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Composting is a common treatment for the high amounts of sewage sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants, and the product is used in agriculture. Composting reduces the levels of biodegradable organic pollutants, although other compounds present in wastewater and not eliminated previously by conventional physical–chemical and chemical treatments, such as polychorodibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), have been found in the final compost at higher levels than those observed in the initial sludge. Their formation was studied during composting under unfavorable aeration conditions and paying attention to different stages of the process. Experiments were carried out in small vessels inside a controlled oven for three types of sewage sludge. Pentachlorophenol was previously added as a dioxin precursor. A clear formation of PCDD/Fs was found, especially during the maturation stage for two experiments. Mainly octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) and 1234678-heptachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1234678-HpCDD) to a lesser extent were formed. OCDD levels in the final samples were around 10 times higher than those of the initial mixture after removing the concentration effect. No clear formation nor degradation of PCBs was observed. The toxicity values due to PCDD/Fs and PCBs found in the initial mixtures were 1.20–2.46 ng WHO-TEQ/kg, and those from the final samples were 2.30–7.86 ng WHO-TEQ/kg. Although the toxicity values are below the most restrictive limits found in Europe in this case, toxicity could increase considerably with the presence and concentration of other precursors. Compost from sewage sludge is an ecological product, but the operating conditions must be controlled to avoid PCDD/F formation and facilitate degradation of persistent organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the ways educational policy is understood, taught and practiced as a training discipline at postgraduate level in the European context. We have validated its epistemological solvency through a quantitative, comparative and ethnographic study of its main features as a discipline--such as ideological and valorative component, praxis-oriented discourse or sustainable and plural normative proposals--found in a stratified sample of 20 countries, 112 universities and 170 training programmes. We also discuss the innovative and formative potential of educational policy to resolve the most contested pedagogical issues and design the educational system, specifying when, how and in which conditions it is constructed as an academic discipline. Among the findings stand out the accreditation and the assessment of the specific role of the values, actors, institutions, supranational decisions and public and curricular policies that shape up educational programmes at a European level, hence contributing to the disciplinary progress of educational policy as a pedagogical, normative, axiological and plural knowledge.

Tree regeneration is a key process in forest dynamics, particularly in the context of forest resilience and climate change. Models are pivotal for assessing long‐term forest dynamics, and they have been in use for more than 50 years. However, there is a need to evaluate their capacity to accurately represent tree regeneration. We assess how well current models capture the overall abundance, species composition, and mortality of tree regeneration. Using 15 models built to capture long‐term forest dynamics at the stand, landscape, and global levels, we simulate tree regeneration at 200 sites representing large environmental gradients across Central Europe. The results are evaluated against extensive data from unmanaged forests. Most of the models overestimate recruitment levels, which is compensated only in some models by high simulated mortality rates in the early stages of individual‐tree dynamics. Simulated species diversity of recruitment generally matches observed ranges. Models simulating higher stand‐level species diversity do not feature higher species diversity in the recruitment layer. The effect of light availability on recruitment levels is captured better than the effects of temperature and soil moisture, but patterns are not consistent across models. Increasing complexity in the tree regeneration modules is not related to higher accuracy of simulated tree recruitment. Furthermore, individual model design is more important than scale (stand, landscape, and global) and approach (empirical and process‐based) for accurately capturing tree regeneration. Despite the mismatches between simulation results and data, it is remarkable that most models capture the essential features of the highly complex process of tree regeneration, while not having been parameterized with such data. We conclude that much can be gained by evaluating and refining the modeling of tree regeneration processes. This has the potential to render long‐term projections of forest dynamics under changing environmental conditions much more robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state of knowledge indicates that regular sports practice helps prevent and treat non-communicable diseases. The promotion of sport is, therefore, an important community health intervention for maintaining and improving the health of individuals and populations. Culture is identified as being associated with sports practice and sedentary behaviour of ethnic and national minorities. This study aims qualitatively to analyse the potential for culture as a basis for the promotion of sport among immigrants in four regions of Mediterranean Europe. Ten focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with immigrants—adults and young people over the age of 11—and people involved in promoting sport. Thematic content analysis was conducted. The results enabled identifying two major issues: sport as a vehicle for cultural expression and synergies between sport and culture. Accordingly, sport serves to express global, local and non-ethno-national cultural belonging. Regarding synergies, culture and sport feed each other positively and contribute to immigrants' health and cultural well-being. Culture as a strategy for promoting sports practice requires an interdisciplinary approach that involves collaboration between healthcare practitioners and social sciences professionals. There is also a need to use the various axes of cultural definition—global, local and non-ethno-national—of those involved, and for them to take part themselves in designing sports activities. Moreover, promoting sport through non-ethno-national axes of cultural definition may help with immigrants' social inclusion, as intercultural relations between migrants and newcomers are promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The medium cut-off Elisio HX dialyzer by Nipro became commercially available in Europe in 2021, but there are still no reports of in vivo data. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of it compared with previously evaluated hemodialysis (HD), expanded HD (HDx), and postdilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) treatments. Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 18 patients who underwent 5 dialysis sessions: FX80 Cordiax in HD, Elisio H19 in HD, Elisio HX19 in HDx, Theranova 400 in HDx, and FX80 Cordiax in HDF. The reduction ratios of urea, creatinine, ß2-microglobulin, myoglobin, kappa FLC, prolactin, α1-microglobulin, α1-acid glycoprotein, lambda FLC, and albumin were compared. Dialysate albumin loss was measured. Results: The comparison between the different dialysis modalities revealed no difference for small molecules, but HDx and HDF were significantly more efficient than HD for medium and large molecule removal. The efficacy of Elisio HX19 dialyzer in HDx was similar to the Theranova 400, superior to both dialyzers in HD, and slightly lower than HDF. Albumin losses in dialysate with HD dialyzers were less than 1 g, but between 1.5 and 2.5 g in HDx and HDF. The global removal score (GRS) values with HDx treatments were statistically significantly higher than those with HD. The highest GRS was obtained with the helixone dialyzer in HDF. Conclusions: The new MCO dialyzer, Elisio HX, performs with excellent behavior and tolerance. It represents an upgrade compared to their predecessor and is very close to the removal capacity of HDF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to determine the association of health determinants, lifestyle and socioeconomic variables on healthcare use in people with diabetes in Europe. Design A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the European Health Interview Survey wave 2 (ie, secondary analysis). Setting The sample included data from 25 European countries. Participants The sample included 16 270 patients with diabetes aged 15 years or older (49.1% men and 50.9% women). Results The survey data showed that 58.2% of respondents had seen their primary care physician in the past month and 22.6% had been admitted to the hospital in the past year. Use of primary care was associated with being retired (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.13, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.19) and having very poor self-perceived health (PR 1.80, 95% CI 1.51 to 2.15), long-standing health problems (PR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.24), high blood pressure (PR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.10) and chronic back pain (PR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.11). Hospital admission was associated with very poor self-perceived health (PR 3.03, 95% CI 2.14 to 4.31), accidents at home (PR 1.54, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.69), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (PR 1.34, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.47), high blood pressure (PR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.17), chronic back pain (PR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.98), moderate difficulty walking (PR 1.33, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.45) and severe difficulty walking (PR 1.67, 95% CI 1.51 to 1.85). Conclusions In the European diabetic population, the high cumulative incidences of primary care visits and hospital admissions are associated with labour status, alcohol consumption, self-perceived health, long-standing health problems, high blood pressure, chronic back pain, accidents at home, COPD and difficulty walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new spalacotheriid "symmetrodontan" Cifellitherium suderlandicum gen. et sp. nov. from the Barremian-Aptian of the Balve locality in northwestern Germany is the first record of spalacotheriids in Central Europe. The new taxon is based on one lower and two upper molars. Cifellitherium is similar to Spalacotherium, but differs by smaller stylocone and larger paraststyle on the upper molars, and a labially interrupted cingulid on the lower molar. The new dryolestid Minutolestes submersus gen. et sp. nov. is based on one lower and two upper molars of small size. Phylogenetic analysis revealed it as sister taxon of the clade comprising Laolestes, Krebsotherium, Dryolestes, and Guimarotodus. A dryolestid mandible with unevenly rooted molars and extremely worn down teeth cannot be attributed to Minutolestes submersus gen. et sp. nov. due to possessing molars twice as large in size. The mandible is assigned to a new dryolestid taxon, Beckumia sinemeckelia gen. et sp. nov., and has the dental formula 3i, 1c, 4p, 8m and a fully reduced Meckel's groove. The mandible lacks any trace of a coronoid or splenial. In the phylogenetic analysis, it appears as sister taxon of a clade comprising Achyrodon, Phascolestes, Crusafontia, and Hercynodon. The new mammals are the stratigraphically youngest European representatives of their clades. The late survival of Beckumia sinemeckelia gen. et sp. nov. and Minutolestes submersus gen. et sp. nov. is possibly the result of isolated evolution in an Early Cretaceous island environment. This finding of new spalacotheriid and dryolestid mammals from Central Europe adds to an emerging paleobiogeographic pattern that Europe was distinct from Asia in the constituents of mammalian faunas during the Barremian-Aptian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrenean glaciers are the largest in southern Europe. Their survival is threatened by climate change, highlighting the significance of their study. This research presents an assessment of changes in the glacierized area and thickness of Pyrenean glaciers from 2011 to 2020, using high‐resolution optical satellite, airborne lidar and UAV images. The total glacierized area has shrunk by 23.2% and thickness has decreased on average by 6.3 m. These two variables show no correlation for individual glaciers. Although climatic conditions do not vary much among glaciers, their evolution was heterogeneous during the study period. The smaller glaciers (<10 ha) show a higher variability in their area decrease and thickness loss whereas the four largest glaciers (>10 ha) have a more homogeneous response. This can be attributed to the generally larger influence of local topography on the response of the smaller Pyrenean glaciers. There is no sign of slowdown in glacier shrinkage respect to previous decades. Plain Language Summary: Pyrenean glaciers are the largest in southern Europe. Their survival is threatened by climate change, highlighting the significance and relevance of their study. This study presents an assessment of changes in the glacierized area and thickness of Pyrenean glaciers during 2011–2020 based on UAV, optical satellite imagery and lidar observations. In this period, their total area shrank by 23.2% and thickness decreased by 6.3 m on average. Although climatic conditions do not vary much among glaciers, their evolution was heterogeneous during the observed period. The smaller Pyrenean glaciers (area <10 ha) are highly controlled by local topography, whereas the largest glaciers are predominantly influenced by regional climate forcing. There is no sign of slowdown in shrinkage of Pyrenean glaciers respect to previous decades. This indicates the continuous decline of Pyrenean glaciers toward an ice‐free mountain range in the coming decades. Key Points: The glacierized area shrank by 23.2% and thickness decreased on average by 6.3 m during the 2011–2020 periodThere is no sign of slowdown in glacier shrinkage respect to previous decadesThe smaller Pyrenean glaciers are influenced by local topography as they show highly contrasted evolution under the same climatic conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce mesh networks as an alternative topology to hub-and-spoke networks for low-cost carriers (LCCs) to sell online connections, i.e., indirect connections requiring a transfer between direct connections within a carrier's own operated network. While a common global practice, none of the large independent intra-European LCCs has fully deployed such a network strategy. We define a point-to-point with online connections (PPWOC) representation to establish potential mesh networks for the three largest independent LCCs in Europe. After providing airline and airport metrics to describe structural properties, we also discuss managerial implications of the mesh networks and conclude that investing into hub-and-spoke systems may no longer be necessary if LCCs can gain and maintain a competitive advantage with the mesh network strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate potential age, period and birth cohort effects in the prevalence of suicide ideation in European ageing population. Methods: A total of 50 782 community-dwelling adults (aged + 50) from 20 different European countries were collected in the Survey Health Ageing and Retirement study. A multilevel logistic regression model of repeated measures was modelled to assess the effects of age and other variables, including the variability of observations over three levels: birth cohort groups, time period assessment and individual differences. Results: The larger effect of variability was attributed to individual-level factors (57.8%). Youngest-old people (65–79 years) showed lower suicide ideation than middle-aged people (50–64 years). No significative differences were found for suicide ideation between middle-aged people and oldest-old (80 + years). Only 0.85% and 0.13% of the total variability of suicide ideation accounted for birth cohort and period effects, respectively. Cohorts born between 1941 and 1944 possessed the lowest estimates of suicide ideation. Conversely, suicide ideation started to rise with post-War generations and reached a significant level for people born from 1953–1957 to 1961–1964. Regarding the time period, participants assessed in 2006–2007 showed a lower likelihood of suicide ideation. The rest of the cohorts and period groups did not show any significant effect on the prevalence of suicide ideation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that age and suicide ideation relationship is not linear in middle and older age. The European Baby boomers born from 50s to mid-60s might report higher suicide ideation than their ancestors. This scenario would imply a greater need for mental healthcare services for older people in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Atellica Solution comprises chemistry (CH) and immunoassay (IM) analyzers. Recently, six early adopter clinical laboratories across Europe evaluated the analytical performance of 20 CH and IM assays. To measure analytical performance quality, Sigma metrics were calculated for individual-site and pooled-site results. Methods: Precision, detection capability, linearity, and method comparison studies were performed according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute protocols. Global Sigma metrics across sites were calculated from pooled data at the medical decision level using total allowable error (TEa) goals from CLIA for CH assays, and TEa goals from RiliBÄK for IM assays; and, the equation: Sigma metrics=%TEa–%bias/%CV. A pooled %CV was calculated by combining the imprecision obtained from individual sites. Bias calculations were performed against the ADVIA Chemistry system or ADVIA Centaur system using Deming regression analysis (Passing-Bablok regression for electrolytes) on the pooled-site data. The 103 individual-site Sigma metric calculations used individual-site imprecision and pooled-bias. Results: The limits of blank and detection results agreed with the manufacturer's claims. Most assays were linear across the assay range tested. Pooled Sigma metrics were good or better (>4 Sigma) for 18 of 20 assays; and, acceptable for urea nitrogen (3.1) and sodium (3.9), the latter values attributable to higher imprecision at one of five sites. Conclusions: Sigma metrics for data generated across multiple real-world sites evaluating the Atellica Solution demonstrated good or better performance of greater than 4 Sigma for 18 of 20 assays tested. Overall, results verified the manufacturer's claims that methods were fit for use in clinical laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMPs) are used in intensive aquaculture production to treat a wide range of bacterial and parasitic infestations. Their release into the environment poses concerns regarding their potential ecotoxicological risks to aquatic ecosystems, which need to be evaluated making use of appropriate Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) schemes and models. This study presents an overview of the major aquaculture production systems in Europe, the VMPs most commonly used, and the environmental quality standards and regulatory procedures available for their ERA. Furthermore, it describes the state‐of‐the‐art on the development of environmental models capable of assessing the fate, exposure, ecotoxicological effects and risks of VMPs in aquaculture production systems, and discusses their level of development and implementation within European aquaculture. This study shows that the use of environmental models in regulatory ERA is somewhat limited in many European countries. Major efforts have been dedicated to assess the fate and exposure of antiparasitic compounds in salmonid cage systems, particularly in Scotland, while models and scenarios for assessing dispersal of antimicrobials, in general, and antiparasitic compounds in the Mediterranean as well as in Scandinavian regions are less available. On the other hand, the use of ecological models for assessing the effects and risks of VMPs is almost absent. Recommendations are provided to improve the chemical exposure and effect assessments and the ecological realism of the modelling outcomes, paying special attention to the protection goals set for the regulatory ERA of VMPs in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic identifications in some groups of lichen-forming fungi have been challenge largely due to the scarcity of taxonomically relevant features and limitations of morphological and chemical characters traditionally used to distinguish closely related taxa. Delineating species boundaries in closely related species or species complexes often requires a range of multisource data sets and comprehensive analytical methods. Here we aim to examine species boundaries in a group of saxicolous lichen forming fungi, the Aspiciliella intermutans complex (Megasporaceae), widespread mainly in the Mediterranean. We gathered DNA sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nuITS), the nuclear large subunit (nuLSU), the mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) ribosomal DNA, and the DNA replication licensing factor MCM7 from 80 samples mostly from Iran, Caucasia, Greece and eastern Europe. We used a combination of phylogenetic strategies and a variety of empirical, sequence-based species delimitation approaches to infer species boundaries in this group. The latter included: the automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD), the multispecies coalescent approach *BEAST and Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography (BPP) program. Different species delimitation scenarios were compared using Bayes factors species delimitation analysis. Furthermore, morphological, chemical, ecological and geographical features of the sampled specimens were examined. Our study uncovered cryptic species diversity in A. intermutans and showed that morphology-based taxonomy may be unreliable, underestimating species diversity in this group of lichens. We identified a total of six species-level lineages in the A. intermutans complex using inferences from multiple empirical operational criteria. We found little corroboration between morphological and ecological features with our proposed candidate species, while secondary metabolite data do not corroborate tree topology. The present study on the A. intermutans species-complex indicates that the genus Aspiciliella, as currently circumscribed, is more diverse in Eurasia than previously expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the concepts of home, identity and exodus of migrants - common keys to the dreams of American and European prosperity - have been studied in the visual arts, especially in the cinematographic field (Harrod, Liz and Timoshkina, 2015; Celik, 2015; Sternberg and Berghahn, 2010). In this article we propose the crisis of the values of the European dream as a useful key for the study of the works of European filmmakers, or residents in Europe, who between 2005 and 2018 have made a reflection on the social values in the old continent. Among these values, this cinema has approached ideas such as integration, reception and interdependence as signs of a prosperity, on the other hand currently discussed in the common continental household. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education is suggested to be part of the official school curricula in Europe to increase bystander resuscitation and survival rates after cardiac arrest. Many postgraduate teachers are reluctant to teach CPR to their students. This study aims to evaluate if prospective biology teachers are able to plan and conduct CPR lessons successfully. 88 German students in 9th grade high school classes participated in a CPR workshop consisting of practice and conversational phases. A prepost questionnaire was used to assess CPR related mental overload, self-efficacy, prosocial attitudes, and knowledge. The emotional state was tested separately after participating. Results indicate that positive emotional states were predominant afterwards and that competency perception and knowledge increased significantly, whereas mental overload decreased. A CPR lesson conducted by non-professional, CPR trained prospective biology teachers has a positive impact on high school students' attitudes and knowledge, indicating the concept's practicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Long‐term cultivation of steppe soils in a nonsustainable way caused severe soil degradation and reduced agricultural productivity in Eastern Europe, one of the world's most important areas for cereal production. In order to combat soil erosion and maintain yields, a widespread system of tree windbreaks was introduced in the 1950s, accompanied by improved agricultural practices in recent years. However, information on the effectiveness of such measures to rebuild soil organic carbon (SOC) is scarce. The objective of this study was to estimate the OC storage potential of the fine mineral fraction of degraded arable steppe soils in Moldova and to quantify SOC sequestration rates under (a) windbreaks, (b) cropland with improved crop rotation/manure application, and (c) cropland with cover cropping. Natural grassland relicts served as a reference to estimate the SOC saturation potential. Our results revealed a low SOC saturation of 50% under conventional agricultural use due to high SOC losses, indicating a high potential for SOC sequestration. Relatively high SOC sequestration rates were determined for topsoils (0–30 cm) under windbreaks (0.9 t ha−1 yr−1), improved crop rotation/manure application (1.3 t ha−1 yr−1), and cover cropping (1.9 t ha−1 yr−1). In this regard, sequestration rates derived from OC changes of the fine fraction may be more reliable than total SOC‐based rates, particularly for windbreaks with high proportions of labile SOC. We conclude that implementation of improved agricultural management together with the maintenance of windbreaks is a promising strategy to rebuild SOC, reduce widespread soil erosion and compaction, and secure Moldova's agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven years ago in Spain, I was waiting in one of Barcelona's central train stations, ready to jump on the same train I had been taking for the past four years of my undergraduate career. I applied and was accepted to a two-year master's program in nanomaterials at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Research-wise, such a positive experience wouldn't have been possible without the help of my excellent master's project supervisor, Samia Ouhajji. [Extracted from the article]

Aquatic Invasive Alien Species (AIAS) are increasing due to the synergistic effects of climate change and habitat destruction. AIAS can heavily impact biodiversity and human health, causing a loss of ecosystem services; therefore, their control and management have now become a priority, particularly in the light of the new EU regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species. The main research goal of the Innovative Training Network Marie Skłodowska-Curie Aquainvad-ED is to exploit the application of innovative tools and the power of citizen science for early detection, control and management of AIAS. Eight early stage researchers are involved in Aquainvad-ED, engaged in four main research themes: (1) development and application of novel methods for early detection of AIAS; (2) identification of vectors of introduction and pathways of dispersal; (3) impacts of freshwater and marine invaders; and (4) risk assessment and control of AIAS. In order to develop multidisciplinary approaches to address these issues, the fellows are working within an international consortium (UK, Spain, Italy) composed of scientists and conservation practitioners from three universities (Swansea University, Universidad de Oviedo, Università degli Studi di Firenze), one technological institute (AZTI), two governmental agencies (Natural Resources Wales and Cardiff Harbour Authority), one NGO (Wye & Usk Foundation) and five SMEs working in fundamental and applied aspects of AIAS (Neoalgae, Natural Applications, NEMO, Ecohydros, and Itinera C.E.R.T.A). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper discusses the data obtained from the thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic evaluation of seven different experimental solid biomasses representative of the Euroregion Galicia-North Portugal and commonly found in Europe. The samples comprised three raw, nonwoody biomasses and four additivated batches blended with kaolin and calcium carbonate. A TG-DSC analysis was performed on each sample under an oxidative atmosphere and three heating ratios, and the additives were found to increase the duration of the oxidation of carbon, its heat release, and displaced the reaction of volatile compounds to higher temperatures, while at the same time decreasing the peak heat emission caused by the volatiles up to a 40%. Three isoconversional methods, namely, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Friedman were utilized to determine the activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the fuels, both globally and at intervals during conversion, and the results were found to be similar among the three methods, with values ranging from 47.07 kJ/mol to 228.31 kJ/mol for conversion degrees between 0.1 and 0.9. Fuels mixed with the additives mentioned exhibited lower activation energy values than their raw counterparts, suggesting an enhancement of the combustion conditions. • Experimental solid biofuels were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis. • The behavior of the fuels under an oxidative atmosphere was discussed. • Isoconversional methods were used to determine kinetic parameters. • The effect of blending additives into the fuels was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reviews the literature and then investigates the perception of European airline managers (from 58 airlines) with regard to entry barriers to aviation markets. We aim to identify the perceived effectiveness of entry barriers and how the perception differs across management levels, business models and regions. Our results suggest that access to airport slots and competing high-speed rail links are perceived as the most effective entry barriers within the European single market. Other key findings include that particularly regional airlines fear predatory pricing/behaviour and that frequent flyer programs have lost some of their perceived effectiveness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the ways educational policy is understood, taught and practiced as a training discipline at postgraduate level in the European context. We have validated its epistemological solvency through a quantitative, comparative and ethnographic study of its main features as a discipline -such as ideological and valorative component, praxis-oriented discourse or sustainable and plural normative proposals- found in a stratified sample of 20 countries, 112 universities and 170 training programmes. We also discuss the innovative and formative potential of educational policy to resolve the most contested pedagogical issues and design the educational system, specifying when, how and in which conditions it is constructed as an academic discipline. Among the findings stand out the accreditation and the assessment of the specific role of the values, actors, institutions, supranational decisions and public and curricular policies that shape up educational programmes at a European level, hence contributing to the disciplinary progress of educational policy as a pedagogical, normative, axiological and plural knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares the current experience of public service obligations carriers in Europe and Australia ex ante with regard to contract clarity, and then ex post regarding the completeness of their transport contracts. Particularly in times of government austerity, clear contracts are of immense importance to transport authorities in order to achieve value for money when procuring air-transport services. Weak contracts can result in uncertainties, transaction costs, and poor performance of regional airlines. Our results show differences across carriers that go beyond differences associated with geographic region, and highlight the importance of trust and good relationships between transport authorities and operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the last decade, the use of public service obligations (PSO; regulation and/or subsidies) in air transport to European remoter regions has substantially increased. However, there is significant heterogeneity between different regions in Europe with respect to the provision of PSO operations which makes benchmarking of European PSO airlines and learning from best practices a worthwhile activity. Particularly during the current times of government austerity it is interesting to understand, whether individual PSO operators are efficiently run. As most of these services are supposed to be vital for the social and economic development of the relevant regions, it is decisive to examine factors (other than cease operation) that could improve this efficiency. This paper applies a two-stage DEA approach to measure the efficiency of 18 European PSO airlines over two fiscal years. We then use truncated regressions to determine the impact of specific details of the airlines and their 206 PSO contracts on efficiency. Our results suggest that ownership has no impact on the airlines efficiency. By contrast, the number of remaining months (before a PSO is due for renewal) on these contracts has a very significant positive and the average stage length a negative impact on the efficiency of the associated airlines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The environmental, cultural and economic consequences of land use change, including abandonment of agricultural use, have been recognized for a long time. It has often been assumed that the transformations of the agricultural systems in developed countries (and particularly in Europe) took place, for the main part, in the immediate years after the Second World War. In this paper we present a review of different statistical and cartographic sources available for a peripheral region in Europe (Galicia, Spain) characterized by small-scale farming and a very fragmented property system, that suggests otherwise: modernization of agriculture apparently took place without major changes in agricultural area until the country gained access to the European Economic Community, and the effect of Common Agricultural Policy reforms during the decade of 1990 is suggested as a major driver for the net decrease of agricultural area in the region between 1956 and 2004. On the other hand, this paper emphasizes the spatial complexity of agricultural abandonment with a case study, showing a large degree of variability at municipal scale and thus the need of future EU-level projects to work at least at municipal (Local Administrative Units 2, LAU 2) level. Finally, a multinomial logistic model for observed changes is included that shows how biophysical limitations were the main drivers behind abandonment of agriculture at parcel scale, while structural qualities related to property structure were strongly associated to the incorporation of former shrublands to agricultural use. Besides, Farm Structure Surveys were revealed as an unreliable source for the assessment of changes in total agricultural area in the studied region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Identification and quantification of spatial genetic structure (SGS) within populations remains a central element of understanding population structure at the local scale. Understanding such structure can inform on aspects of the species' biology, such as establishment patterns and gene dispersal distance, in addition to sampling design for genetic resource management and conservation. However, recent work has identified that variation in factors such as sampling methodology, population characteristics and marker system can all lead to significant variation in SGS estimates. Consequently, the extent to which estimates of SGS can be relied on to inform on the biology of a species or differentiate between experimental treatments is open to doubt. Following on from a recent report of unusually extensive SGS when assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphisms in the tree Fagus sylvatica, we explored whether this marker system led to similarly high estimates of SGS extent in other apparently similar populations of this species. In the three populations assessed, SGS extent was even stronger than this previously reported maximum, extending up to 360 m, an increase in up to 800% in comparison with the generally accepted maximum of 30-40 m based on the literature. Within this species, wide variation in SGS estimates exists, whether quantified as SGS intensity, extent or the Sp parameter. Consequently, we argue that greater standardization should be applied in sample design and SGS estimation and highlight five steps that can be taken to maximize the comparability between SGS estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimate of rainfall using data from an operational dual-polarized C-band radar in convective storms in southeast United Kingdom is compared against a network of gauges. Four different rainfall estimators are considered: reflectivity-rain-rate ( Z- R) relation, with and without correcting for rain attenuation; a composite estimator, based on (i) Z- R, (ii) R( Z, Zdr), and (iii) R( Kdp); and exclusively R( Kdp). The various radar rain-rate estimators are developed using Joss disdrometer data from Chilbolton, United Kingdom. Hourly accumulations over radar pixels centered on the gauge locations are compared, with approximately 2500 samples available for gauge hourly accumulations > 0.2 mm. Overall, the composite estimator performed the 'best' based on robust statistical measures such as mean absolute error, the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient, and mean bias, at all rainfall thresholds (>0.2, 1, 3, or 6 mm) with improving measures at the higher thresholds of >3 and >6 mm (higher rain rates). Error variance separation is carried out by estimating the gauge representativeness error using 4 yr of gauge data from the Hydrological Radar Experiment. The proportion of variance of the radar-to-gauge differences that could be explained by the gauge representativeness errors ranged from 20%% to 55%% (for the composite rain-rate estimator). The radar error is found to decrease from approximately 70%% at the lower rain rates to 20%% at the higher rain rates. The composite rain-rate estimator performed as well as can be expected from error variance analysis, at mean hourly rain rates of about 5 mm h−1 or larger with mean bias of ~10%% (underestimate). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benchmarking of rail firms has become a matter of substantial interest and many authors have emphasised the importance of transaction costs in regard to assessing the desirability of vertical separation. However, due to data and methodological limitations, previous rail efficiency studies have been unable to explicitly analyse the role that transaction cost measures play in determining the relative efficiency performance of different rail firms or rail systems. This paper incorporates recently produced measures of transaction costs into a two-stage bootstrapped data envelopment analysis (DEA), applied to a sample of 43 Swedish, German and British train operating firms. In the first stage, the number of transaction staff is included as a separate (physical) input within the DEA. This is followed by a second-step Tobit regression which seeks to evaluate the impact of institutional (vertical separation and type of operation), environmental (competition) and transactional (monetary values of transaction costs) factors on technical efficiency. The results of the analysis show that transactional factors are more important in determining technical efficiency than institutional factors and the opening-up of competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Lichenomphalia (L.) meridionalis, a species of lichens. L. meridionalis shows the absence of clamps, a feature that characterizes all lichenized species of Lichenomphalia. L. meridionalis is compared with L. velutina and described as two different species, with a similar bulbilliferous vegetative thallus.

Galoplaca squamuloisidiata van den Boom & V. J. Rico is described as new to science. It is a saxicolous species, pale green to grey, with olivaceous patches, with a rimose-areolate, squamulose, lobulate and isidiate thallus, growing on inland exposed acid rock faces in the western half of the Iberian Peninsula in the Mediterranean region. Its ecology and distribution, and the lichen communities in which it was found are presented. A key to the isidiate and granular-isidiate Caloplaca species in Western Europe is also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing land use has a major impact on lichen diversity. This study attempts to identify patterns or trends of lichen functional groups along a land use gradient, ranging from natural forests to open agricultural landscape. In eight countries, covering six main European biogeographic regions, lichen vegetation was assessed according to a standardized scheme. Data on reproductive, vegetative and ecological traits was compiled and relative species richness for all classes of all traits calculated. Relationships between the land use gradient and relative species richness of trait classes were analysed. Open and intensively managed landscapes harbour more fertile species while sterile species are relatively more important in forests. This finding is also supported by analyses of different classes of dispersal propagules. The importance of species with the principal photobiont Trebouxia s.I. increases linearly with intensification of land use. A converse pattern is revealed by species with Trentepohlia. Concerning substratum specialization only generalists show an effect along the land use intensity gradient. Their relative species richness decreases from landscapes dominated by forests to open agricultural landscape. A considerable decline in the rare lichen species richness as a result of land intensification is predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this paper is to review the strategies developed across European health care systems during the 1990s to improve coordination among health care providers. A second goal is to provide some analytical insights in two fields. On the one hand, we attempt to clarify the relationships between pro-coordination strategies and organizational change in health care. Our main conclusion is that the specific features of health care impede the operation of either market or hierarchical coordination mechanisms. These can, however, be selectively successful if applied as levers to promote the role and impact of the pro-cooperative coordination strategies which are ultimately required to foster adequate inter-professional and inter-organizational coordination. On the other hand, we try to cast some light on the ongoing debate on convergence versus path dependency within the broader field of welfare state reform. Evidence on pro-coordination reforms in health care apparently supports some insights from previous work on the centrality of the socio-political structure to account for varying patterns of selective path dependency across countries. In particular, the informal power resources of specialist physicians vis-à-vis primary care professionals and the state are critical to explain the different rhythm and fate of pro-coordination reforms across Europe. Against received wisdom, the evidence examined suggests that selective path dependency might apparently be compatible with a general trend towards convergence understood as hybridization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers extend in space and time under the influence of their catchment area. Our perception largely relies on discrete spatial and temporal observations carried out at certain sites located throughout the catchment (monitoring networks, MN). However, MNs are constrained by (a) the distribution of sampling sites, (b) the dynamics of the variable considered and (c) the river hydrological conditions. In this study, all three aspects were captured and quantified by applying a spatial autocorrelation modeling approach. We exemplarily studied its application to 235 emerging contaminants (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products [PPCP], industrial and miscellaneous) measured at 55 sampling sites in the Danube River. 22 out of the 235 compounds monitored were present at all sites and 125 were found in at least 50%.We first calculated the Moran Index (MI) to characterize the spatial autocorrelation of the compound set. 59 compounds showed MI ≤ 0, which can be interpreted as ‘no spatial correlation’. Next, spatial autocorrelation models were set for each compound. From the autocorrelation parameter ρ , catchment average correlation lengths were derived for each compound. MN optimality was examined and compounds were classified into three groups: (a) those with ρ ≤ 0 [25%]; (b) those with ρ > 0 and correl. length < average distance between consecutive sites [ 2%] and (c) those with ρ > 0 and correl. length > average distance between consecutive sites [73%]. The MN was considered optimal only for the latter class. Networks with the larger average distance between consecutive sites resulted in a decreasing number of optimally monitored compounds. Furthermore, neighbors vs . local relative contributions were quantified based on the spatial autocorrelation model for all the measured compounds. The results of this study show how autocorrelation models can aid water managers to improve the design of river MNs, which are a key aspect of the Water Framework Directive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of the Higher Education European Space has produced the need for procedures to measure how well a teacher education program design fits to a set of competences. We explore this problem and propose an instrument for assessing the relevance of the syllabus of a course pertaining to a program. The results obtained with this instrument can be used to assess the degree to which a syllabus fulfils the expectations that society places upon it and to characterize it in terms of those expectations. We illustrate this process with an example of a methods course in three Spanish universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data obtained from wastewater analysis can provide rapid and complementary insights in illicit drug consumption at community level. Within Europe, Spain is an important country of transit of both cocaine and cannabis. The quantity of seized drugs and prevalence of their use rank Spain at the top of Europe. Hence, the implementation of a wastewater monitoring program at national level would help to get better understanding of spatial differences and trends in use of illicit drugs. In this study, a national wastewater campaign was performed for the first time to get more insight on the consumption of illicit drugs within Spain. The 13 Spanish cities monitored cover approximately 6 million inhabitants (12.8% of the Spanish population). Untreated wastewater samples were analyzed for urinary biomarkers of amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and cannabis. In addition, weekend samples were monitored for 17 new psychoactive substances. Cannabis and cocaine are the most consumed drugs in Spain, but geographical variations showed, for instance, comparatively higher levels of methamphetamine in Barcelona and amphetamine in Bilbao, with about 1-fold higher consumption of these two substances in such metropolitan areas. For amphetamine, an enantiomeric profiling was performed in order to assure the results were due to consumption and not to illegal dumping of production residues. Furthermore, different correction factors for the excretion of cannabis were used to compare consumption estimations. All wastewater results were compared with previously reported data, national seizure data and general population survey data, were a reasonable agreement was found. Daily and yearly drug consumption were extrapolated to the entire Spanish population with due precautions because of the uncertainty associated. These data was further used to estimate the retail drug market, where for instance cocaine illicit consumption alone was calculated to contribute to 0.2-0.5% of the Spanish gross domestic product (ca. 3000-6000 million Euro/year)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly variable condition. Validated tools to assist in the early detection of patients at high risk of mortality can help guide medical decisions., Objective: We sought to validate externally, as well as in patients from the second pandemic wave in Europe, our previously developed mortality prediction model for hospitalized COVID-19 patients., Methods: Three validation cohorts were generated: 2 external with 185 and 730 patients from the first wave and 1 internal with 119 patients from the second wave. The probability of death was calculated for all subjects using our prediction model, which includes peripheral blood oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lactate dehydrogenase, IL-6, and age. Discrimination and calibration were evaluated in the validation cohorts. The prediction model was updated by reestimating individual risk factor effects in the overall cohort (N = 1477)., Results: The mortality prediction model showed good performance in the external validation cohorts 1 and 2, and in the second wave validation cohort 3 (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, 0.94, 0.86, and 0.86, respectively), with excellent calibration (calibration slope, 0.86, 0.94, and 0.79; intercept, 0.05, 0.03, and 0.10, respectively). The updated model accurately predicted mortality in the overall cohort (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, 0.91), which included patients from both the first and second COVID-19 waves. The updated model was also useful to predict fatal outcome in patients without respiratory distress at the time of evaluation., Conclusions: This is the first COVID-19 mortality prediction model validated in patients from the first and second pandemic waves. The COR+12 online calculator is freely available to facilitate its implementation (https://utrero-rico.shinyapps.io/COR12&#95;Score/)., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chemical monitoring data sets such as those provided by the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) offer opportunities to evaluate the ecological risks of pesticides under large spatiotemporal scales and to evaluate the protectiveness of the current prospective risk-assessment framework. As a case study, we used the monitoring data set for the insecticide chlorpyrifos to perform a probabilistic risk assessment for Iberian surface-water ecosystems. The specific objectives of the study were 1) to assess the occurrence of chlorpyrifos in relation to different agricultural production land uses, 2) to assess the spatiotemporal variation in the exceedance of the European WFD short- and long-term environmental quality standards (maximum allowable concentration environmental quality standard [MAC-EQS] and annual average [AA] EQS), and 3) to perform a probabilistic risk assessment for freshwater invertebrates. A database that contains chlorpyrifos concentrations from 14 600 surface water samples taken between 2012 and 2017 in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) was analyzed, and chlorpyrifos was detected in 21% of these samples. The MAC-EQS was exceeded in 2% of the cases, whereas the AA-EQS was exceeded in 18% of the cases. The majority of the exceedances took place in the littoral areas of the eastern and southeastern parts of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in areas with dominant citrus production during late spring, late summer, and autumn. The present study indicates unacceptable risks posed by chlorpyrifos to Iberian surface waters over the study period, although it was approved for use in Europe. The present study supports the need to perform further postregistration monitoring assessments with other pesticides following similar approaches, which can help to identify possible pesticide-misuse practices and improvements of the prospective risk-assessment framework. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:500-512. © 2020 SETAC., (© 2020 SETAC.)

In Europe, the European Food Safety Authority aquatic guidance document describes the procedures for the derivation of regulatory acceptable concentrations (RACs) for pesticides in edge-of-field surface waters on the basis of tier-1 (standard test species), tier-2 (geometric mean and species sensitivity distributions [SSDs]), and tier-3 (model ecosystem studies) approaches. In the present study, the protectiveness of such a tiered approach was evaluated for fungicides. Acute and chronic RACs for tier-1 and tier-2B (SSDs) were calculated using toxicity data for standard and additional test species, respectively. Tier-3 RACs based on ecological thresholds (not considering recovery) could be derived for 18 fungicides. We show that tier-1 RACs, in the majority of cases, are more conservative than RACs calculated based on model ecosystem experiments. However, acute tier-2B RACs do not show a sufficient protection level compared with tier-3 RACs from cosm studies that tested a repeated pulsed exposure regime or when relatively persistent compounds were tested. Chronic tier-2B RACs showed a sufficient protection level, although they could only be evaluated for 6 compounds. Finally, we evaluated the suitability of the calculated RACs for 8 compounds with toxicity data for fungi. The comparison shows that the current RACs for individual fungicides, with a few exceptions (e.g., tebuconazole), show a sufficient protection level for structural and functional fungal endpoints. However, more data are needed to extend this comparison to other fungicides with different modes of action. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2279-2293. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC., (© 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.)

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals have been established to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals will require a healthy and productive environment. An understanding of the impacts of chemicals which can negatively impact environmental health is therefore essential to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, current research on and regulation of chemicals in the environment tend to take a simplistic view and do not account for the complexity of the real world, which inhibits the way we manage chemicals. There is therefore an urgent need for a step change in the way we study and communicate the impacts and control of chemicals in the natural environment. To do this requires the major research questions to be identified so that resources are focused on questions that really matter. We present the findings of a horizon-scanning exercise to identify research priorities of the European environmental science community around chemicals in the environment. Using the key questions approach, we identified 22 questions of priority. These questions covered overarching questions about which chemicals we should be most concerned about and where, impacts of global megatrends, protection goals, and sustainability of chemicals; the development and parameterization of assessment and management frameworks; and mechanisms to maximize the impact of the research. The research questions identified provide a first-step in the path forward for the research, regulatory, and business communities to better assess and manage chemicals in the natural environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:2281-2295. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC., (© 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)