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Along the European coasts, changes in the timing of the storm surge season are analyzed. Using 10 long-term tide gauges located in western Europe, a consistent spatio-temporal shift emerged in the storm surge season between 1950 and 2000. Temporal shifts are positive (later events) in the North, negative (earlier events) in the South. Extreme surge events occurred about 4 days/decade later in northern Europe, and 5 days/decade earlier in southern Europe. Such a tendency is similar to the one already reported for European river floods between 1960 and 2010. In northern Europe, extreme surges are known to occur during the positive North Atlantic Oscillation phase (NAO+). Identified spatio-temporal shifts likely trace that NAO+ storms tend to occur later between 1950 and 2000. A new index measuring the timing of the NAO+ and NAO− persistent situations is shown to help capture this spatial distribution in the timing of the storm surge seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) 2017/745/EU will fully apply from May 2020. Interventional radiologists use medical devices on a daily basis and so must be aware of the impact that this new regulation will have on their daily practice.Materials and Methods: In this paper, we describe the major transformation that the MDR brings to the medical devices sector, with a focus on clinical evaluations and clinical investigations.Results: This regulation significantly tightens controls to ensure that devices are safe and effective. In addition, equivalence to already existing devices, which allowed an accelerated access to the market, will now be possible only in some cases. Furthermore, post-marketing clinical follow-up is extended under the MDR and is required for all devices. These new requirements will probably lead to a dramatic increase in the number of clinical investigations and also to a delay in the availability of certain devices on the market.Conclusions: In the coming years, interventional radiologists are likely to be affected by these changes in their daily practice, in terms of medical device availability and/or in terms of increased involvement in clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) is the world's third largest producer of beef. This contributes to the economy, rural development, social life, culture and gastronomy of Europe. The diversity of breeds, animal types (cows, bulls, steers, heifers) and farming systems (intensive, extensive on permanent or temporary pastures, mixed, breeders, feeders, etc) is a strength, and a weakness as the industry is often fragmented and poorly connected. There are also societal concerns regarding animal welfare and environmental issues, despite some positive environmental impacts of farming systems. The EU is amongst the most efficient for beef production as demonstrated by a relative low production of greenhouse gases. Due to regional differences in terms of climate, pasture availability, livestock practices and farms characteristics, productivity and incomes of beef producers vary widely across regions, being among the lowest of the agricultural systems. The beef industry is facing unprecedented challenges related to animal welfare, environmental impact, origin, authenticity, nutritional benefits and eating quality of beef. These may affect the whole industry, especially its farmers. It is therefore essential to bring the beef industry together to spread best practice and better exploit research to maintain and develop an economically viable and sustainable beef industry. Meeting consumers' expectations may be achieved by a better prediction of beef palatability using a modelling approach, such as in Australia. There is a need for accurate information and dissemination on the benefits and issues of beef for human health and for environmental impact. A better objective description of goods and services derived from livestock farming is also required. Putting into practice "agroecology" and organic farming principles are other potential avenues for the future. Different future scenarios can be written depending on the major driving forces, notably meat consumption, climate change, environmental policies and future organization of the supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationaleaims and objectives Like health technology assessment ( HTA) agencies, hospitals are faced with requests for innovative and costly medical devices. However, local decision makers are frequently confronted with a lack of high-quality clinical data when assessing the effectiveness of innovative medical devices. The aim of this study was to quantify the level of evidence available for innovative medical devices in the context of hospital-based HTA. Methods We searched the Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for articles, letters and reports relating to 32 innovative medical devices requested at our hospital between January 2008 and March 2012. All clinical studies retrieved were screened and classified according to the Sackett 5-point level-of-evidence scale. Results We screened and classified 217 studies: 215 clinical trials and 2 cost-effectiveness studies. Only 47 of the 215 clinical studies (22%) provided high-level clinical evidence (levels 1-2); 33 (15%) were randomized controlled trials ( RCTs). More than half of the 215 studies (52.1%) included fewer than 30 patients. Only 14 of the 47 high-quality studies reported the amount of missing data. For implantable medical devices, 84 (71.8%) studies specified the follow-up period and the mean follow-up period was 18.9 months. Finally, methodological quality did not increase with the risk level of the medical device. Conclusions Our findings confirm that only a few studies of innovative medical devices provide high-level clinical evidence. Nevertheless, RCT may be the 'gold standard' for drugs, but it is not always appropriate for medical devices. Changes to the European regulation of medical devices, with the requirement for a demonstration of clinical efficacy and safety before release onto the European market, have raised expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical myopathy is an acute, severe rhabdomyolysis occurring in grazing horses. In the beginning of October 2009, a new outbreak occurred in several European countries. Geographic, demographic and clinical data of the reported cases in the month October 2009 are described. The survival rate in this outbreak was 25%. The most frequently observed clinical signs were congested mucous membranes, dyspnea, tachycardia, depression, weakness, stiffness, recumbency, trembling, sweating, and myoglobinuria. Nonsurvivors were significantly more likely to be recumbent than survivors. Prognostic factors, symptomatic treatment, and preventive measures are discussed. Differences were encountered during the described outbreak of atypical myopathy in October 2009 compared with previous outbreaks reported. Equine practitioners should be aware that previous epidemiological studies have shown that after a high prevalence in the autumn, new cases are likely to occur in the following spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of Article 6(3) of Rome II in the forging of a Community system of private enforcement of antitrust law and the implications of the rule enshrined in Article 6(3) of Rome II for party autonomy in Europe. It states that the Article 6(3) of the Rome II Regulation will reduce the range of divergence in national solutions by harmonising conflict of laws. Moreover, Article 6(3) foresees the concurrent and distributive application of all relevant national laws. Furthermore, the escape clause of public policy enshrined in the Rome II Regulation must be given with proper attention.

Simple Summary: The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is an Asian pest whose rapid invasion in Europe causes considerable economic and ecological impacts. Larvae enter a winter diapause induced by photoperiod in both native and invaded ranges, but factors that trigger the return to an active phase are still unknown. Yet, identifying them is crucial to understanding how diapause end synchronizes with the end of the winter stress encountered in Europe. We tested whether activity resumption is regulated by thermal and/or photoperiodic thresholds, two factors often involved in diapause termination, by exposing diapausing caterpillars from an invaded area to crossed treatments at the laboratory. The evolution of diapause rate was monitored over time and compared to that of nearby field sites invaded. A strong positive effect of increasing temperature was found on the rate and dynamics of diapause termination, whereas no compelling effect of photoperiod appeared. Resuming development directly when main stressors fade, not in response to indirect photoperiodic cues that could be mismatched outside native areas, likely contributes to the good match observed between diapause and the new climates encountered in the invaded range. This finding can improve phenological modelling of the overwintering generation and help better mitigate its damage. The association between indirect environmental cues that modulate insect diapause and the actual stressors is by no means granted when a species encounters new environments. The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is an Asian pest whose rapid invasion in Europe causes considerable economic and ecological impacts. Larvae enter a winter diapause induced by the photoperiod in both native and invaded ranges, but factors that trigger the return to an active phase are still unknown. Yet, identifying them is crucial to understand how diapause end synchronizes with the end of the winter stress encountered in Europe. To test whether activity resumption is regulated by thermal and/or photoperiodic thresholds, or additive effects between these factors often involved in diapause termination, diapausing caterpillars from an invaded area were exposed to crossed treatments at the laboratory. The evolution of diapause rate was monitored over time and compared to that of nearby field sites invaded. A strong positive effect of increasing temperature was found on the rate and dynamics of diapause termination, whereas no compelling effect of photoperiod appeared. Resuming development directly when main stressors fade, not in response to indirect photoperiodic cues that could be mismatched outside native areas, likely contributes to the good match observed between diapause and the new climates that this pest encountered in the invaded range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 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, Objectives: To compare how the Directive has been implemented at a national level in EU countries and to determine whether workers receive equivalent protection., Methods: Information on selected key issues was collected from 14 EU countries by means of a structured questionnaire., Results: 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., Conclusions: 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.