Search

Background: As the European population with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is expected to become older, a better understanding of ageing with SCI using functioning, the health indicator used to model healthy ageing trajectories, is needed. We aimed to describe patterns of functioning in SCI by chronological age, age at injury and time since injury across eleven European countries using a common functioning metric, and to identify country-specific environmental determinants of functioning. Methods: Data from 6'635 participants of the International Spinal Cord Injury Community Survey was used. The hierarchical version of Generalized Partial Credit Model, casted in a Bayesian framework, was used to create a common functioning metric and overall scores. For each country, linear regression was used to investigate associations between functioning, chronological age, age at SCI or time since injury for persons with para- and tetraplegia. Multiple linear regression and the proportional marginal variance decomposition technique were used to identify environmental determinants. Results: In countries with representative samples older chronological age was consistently associated with a decline in functioning for paraplegia but not for tetraplegia. Age at injury and functioning level were associated, but patterns differed across countries. An association between time since injury and functioning was not observed in most countries, neither for paraplegia nor for tetraplegia. Problems with the accessibility of homes of friends and relatives, access to public places and long-distance transportation were consistently key determinants of functioning. Conclusions: Functioning is a key health indicator and the fundament of ageing research. Enhancing methods traditionally used to develop metrics with Bayesian approach, we were able to create a common metric of functioning with cardinal properties and to estimate overall scores comparable across countries. Focusing on functioning, our study complements epidemiological evidence on SCI-specific mortality and morbidity in Europe and identify initial targets for evidence-informed policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Return to work is a complex and challenging process which takes various forms in different contexts. The aim of this study is to explore and compare cross-country differences in stakeholders' experiences and views on actors, policies and practices relevant for return to work after long-term sickness absence. The comparative exploration is done in six countries with various legislative backgrounds, welfare and social dialogue systems. Methods Using a purposive sample, six multidisciplinary stakeholders group discussions were conducted in six countries: Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Slovakia. A total of 51 individuals comprised of social partners, policymakers or representatives of public bodies and patient associations participated. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to derive the most important themes in the discussions. Results Five major themes emerged from the group discussions. A graphic model is proposed to emphasize the variety of frameworks and processes across countries. Conclusions The core part of the return to work process is the dynamic relation between legislation, stakeholders and practices, which is influenced by broader national and societal factors. The cross-country variation in legislations, stakeholders and practices can be understood as a continuum, from low to high structuring, development and comprehensiveness. Although social dialogue appears to have a role in return to work process with variation across countries, it is not always on top of the agenda of social partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial literacy refers to a person's knowledge and skills in managing personal finances and making wise financial decisions. Adequate financial education is essential for making informed choices and avoiding financial problems. The purpose of this academic article is to examine and analyse the importance and the impact of financial education in the current economic and social context. The article will explore the factors that influence the level of financial education and the barriers to implementing effective programs. The study aims to analyse the financial knowledge, behaviour and attitudes of people in South East Europe. The research methods provide an overview of the level of financial education in the South-East European regions, based on comparable data and rigorous analysis. The results of the study are the pillar for the developing effective financial education policies and programmes in the regions in order to make better decisions and ensure longterm financial security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present time brings a lot of controversy and issues on economic, social and political ground. Time did not pass leaving opportunity for taking a breath from the Covid-19 pandemic, because the Ukrainian-Russian war started. This conflict unbalanced the commercial frame of Europe and prices started to go up, inducing reasons for insecurity fear for the wellbeing of tomorrow. Many people started to be anxious, and their symptoms included tachycardia, dyspnea, insomnia, headaches etc. All these symptoms are exacerbated by interfering with news from the media regarding the abovementioned socio-economic problems. Usually women are tented to be more influenceable and more alert, presenting themselves for evaluation in a medical cabinet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare-associated infections can occur in different care units and can affect both patients and healthcare professionals. Bacteria represent the most common cause of nosocomial infections and, due to the excessive and irrational use of antibiotics, resistant organisms have appeared. The most important healthcare-associated infections are central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, surgical site, soft tissue infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, hospital acquired pneumonia, and Clostridioides difficile colitis. In Europe, some hospitalized patients develop nosocomial infections that lead to increased costs and prolonged hospitalizations. Healthcare-associated infection prevalence in developed countries is lower than in low-income and middle-income countries such as Romania, an Eastern European country, where several factors contribute to the occurrence of many nosocomial infections, but official data show a low reporting rate. For the rapid identification of bacteria that can cause these infections, fast, sensitive, and specific methods are needed, and they should be cost-effective. Therefore, this review focuses on the current situation regarding healthcare-associated infections in Europe and Romania, with discussions regarding the causes and possible solutions. As a possible weapon in the fight against the healthcare-associated infections, the diagnosis methods and tests used to determine the bacteria involved in healthcare-associated infections are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports in the literature have proposed and analyzed several minimally invasive techniques for caries removal in recent decades. In light of recent events surrounding the ongoing epidemiological context, concerns have been raised regarding the generation of aerosols during dental procedures. The aim of our research was to provide an overview of the scientific literature on the topic of chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) methods, focusing on two products (Carisolv, BRIX3000), commercially available in Europe. A bibliometric analysis was used to investigate the scientific articles included in Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, published from January 2010 to December 2020. We analyzed the co-occurrence of all keywords (Author Keywords and the KeyWords Plus section), co-authorship and co-citation, using the free software VOSviewer. Our bibliometric analysis revealed a worldwide interest in the subject of chemo-mechanical methods of caries removal, which has transcended the area of pediatric dentistry. The analyzed studies have been conducted mainly in high-income countries that have developed sanitary policies regarding prevention and early treatment of carious lesions as a health priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dung beetles are a functionally important group of species, and the effects of large wild herbivores on these species are not well understood. Management of wild herbivores could, therefore, have considerable consequences for dung beetle assemblages and the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we analysed how species richness, biomass, abundance, and composition of dung beetle assemblages were affected by different dung availability as a consequence of different red deer (Cervus elaphus) densities under field conditions. This was done in spring and autumn over four independent study regions in Central Europe where red deer are the most important providers of dung in forests. Our results show that forest sites with high dung availability support higher species richness of dung beetles than sites with low availability. This effect is independent of season and could be explained by the different colonisation patterns of beetle species which vary in their competitiveness. As aggregated dung resources increase opportunities for low-competitive species, those species establish small populations and do not necessarily increase the abundance of the whole assemblage. Our results show that the current policies to limit deer populations also limit higher levels of species diversity of this functionally important arthropod taxon. We highlight the importance of hunting-free areas for the conservation of insect diversity associated with large herbivores. In strictly protected areas with low herbivore densities we suggest to reduce control of ungulate numbers to provide sufficient resources for maintaining dung beetle diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a chronic multifactorial, multisystemic disease, responsible for 4.7 million premature deaths annually. The epidemic of obesity is an important challange for public health all across the world. Now more than ever, obesity affects globally both developing countries and wealthy societies. In Europe, for example, more than half of the population is affected by adiposity. Obesity-related diseases are responsible for the reduction of the life expectancy with almost four years. Rising prevalence of obesity increases the risk of debilitating multimorbidity and mortality. Personal behaviors such as diet, physical activity, screen time, stress levels have an play a key role in the efficiency of individual interventions and comorbidity prognostic. Nowadays, the excessive weight gain at the population level leads to an increasing burden of cardiometabolic comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, 2.52 kg nitrogen and 0.51 kg phosphorous / inhabitant / year are discharged in wastewater. Conventional biological and chemical methods for wastewater treatment are costly and not fully efficient in removing nutrients, and the discharge of effluents in rivers and lakes enhances the eutrophication. The use of microalgae species to remove nutrients available in wastewater, as a sustainable and low-cost treatment option, and also the use of different systems for algal cultivation in wastewater, aiming to obtain biomass and bio-products, is a growing field of research. Green microalgae, especially Chlorella species, play an important role in wastewater treatment while producing algal biomass, with numerous studies proving the high potential of Chlorella to consume nutrients from different categories of wastewater: municipal wastewater, wastewater from agriculture, wastewater from zootechnics, industrial wastewater. Cultivated in autotrophic, heterotrophic or mixotrophic conditions, in open or closed systems, microalgae have an important role in reducing greenhouse gases, consuming 1.83 kg CO2 / kg dry algal biomass. Algal biomass can be capitalized to obtain many value-added products, including biofuels. The aim of this study is to review the advances in the utilization of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in the treatment of municipal and zootechnical wastewater, emphasizing the removal of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Party competition over European integration is structured by two main dimensions of political conflict: a socio-economic dimension (market liberalisation vs. a more regulated economy) and a socio-cultural dimension (libertarian, cosmopolitan values vs. authoritarian, nationalist values). This article investigates the relationship between these conflict dimensions and parties' positions towards EU issues across time and space, in particular focussing on two 'critical junctures' in the European unification process. For this purpose, analysis is made of the election manifestos of parties competing in European Parliament elections (Euromanifestos) from 1979 to 2014. First, it is found that the key moment of the Maastricht treaty significantly reshaped party competition over Europe. After Maastricht, positions towards European integration have become less connected to the economic dimension and much more related to the cultural dimension in Western Europe. Second, it is contended that the Euro crisis has not dramatically restructured political conflict over European integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origins of money and the formulation of coherent weight and measurement systems are amongst the most significant prehistoric developments of the human intellect. We present a method for detecting perceptible standardization of weights and apply this to 5028 Early Bronze Age rings, ribs, and axe blades from Central Europe. We calculate the degree of uniformity on the basis of psychophysics, and quantify this using similarity indexes. The analysis shows that 70.3% of all rings could not be perceptibly distinguished from a ring weighing 195.5 grams, indicating their suitability as commodity money. Perceptive weight equivalence is demonstrated between rings, and a selection of ribs and axe blades. Co-occurrence of these objects evidences their interchangeability. We further suggest that producing copies of rings led to recognition of weight similarities and the independent emergence of a system of weighing in Central Europe at the end of the Early Bronze Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Peritonitis is still an important health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with peritonitis may be an important factor to reduce the risks for patients and improve efficiency, outcome, and the cost of care. Methods: Expert panel discussion on Peritonitis was held in Bucharest on May 2017, during the 17th ECTES Congress, involving surgeons, infectious disease specialists, radiologists and intensivists with the goal of defining recommendations for the optimal management of peritonitis. Conclusion: This document is an updated presentation of management of peritonitis and represents the summary of the final recommendations approved by a panel of experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge-based economy represents a consequence of technological and informational progress. The performances of the economies have lately depended on the way in which knowledge is capitalizing, and also on the innovation degree and the efficiency of information flows. The present paper aims to identify the importance, characteristics and main elements of the knowledge-based economy, but also the evolution of scientific research conducted in the field of knowledge-based economy in the last 15 years. At the same time, the study aims to identify the development stage of the knowledge-based economy in Europe, and also following the particular case of Romania. The study also presents the connections of the knowledge-based economy with the RDI system and the transfer of new technologies. The knowledge-based economy has proven to be a relatively new concept, and the resources and implications of this new economy have not yet been exhausted. Regarding the development stage of the knowledge-based economy in different European countries, the differences are significant, some countries being far from capitalizing on knowledge, because they do not invest enough in development, research and innovation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse annually resolved tree‐ring stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopic chronologies from Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) in Romania. The chronologies cover the period between 1876 and 2012 and integrate data from four individual trees from the Calimani Mts in the eastern Carpathians where climatic records are scarce and starts only from 1961. Calibration trials show that the δ13C values correlate with local April–May relative humidity and with regional to larger scale (European) summer precipitation. δ18O correlates significantly with local relative humidity, cloud cover, maximum temperature, as well as European scale drought conditions. In all cases, the climate effects on δ13C values are weaker than those recorded in the δ18O data, with the latter revealing a tendency toward higher (lower) values of δ18O during extremely dry (wet) years. The most striking signal, however, is the strong link between the interannual δ18O variability recorded in the Calimani Mts and large‐scale circulation patterns associated with North Atlantic and Mediteraneean Sea sea surface temperatures. High (low) values of δ18O occur in association with a high (low) pressure system over the central and eastern part of Europe and with a significantly warmer (colder) Mediterranean Sea surface temperature. These results demonstrate the possibility of using tree ring oxygen isotopes from the eastern Carpathians to reconstruct regional drought conditions in eastern Europe on long‐term time scales and larger scale circulation dynamics over the preinstrumental periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close ties between government authorities and private firms are often the object of suspicion, but a systematic understanding of when they arise is still missing. This article uses machine learning tools to analyze a large dataset of public contracts from across Europe, in order to identify the conditions under which close connections, defined both in terms of repeated interaction, as well as geographical dispersion, appear. Previous theoretical results suggest that close ties should emerge as an enforcement mechanism in settings characterized by weak outside enforcement, such as those involving corruption. Results from random forest models show support for this hypothesis, along with identifying other structural determinants of the outcome. The most striking finding is that even after accounting for numerous potential confounders, major differences in terms of average diversity levels between countries persist, and these differences map onto an indicator of governance quality and corruption, but not at all on income per capita. These findings point to the centrality of the structure of interactions between private and public actors for understanding governance outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first annual oxygen isotope record (1900–2016) from the latewood (LW) cellulose of oak trees (Quercus robur) from NW Romania. As expected, the results correlate negatively with summer relative humidity, sunshine duration and precipitation and positively with summer maximum temperature. Spatial correlation analysis reveals a clear signal reflecting drought conditions at a European scale. Interannual variability is influenced by large-scale atmospheric circulation and by surface temperatures in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. There is considerable potential to produce long and well-replicated oak tree ring stable isotope chronologies in Romania which would allow reconstructions of both regional drought and large-scale circulation variability over southern and central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis in animals remains, despite the success of several control plans, a major endemic disease worldwide, and a major infectious zoonosis. Pigs represent the main reservoir for animal tuberculosis in several areas of the world, especially within southern Europe and together with wild ruminants, a major impediment in tuberculosis eradication programs. Recently porcine tuberculosis emerges as an experimental model for animal and human tuberculosis, presenting several advantages compared to some classical in vivo TB-models. In this review, we briefly present and discuss the current knowledge on the pathogenesis of tuberculosis in pigs, the reservoir status, the main advantages and disadvantages of swine models of tuberculosis and nor lest the gross and microscopical features of mycobacteriosis in swine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to analyze the concept of "food integrity" from the perspective of wheat processing, in order to obtain flour. The analysis approaches concepts such as: safety, quality, authenticity and nutritional value of the products obtained to the main technological stages of the grinding process, food fraud concerning grinding products and minimization of the milling industry impact on global warming. Our data showed that mycotoxin contamination (DON and Ochratoxin A) was the cause of most alerts recorded in Europe. In United States, the main products withdrawals were caused by microbiological contamination (E. coli and Salmonella). In the area of food fraud, the main observed practice was that of over- or under-evaluation of the flour mineral content. Our conclusion is that although preventive programs, designed to minimize the risks of wheat milling products to consumers, are well described and implemented, there is room for improvement, especially as regards the selection and evaluation of suppliers and the control of certain microbiological risks in mills. Most of the problemsare the causeof an inadequate description of the flow diagrams in the specific documentation of food management systems and of the underestimation of certain activities (e.g.rework), that are not treated as an integral part of the technological processes in mills. Most concerns to reduce the impact of wheat processing on global warming are compromised by a number of issues, such as large investments, in obtaining convenient and safer products (that require energyintensive technologies and equipment), which are in contradiction with consumers' interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Syrah grape vine variety was introduced to us in the country relatively recently, after 2000, although in other wine-producing countries in Europe and even on other continents the wine obtained from it is highly appreciated. Syrah wines have strong character and personality, are tanned and strongly colored, with high alcohol content. Wines have floral (violet) or fruity flavour (raspberry, blueberries, blackberries, and dried plums etc.). Most Syrah wines have a great maturation and aging capacity, due to the compositional characteristics (mainly tannin richness), maturing, resulting in a complex aroma, spicy characteristic of black, red or green pepper, spices, olives, anise, etc. On our lands, studies about variety and Syrah wine are few and low significant, although in recent years there is already talk in the oenological field about very valuable Syrah Romanian wines assortment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One important initiative to incentivise improvement of forest management that could help maintain forestry as a feasible land use while realising socio-environmental and economic benefits is forest management certification. The most prominent scheme is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) that started implementation in 1994. FSC certification relies on two mechanisms to assess conformance with its standard: auditing of management practices based on agreed-upon principles, criteria, and indicators; and accreditation to assess the quality of the audit process. Addressing the scant research on outcomes of accreditation activities, the goal of this study is to examine the findings raised against Certification Bodies (CABs) by Assurance Services International assessors during their accreditation evaluations regarding the quality of auditing FSC forest management certification around the world. The content of all 141 publicly available assessments reports elaborated between 2013 and 2019 was analysed and the 454 identified findings (i.e., non-conformities and opportunities for improvement) were categorised utilising an innovative framework based on key desirable attributes of the audit process to capture certification-related changes on-the-ground. Europe and Asia have seen the largest number of accreditation efforts through the study period, but no differences among regions were identified in terms of the mean number of findings per assessment. The results indicate a possible lesser effectiveness of the compliance assessments when compared with the witness assessments. Accreditation activities allow to capture major failures in essential audit-related activities: auditors' decisions, ability of auditors to collect, interpret, and synthesise evidence, as well as making reports publicly accessible. Availability of information regarding accreditation processes and the analysis of the accreditation reports can assist in grounding learning processes to improve accreditation activities and the practice of forest management auditing. The accumulated experiences can have positive consequences for forests, as well as beyond forestry, due to the broad coverage of certification labels across sectors and commodities. • Accreditation findings of FSC forest management certification inform on quality of auditing around the world (2013–2019). • Accreditation efforts concentrated in Europe and Asia. • Witness assessments were more effective than compliance assessments in terms of number of identified findings. • Failures in essential audit-related activities are captured by accreditation assessments. • Improved understanding of outcomes of accreditation practices can enhance effectiveness of certification systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the declared levels of happiness and life satisfaction of migrants from three East European countries: Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. The Inglehart-Welzel cultural map is used for grouping the main destination countries for East European (EE) migrants into three clusters: the Protestant cluster, the Englishspeaking cluster and the Catholic cluster. The well-being of East European migrants is compared between the three clusters and with that of natives using data from the first 7 waves of the European Social Survey. The article contains the following findings: both as a group and as distinct groups from the three countries of origin, EE migrants are most satisfied with life in the Protestant cluster and the least happy in the Catholic cluster; democratic structures are a key element for the life satisfaction of East European migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of people with intellectual disabilities -- this is the international term used to describe a learning disability -- is increasing and ageing, and many require frequent access to healthcare services for assessment, treatment and care. The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 identifies the need to reduce the barriers to healthcare for people with disabilities, to improve their quality of life and reduce preventable mortality. Part of this policy focuses on the education and preparation of future practitioners. The European Union (EU) Erasmus Plus programme is an opportunity to bring together educators and students, to share learning and develop an understanding of the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. This article gives an overview of the programme, policies and practices relating to care of people with intellectual disabilities in four EU member states -- Scotland, England, Norway and Romania. It also identifies ways in which access to services for this population can be improved through education, workforce and services in an EU context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission has been currently working towards a form of mobility that is sustainable, energyefficient and respectful of the environment. The scope is to reduce the adverse effects connected to mobility. A special attention must be payed to implementing more sustainable modes of transport, which must become more efficient and attractive. Simultaneously, innovative methods and technologies for energy saving and for the environment protection must be introduced. This paper makes an analysis of the best practices and measures proposed at European level to promote sustainable transport in urban centres, recommendations addressed to citizens and local authorities based on the best practices and successful projects implemented in some European cities. There are emphasized some organizing and planning measures for developing urban transport by adopting green solutions and mobility initiatives, aimed to reduce the air pollution, to use the urban area and the energy resources more efficiently. The paper also presents several case studies of European cities where policies of sustainable transport were implemented successfully. They may be regarded as successful examples for adopting green mobility practices in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architects of the European project made a significant effort to create a set of symbols for the community (such as the EU flag, the map of Europe, the anthem, etc.), and recent evidence suggests that the main European values are nowadays spontaneously associated with them. We know little, however, about if and when national political actors choose to display these symbolic visual manifestations of Europe. In this study, we examine the presence of such symbols in parties’ Euromanifestos since the first European elections. The presence of EU community symbols is correlated with several factors, suggesting that the display is consistent both with a policy-driven and with a vote-seeking logic. We explore at length the implications of these results for future visual analysis of parties’ European messages and for the larger issue of European identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial audit, by its object, is a mean of helping to stabilize the economy at national and international level, and a special concern is given to professional bodies, national and European authorities in developing regulations to improve, facilitate and, in at the same time, to standardize financial audit procedures. Each European country adopts laws, codes, ordinances, and practices that aim to comply with European standards. Drawing from this consideration, we conducted research on the basis of analyzing and comparing the financial audit legislation of two countries in the European geographical area, one member of the European Union (Romania) and one outside the EU area (Republic of Moldova), but with aspirations for integration in the European Union. The objective of this research is to identify and to analyze the convergences and divergences between the norms found in the two states in accordance with European directives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Metacommunication" is a fundamental vector, the element connecting the whole integration of individual and team efforts within the functional structures of the institution, aiming at a continuous improvement of quality and, implicitly, at assuring performant medical services, capable of fully satisfying each of the numerous patients diagnosed and really treated per unit of time. The "management of total quality" is characteristic to "the man of total quality" whichever the position and complexity of the attributes imposed by the position he occupies. The techniques, respectively the modalities of assuring the quality of communiction have continuously evolved, both at theoretical level and in the immediatt medical practice, still remaining a fundamental element. The "quality of communication" at the level of the medical staff - patient, relation developed within the health system aims simultaneously at a gradual implementation, capable of efficiently integrating the performance of the therapeutical act through a full observance of the juridical and ethicalmoral rights, on the basis of a constructive dialogue. Consequently, the total management of quality is revealed not only at semantic level but mainly in medical practice, the main objective had in view being that of granting a real health condition of the patient by means of a most suitable, rational and strictly correct communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to highlight the importance of indicators for financing projects financed by European funds in their evaluation and monitoring by institutions implementing and managing European funds. Indicators play a decisive role in establishing the financing priorities at the level of a member state of the European Union, at the operational program level and even at the project level. In this article, a theoretical synthesis is made on the notion of financing indicators, at program level and at project level, their importance, the way of tracking their degree of accomplishment and the effects of their nonfulfilment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies focusing on politicians' adoption of Twitter have found that they use it primarily as a broadcasting tool. We argue that citizens' impolite and/or uncivil behavior is one possible explanation for such decisions. Social media conversations are rife with harassment and politicians are a prime target. This alters the incentive structure of engaging in dialogue on social media. We use Spanish, Greek, German, and U.K. candidates' tweets sent during the run-up to the recent European Parliament elections, and rely on automated text analysis and machine learning methods to measure their level of civility. Our contribution is an actor-oriented theory of political dialogue that incorporates Twitter's specific affordances, clarifying how and why Twitter's democratic promise may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2014 European Parliament elections were the first elections where the major political groups each nominated a lead candidate (Spitzenkandidat) for the Commission presidency in the hope that this would increase the visibility of the elections and mobilize more citizens to turn out. Using data from the 2014 European Elections Study, an EU-wide post-election survey, we analyse whether and how the presence of the lead candidates influenced the individual probability to participate in these elections. Our findings show that the recognition of the candidates increased the propensity to turn out, even when controlling for a host of other individual-level factors explaining turnout and the context factors known to facilitate participation. Furthermore, the campaign efforts of the lead candidates are associated with higher turnout levels and are reinforced by candidate recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H 2 ) is being explored as a fuel for passenger vehicles; it can be used in fuel cells to power electric motors or burned in internal combustion engines. In order to evaluate the potential influence of a future H 2 -based road transportation on the regional air quality in Europe, we implemented H 2 in the atmospheric transport and chemistry model LOTOS-EUROS. We simulated the present and future (2020) air quality, using emission scenarios with different proportions of H 2 vehicles and different H 2 leakage rates. The reference future scenario does not include H 2 vehicles, and assumes that all present and planned European regulations for emissions are fully implemented. We find that, in general, the air quality in 2020 is significantly improved compared to the current situation in all scenarios, with and without H 2 cars. In the future scenario without H 2 cars, the pollution is reduced due to the strict European regulations: annually averaged CO, NO x and PM2.5 over the model domain decrease by 15%, 30% and 20% respectively. The additional improvement brought by replacing 50% or 100% of traditionally-fueled vehicles by H 2 vehicles is smaller in absolute terms. If 50% of vehicles are using H 2 , the CO, NO x and PM2.5 decrease by 1%, 10% and 1% respectively, compared to the future scenario without H 2 cars. When all vehicles run on H 2 , then additional decreases in CO, NO x and PM2.5 are 5%, 40%, and 5% relative to the no-H 2 cars future scenario. Our study shows that H 2 vehicles may be an effective pathway to fulfill the strict future EU air quality regulations. O 3 has a more complicated behavior – its annual average decreases in background areas, but increases in the high-NO x area in western Europe, with the decrease in NO x . A more detailed analysis shows that the population exposure to high O 3 levels decreases nevertheless. In all future scenarios, traffic emissions account for only a small proportion of the total anthropogenic emissions, thus it becomes more important to better regulate emissions of non-traffic sectors. Although atmospheric H 2 increases significantly in the high-leakage scenarios considered, the additional H 2 added into the atmosphere does not have a significant effect on the ground level air pollution in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural sector is considered by the EU as occupying a special place in its economic and social structure, both by impacting the economy, as well as the importance of each individual. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the oldest and most integrated of the common policies adopted by the European Economic Community under the Treaty of Rome substantially contributing to the economic integration process, by streamlining European trade in agricultural products due to both the abolition of customs duties and practice the common external customs tax, which has boosted the production and exports and increase productivity in agriculture and farmers' income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Climate change is expected to modify growth trends of forests around the world. However, this modification may vary in strength and intensity across a species' biogeographical range. Here, we study European populations of silver fir ( Abies alba) across its southern distribution limits in Spain, Italy and Romania. We hypothesized that growth trends of silver fir will differ across its distribution range, with a marked decline in growth in drought-prone regions near the species' southernmost biogeographical limits. Location Europe (Spain, Italy, Romania). Methods We collected tree-ring data from at least 1300 silver fir trees located in 111 sites. The dataset was used to assess and model growth trends, quantified as changes in basal area increment, and to determine how growth responds to climate. Results We found contrasting patterns of basal area increments among countries and sites. Populations of silver fir located outside the Mediterranean area (e.g. northern Italy, Romania) have shown a clear increase in growth over the last two decades, whereas most populations in Spain and southern Italy have displayed a marked decline in growth since the 1980s. The growth of silver fir forests at the south-western distribution limit is severely constrained by low spring-summer water availability, whereas growth of silver fir forests in non-Mediterranean areas is limited by cold conditions in late winter to early spring. Main conclusions Climate warming is distinctly modifying growth patterns and responses to climate in silver fir across most of the species' European distribution area. In south-western Europe the reduction in growth of many populations is related to an observed increase in aridity, whereas in more temperate areas warming is enhancing growth. Our results confirm a decline in the growth of silver fir at its south-western distribution limits as a consequence of climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present a new approach of business intelligence technologies in the context of sustainable development of the railways. The concept of business intelligence is increasingly used in the developed companies and considering that the current economic market is more dynamic from year to year, business intelligence solutions plays an important role for companies to be able to develop efficient plans for both short-term and medium and long term developing. This paper will focus on two technologies: data-warehouse and datamining and how are they use in the railway business. The subject adapts to the current development trend of European countries to direct the transport of freight and passengers to the railway for support environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European CH4 and N2O emissions are estimated for 2006 and 2007 using four inverse modelling systems, based on different global and regional Eulerian and Lagrangian transport models. This ensemble approach is designed to provide more realistic estimates of the overall uncertainties in the derived emissions, which is particularly important for verifying bottom-up emission inventories. We use continuous observations from 10 European stations (including 5 tall towers) for CH4 and 9 continuous stations for N2O, complemented by additional European and global discrete air sampling sites. The available observations mainly constrain CH4 and N2O emissions from northwestern and eastern Europe. The inversions are strongly driven by the observations and the derived total emissions of larger countries show little dependence on the emission inventories used a priori. Three inverse models yield 26-56% higher total CH4 emissions from north-western and eastern Europe compared to bottom-up emissions reported to the UNFCCC, while one model is close to the UNFCCC values. In contrast, the inverse modelling estimates of European N2O emissions are in general close to the UNFCCC values, with the overall range from all models being much smaller than the UNFCCC uncertainty range for most countries. Our analysis suggests that the reported uncertainties for CH4 emissions might be underestimated, while those for N2O emissions are likely overestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lastdecades, regionaldevelopment processes initiated by European countries have aimed atrelaunchingeconomic and social development, the economic recovery of low developed areas, reducing discrepancesamongthe regions levels of development. Regionalizationaction that has taken place in Europeis the result ofa series ofeventsand activities thatlead to regions establishmentin a territory, the forms ofregionalizationin European statesbeingin correspondence withpolitical and administrativerealitiesin the countries reffered to. The studypresents the main variants of regionalizationin the EU countriesandtheir basiccharacteristics resulting from the degree ofdecentralization, the competences granted to regionalpowers, the institutionsinvolved.There arealso presentedsomeconsiderationsonhow the regional systemshaveevolved andadaptedin relation totheir degreeof autonomy,such as reflectedinthe recentexperiencesof some European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many European migratory bat species hibernate in large hollow trees, a decreasing resource in present day silviculture. Here, we report on the importance of man-made hibernacula to support trans-boundary populations of noctule bats ( Nyctalus noctula), a species that performs seasonal long distance movements throughout Europe. In winter, we surveyed nine bat roosts (eight artificial and one natural) in Germany and collected small tufts of fur from a total of 608 individuals. We then measured the stable isotope ratios of the non-exchangeable hydrogen in fur keratin and estimated the origin of migrants using a refined isoscape origin model that included information on expected flight distances and migration directions. According to the stable isotope signature, 78 % of hibernating bats originated from local populations. The remaining 22 % of hibernacula occupants originated from distant populations, mostly from places in northern or eastern countries such as Sweden, Poland and Baltic countries. Our results confirm that many noctule bats cross one or several political borders during migration. Data on the breeding origin of hibernating noctule bats also suggest that artificial roosts may not only be important for local but also for distant populations. Protection of natural and artificial hibernacula in managed forests may support the trans-boundary populations of migratory bats when hollow trees are scarce in managed forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Infectio.ro is the property of MEDICHUB MEDIA, S.R.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Public finances were used in ancient times to fund specific activities of the state. The money was used to cover government spending. Finance term originated in Latin language. During the Roman domination following terms were used to designate payment - finatio, financias and financiapaecuniaria. The financial resources of any state are originated in state taxes. Their collection was made since ancient times using the coercive force of the state. The occurrence of taxes in Romania begins with the ending of the primitive Dark Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of recent economic events occurring on a global scale, central banks around the world are beginning to ask themselves whether it would be advisable to review their fundamental objectives assumed. Increasingly more opinions support this view. This paper proposes a brief analyze on the role that a central bank should have in an economy in order to bring the most useful contribution it can to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some European countries, expert status is defined by the legislation, whereas, in others, by the membership of a professional group or specialized institution under the Ministry of Justice and Police, this subordination being of a financial nature, without affecting the expertise itself. This article contain a point of view regarding the European judicial system, the term expert's different meanings and the criteria that define an expert's status and which are different from one state to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Council is the organization in which all European countries that adhere to democratic ideals can find themselves to jointly examine any European matter. The more important political, economic and social events in Europe's life are the object of thorough discussions within the European Council. About these matters, the Council adopts different acts. Within this activity of drawing up and adopting by member states of the Council of numerous international conventions resides the legislative, international, function of the Council. The conventions adopted under the aegis of the Council only bring together the member states which have accepted them, through ratification or in holding by them. During its existence, the European Council has had a prodigious activity, especially in what concerns the adoption of extremely important documents. Thus, over 150 European conventions and treaties have been adopted. These instruments, mandatory for the member states, are made whole by an ensemble of recommendations which express the will of the member state to cooperate in a fruitful manner to find solutions for the great collaboration problems with which over 400 million Europeans are confronted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the rebuilding of World War II cemeteries and mass graves. It compares the cult of the war dead in Germany, Romania and Russia and analyses examples of restorations of war cemeteries by these countries in Moldova. This reveals how the former war allies and adversaries now collaborate, as well as their attempts to overcome the political and ideological divides of recent decades through the reburial and remembrance of the war dead. The search for the war dead occurred at a time when each of these countries was “coming to terms” with its recent totalitarian past and, at the same time, was looking for recognition in a new international context. The convergence of the private and the political in the remembrance of the dead led at times to reconciliatory discourses and at others to a restatement of the “sacredness” of the past or of exclusivist national ideals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Wind turbines are increasingly established throughout Europe and North America with often fatal consequences for wildlife, most importantly bats and birds. Yet, it is often unknown over what geographical distances wind farms are affecting animal populations. Based on stable hydrogen isotopes in fur, we assessed the geographic provenance of bats killed in summer and autumn at German wind turbines. We found that killed Pipistrellus nathusii originated from Estonia or Russia, and Pipistrellus pipistrellus from more local populations. Noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) and Leisler’s bats (Nyctalus leisleri) were of Scandinavian or northeastern origin. Our isotopic geo-location reveals that wind turbines kill bats not only of sedentary local populations but also of distant populations, thus having potentially a negative impact beyond political borders; an observation that calls for international regulations for implementing mitigation measures to prevent large-scale detrimental effects on endangered bat populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present contribution focuses on European policies and practices responding to migration developments within EU borders. An overview of several educational approaches is provided, based on challenges faced by migrant children such as school underachievement and drop-out. Main educational policies presented as paths for raising educational opportunities for migrant children target equally the whole national educational systems, the school and classroom daily activity and the individual migrant child and his/her family. Several types of educational practices designed for supporting migrant children, such as transitional classes, extracurricular compensatory/remedial programs or the attendance of international schools are also reviewed. Conclusions highlight the need for both educational reflection and action aiming to identify appropriate provisions for migrant children, especially in the case of highly mobile children schooled in several educational systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Review of Private Law / Revista Română de Drept Privat is the property of Universul Juridic Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)