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Students must be taught to understand the ethical issues associated with engineering and technology, which includes microethics and macroethics. This research examined the influence of cultural environment by comparing ethics-related education outcomes between educators in (1) the United States, (2) non-US Anglo, and (3) Western European countries who teach engineering students. In an increasingly globalised world where companies and projects draw from talent across countries, it is important to understand how different cultures educate future engineers about their ethical responsibilities. Survey results revealed that a majority of educators in all three groups viewed undergraduate and postgraduate education on ethics as insufficient. A higher percentage of non-US Anglo and Western European educators taught sustainability and environmental issues in their courses compared to US respondents. US educators taught codes of ethics, ethics in design, and safety more than those in Western Europe. Open-ended responses illuminated challenges and opportunities to improve ethics education.

Background The extent to which patients are involved in their care can be influenced by hospital policies and interventions. Nevertheless, the implementation of patient participation and involvement (PPI) at the organisational (meso) level has rarely been assessed systematically. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of PPI practises in hospitals in Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg and to analyze if, and to what extent, the hospital vision and the presence of a patient committee influence the implementation of PPI practises. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire in hospitals in the border regions of the four countries. The data were analyzed for differences between regions and the maturity of PPI development. Results Full responses were obtained from 64 hospitals. A wide range of practices were observed, the degree of maturity was mixed. A majority of hospitals promoted patient partnership in the hospital's philosophy of care statement. However, the implementation of specific interventions for PPI was not found uniformly and differences could be observed between the countries. Conclusions Hospitals in the region seem to be motivated to include patients more fully, however, implementation of PPI interventions seems incomplete and only partially integrated into the general functioning of the hospitals. The implementation of the concept seems to be more mature in the francophone part of the region perhaps due, in part, to a more favourable political context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Syrian refugee "crisis" has prompted contradictory responses of securitization of European borders on the one hand, and grassroots compassion on the other, that posit a universal conception of the human deserving of equal rights to safety irrespective of racial or religious difference. However, in the aftermath of the 2015 and 2016 Paris terror attacks there has been a backlash against refugees amid fears of Islamist terrorists exploiting refugee channels to enter Europe, as well as an upsurge in a populist nationalism framing Brexit and anti-Muslim hostility following recent UK terror attacks. I argue that the convergence of the "Muslim refugee" and the "terror suspect" as threatening mobilizes a racialized biopolitics present in intersecting counter-terrorism and asylum regimes that prioritise security concerns above human rights. I advance the Concentrationary Gothic as a framework for understanding continuities in logics of racial terror framing the "Muslim question" within the Syrian refugee "crisis." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop evidence-based recommendations for the use of imaging modalities in primary large vessel vasculitis (LVV) including giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu arteritis (TAK). European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) standardised operating procedures were followed. A systematic literature review was conducted to retrieve data on the role of imaging modalities including ultrasound, MRI, CT and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) in LVV. Based on evidence and expert opinion, the task force consisting of 20 physicians, healthcare professionals and patients from 10 EULAR countries developed recommendations, with consensus obtained through voting. The final level of agreement was voted anonymously. A total of 12 recommendations have been formulated. The task force recommends an early imaging test in patients with suspected LVV, with ultrasound and MRI being the first choices in GCA and TAK, respectively. CT or PET may be used alternatively. In case the diagnosis is still in question after clinical examination and imaging, additional investigations including temporal artery biopsy and/or additional imaging are required. In patients with a suspected flare, imaging might help to better assess disease activity. The frequency and choice of imaging modalities for long-term monitoring of structural damage remains an individual decision; close monitoring for aortic aneurysms should be conducted in patients at risk for this complication. All imaging should be performed by a trained specialist using appropriate operational procedures and settings. These are the first EULAR recommendations providing up-to-date guidance for the role of imaging in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with (suspected) LVV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense discussions have taken place on extraterritorial processing of asylum claims in the European Union over recent years. Despite extensive political controversy and media interest generated by the debate, it has not yielded any ‘extraterritorial solution’ for Europe's asylum challenges. EU Member States have examined a number of proposals which highlight their interest in the possibility of joint processing arrangements in third countries for asylum claims which would otherwise be the responsibility of Member States. For now, however, these ideas are not supported by the majority of EU states or institutions, nor by UNHCR, and do not include proposals to address the overwhelming legal and practical constraints that stand in their way. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the challenges created by the phenomenon of onward movement of asylum seekers and refugees. Topics discussed include the Dublin system developed in the 1990s in order to clarify which European Member State would be responsible for examining the claim of an asylum seeker, and the concept of the safe third country, which allows Member States to refuse to admit claims from applicants who have come through a country that satisfies specified legal criteria for their safety.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the life cycle impacts of recovering superabsorbent polymers from absorbent hygiene products (AHPs). AHPs, which include baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, and adult incontinence pads, have a considerable environmental impact. While convenient, the vast majority of these products, which typically contain combinations of polypropylene, polyethylene, elastics, cellulose, and superabsorbent polymers (SAPs), are single use. Current practice of AHP disposal results in the loss of valuable materials like SAPs, generation of large volumes of municipal solid waste, and increased manufacturing burdens. While recognition of AHP impacts is increasing, it is important to consider that the most significant life cycle impacts of AHPs stem from resource extraction and manufacturing, not disposal itself. The SAPs in these products are of particular importance as they contribute substantially to these upstream life cycle impacts. We aim to shed light on how we might lessen upstream impacts by focusing on the potential for SAP recovery and re-use. This research evaluates end-of-life options for baby diapers in Europe using a life cycle approach to explore alternative options to conventional disposal of AHPs. We analyze the environmental trade-offs under the following scenarios: 1) diaper disposal via landfill or incineration; 2) diaper recycling without SAP recovery; and 3) diaper recycling with theoretical SAP recovery. Each recycling scenario is analyzed under two allocation conditions for a total of five scenarios. Environmental impacts were modeled in the LCA software SimaPro using the ReCipe 2016 impact assessment framework. Results show that SAP recovery has potential to decrease life cycle emissions by 54% compared to standard landfilling and incineration and by 35% when compared to the recycling technologies assessed in the study. SAP recovery and reuse also results in large potential offsets of energy and water burdens involved in SAP manufacturing. By assessing these environmental impacts, we aim to clarify the point at which SAP recovery demonstrates potential for circular economy. • We used LCA to compare standard disposal of baby diapers in Europe with recycling. • Manufacturing is the most environmentally costly stage of diaper production. • Superabsorbent polymers contribute ~35% of total CO 2 eq for manufacturing. • Superabsorbent polymer recycling has potential to decrease life cycle CO 2 eq. • Recycling without superabsorbent polymer recycling may negate diaper recycling utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the worldwide incidence of breast cancer (BC) and the importance of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment, there is a growing need to have accurate and up-to-date reference values (RVs). RVs are useful for the design of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and as benchmarks for comparison of cancer RCTs and health care interventions. This study aimed to provide RVs for the QLQ-C30 in early BC (EBC) and metastatic BC (MBC). General patterns of main results from the EORTC dataset (main dataset) were compared with the PDS dataset (comparison dataset) to see whether they would be consistent across pre-defined covariates. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) (main dataset) and Project Data Sphere (PDS) (comparison dataset) were searched to identify BC RCTs where baseline HRQoL (before treatment) was assessed with the QLQ-C30. RVs were calculated and stratified by disease stage, age, and when available, performance status (PS), comorbidity and region. RVs were reported using descriptive statistics. Data from three EORTC (n = 4115) and three PDS RCTs (n = 1406) were included in the analysis. While EBC patients presented better HRQoL with high baseline functioning scores and low prevalence of symptoms, MBC patients reported worse HRQoL with lower functioning scores and more prevalence of symptoms. In MBC, poor PS and presence of comorbidities reflected worse baseline HRQoL. No consistent differences were found for age and countries. These up-to-date RVs for the EORTC QLQ-C30 in BC show differences in HRQoL scores between stages, PS, and comorbidities. These findings, supported by an independent dataset, will help the clinical interpretation of scores for BCpatients. • EORTC QLQ-C30 RVs allow interpretation of HRQOL results in BC. • In general, EBC patients reported better HRQOL than MBC patients. • A EBC and MBC patients reported low levels of nausea/vomiting. • EBC patients reported relatively high levels of physical functioning and insomnia. • MBC patients reported relatively high levels of cognitive functioning and fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the southern part of the NW-SE trending Sudetic Marginal fault (SMF), situated at the northeastern limit of the Bohemian Massif in central Europe, to assess its Quaternary activity. Eighteen trenches and thirty-four electric resistivity profiles were performed at Bílá Voda to study the fault zone and 3-dimensional distribution of a beheaded alluvial fan on the NE side of the fault. We interpret a small drainage, located about 29–45 m to the SE of the fan apex, as the only plausible source channel implying a similar amount of left-lateral offset. The alluvial fan deposits' radiometric ages range between about 24 and 63 ka, but postglacial deposits younger than 11 ka are not displaced, indicating that all motion occurred in the late Pleistocene. The site lies ∼150 km south of the late Pleistocene Weichselian maximum (∼20 ka) ice sheet front. We model the effects of the ice load on lithospheric flexure and resolved fault stresses, and show that slip on the SMF was promoted by the presence of the ice sheet, resulting in a late Pleistocene slip rate of ∼1.1+2.3/ −0.6 mm/yr. As the most favorable time for glacial loading-induced slip would be during the glacial maximum between about 24 and 12 ka, it is doubtful that the slip rate remained constant during the entire period of activity, and if most slip occurred during this period, the short-term rate may have been even higher. Considering that the modern maximum principal stress (σ 1) is oriented nearly parallel to the Sudetic Marginal fault (NNW-SSE) and is thus unfavorable for fault motion, our observations suggest that the likelihood of continued motion and earthquake production is much lower in the absence of an ice sheet. • Intraplate Sudetic Marginal fault offsets Late Pleistocene alluvial fan. • Paleoseismic, geomorphic, geophysical and dating survey revealed left-lateral fault slip. • Faulting accelerated during Late Glacial Maximum with probably no slip in Holocene. • Ice-loading modeling shows Coulomb stress increase promoting left lateral slip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the reproducibility of routine serological methods to detect Trypanosoma equiperdum antibodies in equine sera, two inter-laboratory ring trials were organized involving 22 European and 4 non-European reference laboratories for dourine. The serological methods were the complement fixation test (CFT; 25 laboratories) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT; 4 laboratories). Three of the laboratories applied both these methods. The sample panels were composed of sera that were negative, positive or suspected for dourine. Of the negative sera, one was from a donkey naturally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. This study confirmed the reliability of CFT and highlighted its inter-laboratory reproducibility for known T. equiperdum positive and negative sera. However the reproducibility was less good for sera positive for T. evansi or of unknown status, e.i. nine out of 22 laboratories observed a false-positive result with the T. evansi-positive serum, whether by CFT or IFAT. This interesting result suggests that the specificity of dourine serodiagnosis may be improved by standardizing the critical reagents, including antigens and by developing a standard T. equiperdum serum which could be used calibrate test systems across multiple laboratories. Trial data confirmed seropositivity in one of the three horses suspected of dourine. It may be beneficial to generalize the use of a suitable low-titer serum control, derived from a standard serum in order to standardize the method's detection limit., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)