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Although the health care systems in Europe are considered the global benchmark, European nations were severely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This manuscript aimed to examine the strategies implemented to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Russia and their outcomes in terms of the number of cases, testing, and deaths. This is the first review of its kind that extensively analyzes the preparedness, mitigation, and response strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic adopted by these nations. This paper further suggests a strategic preparedness model for future pandemics. From the analysis, we found that a decentralized approach, prompt decision-making and timely execution, coordination between local health authorities, and public participation in the implementation of strategies could substantially reduce the case fatality rate. Nations with a high percentage of gross domestic product invested in the health sector, as well as more nurses, physicians, hospital beds, intensive care unit beds, and ventilators, better managed the pandemic. Instead, nations that postponed their pandemic response by delaying tracking, tracing, testing, quarantine, and lockdown were badly affected. The lessons learned from the present pandemic could be used as a guide to prepare for further pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper analyzes the factors that contribute or hinder the (joint) adoption of current research information systems (CRIS) and Open Access repositories (OAR) as manifestations of the Open Science principle. Given the significance attached to Open Science principles such as transparency and accessibility, we ask whether CRIS are able to reflect these priorities by providing technical interfaces or integrating OAR into the CRIS structure. We suggest that the interplay of national and institutional governance structures and policies is crucial for the adequate and efficient integration of CRIS and Open Science. To account for variances in both national and institutional context factors, we compare research institutions in three countries: Italy, the Netherlands and Germany. The qualitative exploratory analysis suggests that the consistent adoption and implementation of CRIS and Open Access policies in a science system are facilitated by national evaluation or quality assessment policies. In addition, the integration of Open Access repositories into CRIS is furthered by an institutionalized, efficient and flexible CRIS infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The flexibilisation in Italy and Germany has exacerbated inequalities between primary and secondary labour markets. • The aversion to downward mobility lead to hypothesise mechanisms of compensation for penalty linked to initial instability. • We compare the career development of service- and working-class entrants who began with a similar socioeconomic status. • Social origin contributes to unequal trajectory developments in both contexts, especially for the low- and middle-educated. • University reduces the flexibility penalty in Italy. For German graduates, initial instability leads to more-rewarding jobs. This paper investigates how labour market flexibilisation strengthens the role of social origin in conditioning inter- and intragenerational mobility chances. Drawing on the upper-class aversion to downward mobility, we explore mechanisms through which advantaged social origin directly compensate for the socioeconomic penalty that arises from initial contractual instability over the career. Conversely, we examine whether a bad start for less-socially privileged entrants represents a source of cumulative disadvantage. The Italian and German labour markets are compared since optimal national cases of labour market duality and rigidity yet differing in their educational and labour market institutions and mobility regimes. We perform growth curves under a matching framework to counterfactually compare the career development of service- and working-class entrants in the two countries, who began with similar socioeconomic status. We reveal that social origin contributes to unequal trajectory developments in both contexts, especially for the low- and middle-educated. No significant DESO over the career emerges among degree holders in either country. Finally, attending university entirely reduces the flexibility penalty in Italy, whereas for German graduates, initial instability serves as a gateway to more prestigious jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]