Eu2+), i.e. fraction of Eu3+ from the general amount of europium in the melt, and, a1anda2- constants that can be approximately estimated from empirical data upon Eu fluid/melt distribution. The equation given allows to estimate the influence of oxidizing condition of europium on sign and size of Eu anomaly, which is expressed by Eu/Eu# ratio, where Eu is real concentration of europium in fluid being in equilibrium with melt with constant Eu3+/(Eu3+ + Eu2+) ratio, and Eu# is possible "virtual" concentration of europium that could be in the same fluid provided that all europium as other REE as well were exclusively present in trivalent form. The sign and size of Eu anomaly in fluid depends upon Cl concentration in fluid and Eu3+/Eu2+ ratio in melt. The abnormal behavior of Eu shows itself the stronger, the lower fO2and, accordingly, the more fraction of Eu2+is present in melt. The work is supported of the Geosciences Department of the Russian Academy of Science (the program 2- 2010) and RFBR (grant 08-05-00022). References [1] Reed M.J., Candela Ph.A., Piccoli Ph.M. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 2000. V. 140. P. 251-262. [2] Lukanin O.A., Dernov-Pegarev V.F. Vestnik Otd. Nauk Zemle RAN, No 1(25)'2007 URL: http://www.scgis.ru/russian/cp1251/h_dgggms/1-2007/informbul-1_2007/term-30e.pdf [3] Drake M.J. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 1975. V. 39. P. 55-64. [4] Wilke M. Behrens H. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 1999. V. 137. P. 102-114. [5] Lukanin O.A. Vestnik Otd. Nauk o Zemle RAN, No 1(26)'2008. URL: http://www.scgis.ru/russian/cp1251/h_dgggms/1-2008/informbul-1_2008/magm-20e.pdf [6] Lukanin O.A., Dernov-Pegarev V.F. Geochemistry International, 2010 (in press)

Diabetes Device Reimbursement in the EU-5

PubMed Central

Attorney, Elmar Schäfer; Schnell, Gerald; Bobáková, Tamara

2013-01-01

The reimbursement landscape for new and innovative diabetes devices in Europe is very heterogeneous and nontransparent, with each country employing different mechanisms, pathways, and requirements. This article provides an overview of how diabetes device reimbursement works in the outpatient setting in the five major European Union markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom; the EU-5). It will be of particular interest to manufacturers of innovative devices. Markets are first categorized as either a centralized or a regionalized reimbursement decision-making system, and implications for device reimbursement are explored. In the second part, specific requirements and success factors for wide reimbursement in the EU-5 are analyzed in detail. Gaining early acceptance by the main influencers (key opinion leaders and payers) is the first step. Equally important is the provision of convincing evidence, be this clinical, health–economic (cost-effectiveness), or a demonstration of cost savings (budget impact). In some countries, local usage data may be a requirement as well. Lastly, as payers’ willingness to pay stems directly from their perceived value of a device, a key success factor and a necessary precondition for manufacturers is to set the right price. PMID:23911192

The effects of economic and political integration on power plants’ carbon emissions in the post-soviet transition nations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jorgenson, Andrew K.; Longhofer, Wesley; Grant, Don; Sie, Amanda; Giedraitis, Vincentas

2017-04-01

The combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation, which accounts for a significant share of the world’s CO2 emissions, varies by macro-regional context. Here we use multilevel regression modeling techniques to analyze CO2 emissions levels in the year 2009 for 1360 fossil-fuel power plants in the 25 post-Soviet transition nations in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. We find that various facility-level factors are positively associated with plant-level emissions, including plant size, age, heat rate, capacity utilization rate, and coal as the primary fuel source. Results further indicate that plant-level emissions are lower, on average, in the transition nations that joined the European Union (EU), whose market reforms and environmental directives are relevant for emissions reductions. These negative associations between plant-level emissions and EU accession are larger for the nations that joined the EU in 2004 relative to those that joined in 2007. The findings also suggest that export-oriented development is positively associated with plant-level CO2 emissions in the transition nations. Our results highlight the importance in macro-regional assessments of the conjoint effects of political and economic integration for facility-level emissions.

Vibration safety limits for magnetic resonance elastography.

PubMed

Ehman, E C; Rossman, P J; Kruse, S A; Sahakian, A V; Glaser, K J

2008-02-21

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has been demonstrated to have potential as a clinical tool for assessing the stiffness of tissue in vivo. An essential step in MRE is the generation of acoustic mechanical waves within a tissue via a coupled mechanical driver. Motivated by an increasing volume of human imaging trials using MRE, the objectives of this study were to audit the vibration amplitude of exposure for our IRB-approved human MRE studies, to compare these values to a conservative regulatory standard for vibrational exposure and to evaluate the applicability and implications of this standard for MRE. MRE displacement data were examined from 29 MRE exams, including the liver, brain, kidney, breast and skeletal muscle. Vibrational acceleration limits from a European Union directive limiting occupational exposure to whole-body and extremity vibrations (EU 2002/44/EC) were adjusted for time and frequency of exposure, converted to maximum displacement values and compared to the measured in vivo displacements. The results indicate that the vibrational amplitudes used in MRE studies are below the EU whole-body vibration limit, and the EU guidelines represent a useful standard that could be readily accepted by Institutional Review Boards to define standards for vibrational exposures for MRE studies in humans.

Vibration safety limits for magnetic resonance elastography

PubMed Central

Ehman, E C; Rossman, P J; Kruse, S A; Sahakian, A V; Glaser, K J

2010-01-01

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has been demonstrated to have potential as a clinical tool for assessing the stiffness of tissue in vivo. An essential step in MRE is the generation of acoustic mechanical waves within tissue via a coupled mechanical driver. Motivated by an increasing volume of human imaging trials using MRE, the objectives of this study were to audit the vibration amplitude of exposure for our IRB-approved human MRE studies, to compare these values to a conservative regulatory standard for vibrational exposure, and to evaluate the applicability and implications of this standard for MRE. MRE displacement data were examined from 29 MRE exams, including the liver, brain, kidney, breast, and skeletal muscle. Vibrational acceleration limits from a European Union directive limiting occupational exposure to whole-body and extremity vibrations (EU 2002/44/EC) were adjusted for time and frequency of exposure, converted to maximum displacement values, and compared to the measured in vivo displacements. The results indicate that the vibrational amplitudes used in MRE studies are below the EU whole-body vibration limit and the EU guidelines represent a useful standard that could be readily accepted by Institutional Review Boards to define standards for vibrational exposures for MRE studies in humans. PMID:18263949

Food-borne zoonoses, the EU zoonosis legislation and the prospects for food safety and consumer protection during primary animal production.

PubMed

Smulders, Frans J M; Vågsholm, Ivar; Korkeala, Hannu

2008-01-01

Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted naturally between animals and humans. The control of food-borne zoonoses within the European Union is a prerequisite for assuring a functional internal market and consequently represents an important item on the political agenda. Unfortunately, until recently, gaining a clear view of the current incidence of food-borne zoonoses and the prevalence of its causative agents has been frustrated by the absence of reliable monitoring and reporting systems. Similarly, it has become clear that, Europe wide, one has witnessed only limited success with regard to the control of important food-borne agents such as Salmonella spp. The European Union has adopted legislation to remedy this situation and to control food-borne zoonoses in primary production. This contribution discusses the incentives for introducing EU Directive 2003/99/EC and EU Regulation No. 2160/2003, summarises their essentials and discusses major ramifications of both pieces of legislation for the prevention of food-borne zoonoses. It is concluded that there is reason for cautious optimism concerning human salmonellosis, while for other food-borne zoonoses there should be a call for action.

Publication ethics in biomedical journals from countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

PubMed

Broga, Mindaugas; Mijaljica, Goran; Waligora, Marcin; Keis, Aime; Marusic, Ana

2014-03-01

Publication ethics is an important aspect of both the research and publication enterprises. It is particularly important in the field of biomedical science because published data may directly affect human health. In this article, we examine publication ethics policies in biomedical journals published in Central and Eastern Europe. We were interested in possible differences between East European countries that are members of the European Union (Eastern EU) and South-East European countries (South-East Europe) that are not members of the European Union. The most common ethical issues addressed by all journals in the region were redundant publication, peer review process, and copyright or licensing details. Image manipulation, editors' conflicts of interest and registration of clinical trials were the least common ethical policies. Three aspects were significantly more common in journals published outside the EU: statements on the endorsement of international editorial standards, contributorship policy, and image manipulation. On the other hand, copyright or licensing information were more prevalent in journals published in the Eastern EU. The existence of significant differences among biomedical journals' ethical policies calls for further research and active measures to harmonize policies across journals.

STM/STS studies for interplane disorder effects on the electronic states of the Cu-O plane in Bi2201

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurosawa, T.; Hatta, G.; Miyazaki, H.; Yamaji, J.; Yoshikawa, K.; Nakagawa, Y.; Shibata, Y.; Yoshida, H.; Oda, M.; Ido, M.; Takeyama, K.; Momono, N.

2015-08-01

STM/STS experiments have been performed in Bi2Sr1.7R0.3CuO6+δ (R-Bi2201) systems with R = La and Eu, which are of a nearly optimal doping level po but have different Tc values, 35 K and 20 K, respectively, to examine interplane disorder effects on the superconducting (SC) gap and the pseudogap (PG) that is accompanied by a checkerboard-type charge order (CCO). We report that as interplane disorders are strengthened by replacing La with Eu in optimal Bi2201, the antinodal PG size Δ∗ increases from ˜ 30meV to ˜ 60meV, which is comparable to the value for an underdoping level p/po ˜ 0.5 in La-Bi2201. On the other hand, the period of CCO in optimal Eu-Bi2201 is the same as in optimal La-Bi2201, about five times lattice constant ˜ 5a along the Cu-O bond directions; it remains unchanged even if the PG develops markedly to the same degree as for p/po ˜ 0.5 in La-Bi2201, whose period is ˜ 4a.

Where are we coming from versus who we will become: the effect of priming different contents of European identity on cooperation.

PubMed

La Barbera, Francesco; Ferrara, Pia Cariota; Boza, Mihaela

2014-12-01

In two experiments, we investigated how priming European identity as common project versus common heritage affects participants' cooperation in a social dilemma; an additional aim was to explore the mediators involved in the process. In the first experiment, 82 students played a public good dilemma with a European bogus partner and then completed self-report measures of identification with the European Union (EU), group-based trust and collective interest. Results showed that priming a common project-based but not a common heritage-based European social identity fostered cooperative behaviour; this effect was mediated by two sequential mediators: the common project prime increased participants' strength of identification with EU (mediator 1) which, in turn, positively affected group-based trust (mediator 2), fostering greater cooperation. Experiment 2 was conducted with a similar procedure on a sample of 124 students, using a different measure of trust and changing the order of mediators. Results supported those of previous experiment: Priming a project-based EU identity content (compared to heritage-based one) had significant direct and indirect effects on cooperation. © 2014 International Union of Psychological Science.