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Background: Learning Analytics (LA) is an emerging field concerned with measuring, collecting, and analysing data about learners and their contexts to gain insights into learning processes. As the technology of Learning Analytics is evolving, many systems are being implemented. In this context, it is essential to understand stakeholders' expectations of LA across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for large-scale implementations that take their needs into account. Objectives: This study aims to contribute to knowledge about individual LA expectations of European higher education students. It may facilitate the strategy of stakeholder buy-in, the transfer of LA insights across HEIs, and the development of international best practices and guidelines. Methods: To this end, the study employs a 'Student Expectations of Learning Analytics Questionnaire' (SELAQ) survey of 417 students at the Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany) Based on this data, Multiple Linear Regressions are applied to determine how these students position themselves compared to students from Madrid (Spain), Edinburgh (United Kingdom) and the Netherlands, where SELAQ had already been implemented at HEIs. Results and Conclusions: The results show that students' expectations at Goethe University Frankfurt are rather homogeneous regarding 'LA Ethics and Privacy' and 'LA Service Features'. Furthermore, we found that European students generally show a consistent pattern of expectations of LA with a high degree of similarity across the HEIs examined. European HEIs face challenges more similar than anticipated. The HEI experience with implementing LA can be more easily transferred to other HEIs, suggesting standardized LA rather than tailor-made solutions designed from scratch.

In this paper, we examine the conceptual understanding and experiences that students in German secondary schools have of boundaries. For our research we conducted qualitative interviews and surveys (interviews n=20; surveys n=21) with children (aged 14-17) born both in Germany and with refugee backgrounds. We asked for the children's conceptual understanding of the emergence and function of boundaries and their personal encounters with them. We studied the results of these interviews using qualitative content analysis to learn more about the conceptual understanding and experiences of students. Our findings on the emergence of borders show that students have limited understanding of boundaries and differing spatial concepts that exist for them. We also observed interesting distinctions between personal experiences of borders. The results may provide a base for further research and development in terms of conceptual-change-based methods for geography education on the topics of territories, borders and boundaries.

In this paper, we propose the Social Semantic Server (SSS) as a service-based infrastructure for workplace and professional learning analytics (LA). The design and development of the SSS have evolved over eight years, starting with an analysis of workplace learning inspired by knowledge creation theories and their application in different contexts. The SSS collects data from workplace learning tools, integrates it into a common data model based on a semantically enriched artifact-actor network, and offers it back for LA applications to exploit the data. Further, the SSS design's flexibility enables it to be adapted to different workplace learning situations. This paper contributes by systematically deriving requirements for the SSS according to knowledge creation theories, and by offering support across a number of different learning tools and LA applications integrated into the SSS. We also show evidence for the usefulness of the SSS extracted from 4 authentic workplace learning situations involving 57 participants. The evaluation results indicate that the SSS satisfactorily supports decision making in diverse workplace learning situations and allow us to reflect on the importance of knowledge creation theories for this analysis.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, placing a significant burden on health care systems. The concept of telemedicine for CHF was first introduced in the late 1990s, and since 2010, studies have demonstrated its potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs. Over the following decade, technological advancements and changes in health care policy led to the development of more sophisticated telemedicine solutions for CHF, including remote patient management through invasive or noninvasive telemonitoring devices, mobile apps, and virtual consultations. Years of public funding in Germany have generated evidence that remote patient management improves outcomes for patients with CHF, such as quality of life, and reduces hospital admissions. Based on these data, the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss; G-BA) decided, independently of the current European Society of Cardiology recommendations, to incorporate telemedicine as a standard digital intervention for high-risk patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in Germany in 2020. Objective: This review aims to illustrate the journey from the initial concept through pioneering studies that led to telemedicine's integration into standard care, and to share current experiences that have positioned Germany as a leader in cardiovascular telemedicine. Methods: We review and discuss existing literature and evidence on the development and implementation of telemonitoring for CHF in Germany over the past 20 years. Relevant studies, reports, and guidelines were identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and specialized journals focused on CHF telemonitoring. Results: Pioneering studies, such as the TIM-HF2 (Telemedical Interventional Management in Heart Failure II) and IN-TIME (Influence of Home Monitoring on Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure Patients with Impaired Left Ventricular Function) trials, demonstrated the effectiveness of remote patient management applications for patients with CHF in Germany and their applicability to current practices involving both invasive and noninvasive methods. Collaborations between researchers and technology developers overcame barriers, leading to sustainable improvements in patient care. Ongoing research on artificial intelligence applications for prioritizing and interpreting individual health data will continue to transform digital health care. Conclusions: The establishment of telemedical care for patients with HF across Europe is likely to benefit from experiences in Germany, where significant improvements have been achieved in the care of patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated (a) how a latent profile analysis based on representative data of N = 74,868 4th graders from 17 European countries would cluster the students on the basis of their reading, mathematics, and science achievement test scores; (b) whether there would be gender differences at various competency levels, especially among the top performers; (c) and whether societal gender equity might account for possible cross-national variation in the gender ratios among the top performers. The latent profile analysis revealed an international model with 7 profiles. Across these profiles, the test scores of all achievement domains progressively and consistently increased. Thus, consistent with our expectations, (a) the profiles differed only in their individuals' overall performance level across all academic competencies and not in their individuals' performance profile shape. From the national samples, the vast majority of the students could be reliably assigned to 1 of the profiles of the international model. Inspection of the gender ratios revealed (b) that boys were overrepresented at both ends of the competency spectrum. However, there was (c) some cross-national variation in the gender ratios among the top performers, which could be partly explained by women's access to education and labor market participation. The interrelatedness of academic competencies and its practical implications, the role of gender equity as a possible cause of gender differences among the top performers, and directions for future research are discussed.

Occurrences of introduced and invasive pollinators are increasing worldwide. To predict the potential impacts of exotic bees on native ecosystems we need to understand their ecological interactions. Life history traits are fundamental for understanding ecological interactions and often help to explain the spread of exotic species. We conducted home-and-away comparisons of life history traits of the first invasive bee in Europe, the sculptured resin bee Megachile sculpturalis Smith 1853. We compiled information on nest architecture, offspring, natural enemies, body size and phenology using published literature, museum specimen, data from citizen science initiatives, field observations and reared specimen. Megachile sculpturalis uses a broad variety of nesting materials for brood cell construction, including even plastic at the exotic range. Body size at warm temperate climate was similar in the native and exotic ranges, but phenology shifted forward by about one month (28.9 ± 3.3 SE days) in the exotic ranges. The abundance of natural enemies was similar between native and exotic ranges but specialist enemies were missing in the exotic ranges. These trait shifts may be explained by founder effects or ecological filtering. The comparison of life history traits in native and exotic ranges sheds light on the ecological-evolutionary process of this quickly spreading species and provides a better understanding of invasion processes in solitary bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered consumer behavior, making social commerce a viable alternative throughout the world. Europe is trailing the US and China in adopting this technology, but the prognosis is encouraging. Our goal is to contribute to this process by offering a literature review on social commerce in Europe for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. We analyzed 4.764 articles published during the 2015–2023 period on the topic of social commerce in Europe utilizing the PRISMA flow diagram. After scrutinizing this large body of literature with various instruments including artificial intelligence (AI), we identified a final list of 45 articles that are most pertinent to our research questions. The emerging themes were that social media is shaping behavior and triggering buying intentions, that trust is paramount in buying impulses and behavior, and that success in social commerce is predicated upon relationships and engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses language usage patterns amongst Eastern European migrants living in the East Anglia region of Great Britain. It examines the relationship between individual speakers' language use and societal factors, with an emphasis of respondents' perceptions of ethnic, cultural and linguistic vitality. A linguistic vitality and language usage questionnaire adapted from Yagmur, and Yagmur and Akinci, capturing domain-specific language use as well as respondents' perception of their own and other ethnolinguistic groups, was completed by 58 migrants from new European Union member states. Data analysis uncovers three themes: first, language use is domain-specific, with preferences for the L1 in the home/family domain only, and L2 English being the language of choice elsewhere; second, there are low perceptions of ethnolinguistic vitality of the L1 group across the sample; and third, there is initial evidence for a potential longitudinal shift in language use as a result of an integrative attitude to migration by the respondents and long-term plans to reside in the UK from the outset. (Contains 3 notes and 5 tables.)

Marine litter and non-degradable plastic pollution is of global concern. Regular monitoring programs are being established to assess and understand the scale of this pollution. In Europe, the goal of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is to assess trends in Good Environmental Status and support large-scale actions at the regional level. Marine litter monitoring requires tailored sampling strategies, protocols and indicators, that align with specific objectives and are tailored for local or regional needs. In addition, the uneven spatial and temporal distributions of marine litter present a challenge when designing a statistically powerful monitoring program. In this paper, we critically review the existing marine litter monitoring programs in Europe. We discuss the main constraints, including environmental, logistical, scientific, and ethical factors. Additionally, we outline the critical gaps and shortcomings in monitoring MSFD beaches/shorelines, floating litter, seafloor litter, microplastics, and harm. Several priorities must be established to shape the future of monitoring within the MSFD. Recent developments in analytical approaches, including optimizing protocols and sampling strategies, gaining a better understanding of the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of litter and its implications for survey design and replication, and the inclusion of newly validated methodologies that have achieved sufficient technical readiness, must be considered. Although there are well-established methods for assessing beaches, floating and seafloor litter, it will be necessary to implement monitoring schemes for microplastics in sediments and invertebrates as robust analytical methods become available for targeting smaller particle size classes. Furthermore, the inclusion of indicators for entanglement and injury to marine organisms will have to be considered in the near future. Moreover, the following actions will enhance the effectiveness of monitoring efforts: (1) creating an inventory of accumulation areas and sources of specific types of litter (e.g., fishing gear), (2) monitoring riverine inputs of litter, (3) monitoring atmospheric inputs including microplastics, (4) accidental inputs during extreme weather events, and (5) studying how species at risk may be transported by litter. We provide recommendations to support long-term, effective, and well-coordinated marine litter monitoring within the MSFD to achieve a comprehensive and accurate understanding of marine litter in EU waters. This will allow the development of measures to mitigate the impacts of marine pollution and eventually to evaluate the success of the respective measures. • Monitoring of marine litter performed in Europe within MSFD has been reviewed. • - Marine litter monitoring gaps and critical points were identified. • Recommendations for improving future monitoring of marine litter within MSFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific paper presents a practical research carried out by the authors in order to implement certain concepts of technical nature, so that those interested in this field can become aware of a certain way of exposing the problems regarding the role of technology and autonomous vehicles in the sustainable development of car transportation. According to previous research, it has been found that human error has a share of about 95% in the occurrence of road accidents in Europe, causing thousands of human lives to be taken away annually. Experts in the field say that autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce this percentage and at the same time contribute to increasing road safety. Digital technology also has its advantages and disadvantages. It helps reduce congestion and pollution in road traffic, increases access to mobility for people with disabilities, creates new jobs, brings economic growth, increases safety in road traffic but can also become dangerous when disturbances and malfunctions make their mark on artificial intelligence. We present further a technical and managerial study with engineering nuances, through which readers can look at and understand the concept of sustainable development in a global context, presenting the place, role and current stage of development of the autonomous vehicle in the road transport system. At the end, some conclusions and further research directions in the approached field are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested and compared properties of six modern indirect veneering resin composites (VRC), namely Ceramage (Shofu), dialog Vario (Schütz Dental), Gradia Plus (GC Europe), in:joy (Dentsply), Signum composite (Heraeus Kulzer), and SR Nexco (Ivoclar Vivadent). Specimens were fabricated from dentin and enamel pastes and following properties were analyzed: (1) two-body wear (TB), (2) surface roughness (SR), (3) Martens hardness parameters (HM and EIT), and (4) translucency (T). The highest impact on HM and EIT was exerted by VRC brand (HM: ηP²=0.960/ EIT: ηP²=0.968; p<0.001), followed by VRC paste material (HM: ηP²=0.502/ EIT: ηP²=0.580; p<0.001), and aging duration (HM: ηP²=0.157/ EIT: ηP²=0.112; p<0.001). Lowest and highest TB were measured for Signum composite and dialog Vario, respectively (p<0.001). Highest T was showed Signum composite and Ceramage (p<0.001). VRCs should be individually selected with respect to the indication area, due to different surface properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric regulations enacted in both Europe and the USA have disrupted the pharmaceutical industry, challenging business and drug development processes, and organizational structures. Over the last decade, with science and innovation evolving, industry has moved from a reactive to a proactive mode, investing in building appropriate structures and capabilities as part of their business strategy to better tackle the challenges and opportunities of pediatric drug development. Methods: The EFGCP Children's Medicines Working Party and the IQ Pediatric working group have joined their efforts to survey their member company representatives to understand how pharmaceutical companies are organized to fulfill their regulatory obligations and optimize their pediatric drug development programs. Results: Key success factors and recommendations for a fit-for-purpose Pediatric Expert Group (PEG) were identified. Conclusion: Pediatric structures and expert groups were shown to be important to support optimization of the development of pediatric medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmlands are currently among the dominant uses of the land. When managed under low‐input farming systems, farmlands are associated with diverse cultural and natural heritages around the world. Known in Europe as high nature value (HNV) farmlands, these agricultural landscapes and their associated farming systems evolved as tightly coupled socioecological systems, and are essential to biodiversity conservation and the delivery of ecosystem services to society. However, HNV farmlands are vulnerable to socioeconomic changes that lead to either agricultural intensification or land abandonment. We present a range of plausible future scenarios for HNV farmlands, and discuss the related management options and expected socioecological outcomes for each scenario. We then provide recommendations for policy, practice, and research on how to best ensure the socioecological viability of HNV farming systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the 2000s, the Dutch beam trawl fleet was in chronic deficit and under pressure to reduce its environmental impact. Instead of converting to selective fishing gears, it successfully lobbied the European Commission with the support of public authorities and scientists to obtain derogations against formal scientific advice to practice a prohibited technique: electric trawling. Since then, electric trawling has expanded beyond regulatory threshold: 84 large trawlers now catch the vast majority of the Dutch flatfish quota, causing detrimental socio-environmental impacts. To assess whether the European Union's fisheries policies fulfilled legal objectives and implemented the 2030 Agenda, it appeared crucial to quantify how much public financial aid had been provided to the Dutch fishing sector for its conversion to electric trawling. The financial information enabling this evaluation was first concealed but was eventually obtained. We show that the institutional opacity surrounding electric trawling was not serendipitous and has served to dissimulate allocations of public monies to a prohibited fishing method (otter trawl), illegal licenses, and falsely 'scientific' fishing. In breach of EU laws, 20.8 million EUR of structural funds have so far been granted to this sector in the form of direct subsidies, i.e. over 30 times the amount acknowledged by the fishing industry. The findings presented here lift part of the veil surrounding electric trawling, but the complete reconstruction of the impacts of this fishing method can only be done when decision-makers and scientists disclose all data in full transparency and become the warrants of the public interest. Highlights • The Dutch government has concealed data pertaining to public fisheries subsidies. • In breach of EU laws, public subsidies have supported the electric trawling sector. • 20.8 million EUR in direct subsidies have been granted to this sector since 2007. • 2.7 million EUR were used to develop the explicitly prohibited electric otter trawl. • Illegal licenses and falsely 'scientific' fishing were also publicly funded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of the Bologna process, traditional one-cycle degree programs have been re-arranged into two successive cycles (bachelor's and master's). In many European countries, this has created a new tertiary degree level below those previously offered. Focusing on Germany, this paper studies the consequences of this new form of differentiation for social inequality. First, we analyze social origin effects on the decision to continue higher education or to leave with a bachelor's degree for a recent post-Bologna cohort. We find that parents' education has a pronounced influence on the probability of their children's enrolment in the second cycle, comparable in size to the effect of parents' education on children's initial tertiary enrolment. Second, the observed gap in enrolment rates is largely the result of indirect influences, most importantly, type of institution. Third, we analyze changes in social origin effects on completion of a master's or traditional equivalent level program over time. Drawing on data from pre- and post-Bologna cohorts, we find that the share of graduates from low educated parents at the master's or equivalent traditional degree level decreases, when study courses adopt the two-cycle structure. Our findings stand in sharp contrast to an official goal of the Bologna Process, namely to support underrepresented groups in the framework of the so called ‘social dimension’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Differences in demographic behaviours across countries and subnational regions have stimulated interest in studying the relationships between individual characteristics and the contexts in which individuals are embedded. Analytical approaches that include contextual indicators in statistical analyses of demographic behaviour need welldocumented comparative data at the national and the subnational regional level. The Contextual Database (CDB) of the Generations and Gender Programme (GGP; http://www.ggp-i.org/data/ggp-contextual-database) supports such analyses by providing comparative data on demographic and socio-economic contexts in up to 60 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. OBJECTIVE This paper presents conceptual considerations and an overview of the content and the functionality of the CDB. Research examples illustrate how data from this database can increase the analytical potential of demographic analyses. CONCLUSIONS The CDB is a state-of-the-art research tool that provides well-documented comparative data at the national and the subnational regional level. Although it is conceptually linked to the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS), it can also be used to analyse data from other surveys, to study macro developments, and for teaching and lecturing. The CDB has a number of valuable features. First, it has a large number of indicators specifically geared towards demographic analyses, which provide extensive temporal and geographic coverage. Second, its dynamic web environment provides a high degree of transparency on data sources, as it offers meta-data for each individual entry. Finally, the CDB supports geocoding schemes that are used by the GGS and other surveys to denote region and country of residence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public participation in landscape planning and management has received increased attention across Europe since the European Landscape Convention (ELC) came into force in 2004. The ELC has now been ratified by many countries, which have been working on its implementation for up to several years. In this article, we study experiences from public participation in five different planning processes in Norway, and we assess the methods used according to a set of evaluation criteria developed in a European context: Scope, Representativeness, Timing, Comfort and Convenience, and Influence. Subsequently we identify ten singular methods as being particularly effective in terms of contributing significantly to increasing scores of Scope, Representativeness, and Comfort and convenience, i.e. the criteria most influenced by the methods chosen. All ten methods identified contribute to increase scores on one or two evaluation criteria, which underlines the importance of combining different methods to achieve effective participation within the restricted framework of a concrete spatial planning process. In an international perspective it seems most fruitful to apply a set of both dominantly verbal methods as practiced in Norway and somewhat more visual approaches used in other countries. This would also acknowledge basic differences among theoretical understandings of landscape and follow a recent scientific development of the concept of landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Assessment of tree species composition effects on communities of 13 species groups. • Oak, pine or spruce admixtures to beech affect diversity and community composition. • Effects often depend on tree species identity and on the proportion of admixture. • Admixture increases gamma diversity through heterogeneity and associated species. • Forest managers can assess ecological effects of altering tree species composition. Central Europe's temperate forests are heavily shaped by centuries of human activity. Their natural vegetation, mainly consisting of beech-dominated (Fagus sylvatica) deciduous forests, has been widely replaced by more profitable species grown outside of their natural ranges. This has strongly influenced forest-dwelling communities. Necessary adaptations to changing climatic conditions and the increasing demand for forest ecosystem multifunctionality are reversing these shifts in tree species composition. Integrative approaches that seek to balance production and conservation goals promote mixed forests of beech with spruce (Picea abies), pine (Pinus sylvestris), or oak (Quercus spp.). These mixed forests more closely resemble the natural vegetation and have reduced vulnerability to disturbances compared to coniferous monocultures, but higher commercial value compared to pure beech forests. However, our understanding of how different levels of admixture of commercially relevant tree species to beech forests affect multi-trophic diversity and community composition remains limited. We investigated herbaceous plants, fungi, oribatid mites, springtails, true bugs, beetles, birds and bats in 41 mature forest stands differing in tree species composition. We assessed the effects of admixtures on abundances and alpha and gamma diversity, i.e. the total number of species per forest type, and a measure of multidiversity by comparing reference beech stands with stands containing varying proportions of admixed species. At the plot level, the proportion of admixtures was especially important regarding oak and pine. Increasing shares of oak positively affected birds, true bugs and herbivorous beetles. Increasing shares of pine benefitted herbivorous true bugs and understory plants but negatively affected other true bugs, bats, and litter-decomposing fungi. Spruce admixture resulted in higher saproxylic beetle and bird diversity. At the landscape level, admixture significantly increased gamma diversity in plants, mycorrhizal and litter decomposing fungi and herbivorous and saproxylic beetles. Only springtail gamma diversity decreased in the presence of admixture. Admixture also significantly altered community composition for six out of 13 taxa. Indicator species were found for all forest types, and seven species groups included species significantly associated with pure beech stands. Our results indicate that forestry decisions determine forest biodiversity across trophic levels via tree species composition, combining habitat heterogeneity effects and tree species-specific associations. Even low shares of admixed species affect local abundances and diversity. By displacing some species while benefitting others, admixing also alters community composition. This study provides a basis for estimating how altering tree species composition in Central European forests changes the diversity and composition of forest communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to identify conditions of success for European fisheries co-management and its integration in broader strategies for sustainable resource management. Co-management of fisheries, broadly defined as the involvement of users in management, developed in Europe in various experimental forms of participation of fishermen in the management process, in advisory roles or through delegation and sharing of power. During its history, fisheries co-management has been revealed as multi-functional, addressing different knowledge and resource management problems, with varying success. This analysis focuses on knowledge-related issues that are important for the functioning of co-management, especially the combination of scientific and local knowledge. First we review European literature on co-management and secondly we analyse two exemplary case studies (EU Regional Advisory Councils and Fisheries Local Action Groups). Thereupon the possibilities for future development of co-management in Europe are discussed with regard to knowledge integration and environmental governance. Under the influence of the ideas of adaptive governance and sustainable resource management, modifications of forms and functions of co-management systems are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of solutions, with varying efficiency, have been proposed to mitigate discards. In this paper twelve mitigation measures were reviewed by their strengths and weaknesses, along with opportunities and threats, they might entail. How mitigation methods could either support or counteract others was also reviewed. The analyses of the mitigation measures are based on expert knowledge and experience and supported with existing literature. Discarding is highly variable and is influenced by numerous biological, technical and operational factors as well as social and economic drivers. These influences need to be carefully considered when designing management approaches. Finally, all reforms must be carefully considered within the context of a broader management system. The full management system needs to be thought of coherently to create an incentive framework that motivates fishers to avoid unwanted catches. It is only in this setting that discard mitigation methods may be potentially effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Deposited nitrogen was retained in 25 out of 27 Central European forest canopies. [•] Tree and shrub diversity increased canopy retention of nitrogen. [•] Complementarity is also important for aboveground nitrogen use. [•] Biodiversity effects in forests are co-determined by regional and habitat effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Current and prospective changes in European fisheries governance suggest not only a “communicative turn” but a complete turnaround in the relationships between government, science, and the fishing industry. At the heart of these changes are the so-called Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) and the idea of partially replacing the burden of proof on the resource users (fishing industry). This change entails new forms of interaction between fishers’ representatives, other stakeholders (e.g. NGOs), policy-makers and scientists. By drawing on experiences from the Baltic Sea RAC, the analysis focuses on two aspects of fisheries governance: institutional design and the process of negotiation and decision-making. It is concluded that to allow for a partial shift in the burden of proof, stakeholder organisations such as RACs need to adapt both institutionally as well as process-wise to enable a more constructive and responsible fisheries governance system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In freshwater ecosystems, the invasion of alien crayfishes is considered a major threat to native populations. In particular, signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) are increasingly replacing native stone and noble crayfish populations in Europe. In this study, population characteristics, habitat preference, as well as sex- and size-specific migration patterns of signal crayfish were analyzed within a model study section in the river Moosach (Danube drainage), Germany. A total of 1162 crayfish at a minimum population density of 0.4 specimens per m2 and a sex ratio of 1.18 males to 1 female were found. Habitat preference was size-specific, with smaller specimens preferring shallow, gravel-dominated sites, and large animals preferring deep, saprobel-dominated sites. Migration behavior was strongly influenced by the sex and size of the crayfish, with large males showing the greatest migration distances of up to 300m within 7 days. The correlation between the migration distance and the time period between capture and recapture was generally low but strongest for small female crayfish. The results of this study suggest that local population characteristics, particularly the density, size-distribution and sex ratios, can strongly influence the dispersal ability of invasive crayfish. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Marine populations in Europe are in decline due to the unsuccessful results of the Common Fisheries Policy. By combining data of scientific recommendations from ICES, TACs approved and reported landings with an age-structured model, the objectives of this paper are to investigate the level of compliance of the TAC regulation, and the level of enforcement and its economic impact on fishery resources. The results presented here suggest that while there does not exist a regular pattern between TAC proposal and TAC approved, there is a clear pattern between TAC approved and reported landings. As a consequence, there is a regular lack of enforcement at national fisheries authority level. The paper also presents results of the recovery plans for the Southern hake and the Atlantic cod fisheries as case studies to illustrate the level of enforcement based on collusion between national fisheries advisers and industry. The results from both cases studies analyzed here indicate that drastic solutions could generate positive results for the recovery of the stocks, but perhaps they are not always the best measure in fisheries management due to the high economic losses for fishermen and social effects on coastal communities in the short and medium term. Finally, this work demonstrates that if the recovery plans had been implemented, the net present profits for both fisheries would have increased over time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Offshore wind energy use is commonly suggested to play an important role in future electricity supply. However, long-term experience with thousands of onshore wind turbines explicitly hint on possible barriers for a safe, efficient, economic and user friendly supply relying on offshore wind energy. A national German programme shall on the one hand support the wind energy sector improving technology and O&M procedures towards higher reliability and availability, and on the other hand monitor the development in terms of techniques, electricity yields and cost. In the following, this scientific monitoring programme, the ‘Offshore∼WMEP’, is presented. The actual challenge of this programme is to convince numerous players with diverse points of interest to collaborate in gathering data and providing it for a jointly utilized database. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article examines the conceptualisation of the Community trade market (CTM) as a unitary right in Europe. It looks into whether the unitary's scope of a prohibitory injunction should be European Union (EU)-wide or confined in cases where the CTM is infringed. It explains the unitary character principle and the general provisions governing CTM injunctions. It cites three aspects confining the actual conflict situation in infringement cases.

The article discusses a court case wherein Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. has allegedly claim on the patent infringement of the two variant potato machines modified and sold by Derek Scott. The judge of the High Court has held on the invalidity of the first claim and the validity of the second under section (s.)60(2) of the Patent Act of 1977 (PA77). The Court of Appeals has found that the first claim is valid for patent infringement under the act.

One year after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and its German legal framework, the German Bundestag's political practical involvement in EU-affairs reveals a mixed balance. Its legal and organisational strengthening are contrasted by the Bundestag's lack of influence over decisions concerning measures for the stabilisation of the Euro. Based on political practice, the author describes the Bundestag's new possibilities and the challenges resulting from these. The analysis reveals that the legal specification of the parliament's rights of information and participation in EU affairs are only part of the explanation for the increased activity of the Bundestag. As much significance can be attributed to the increased awareness that has resulted from the constitutional court's ruling in July 2009 and the new laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a July 2009 interdisciplinary conference held in Constance, Germany, on the topic "International Anti-Corruption Regimes in Europe." Presentations addressed such themes as international anti-corruption policies and their effects on post-communist states of Europe, the European Union's (EU) export of good governance, and the convergence of U.S. and EU anti-corruption policies.

The article discusses the question of a sustainable economic growth model for Europe, given the context of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009. The author maintains that economic expansion based on a permanent increase in debt, particularly government debt, is not sustainable and inevitably threatens a financial crisis leading to long-term or permanent losses of output.

The European Cooperation in Occupational Therapy Research and Occupational Science (ECOTROS) aims to bring together occupational therapists interested in research in order to promote and facilitate international cooperation. In 2005/06, a survey was undertaken to identify the occupational therapists and institutions that were undertaking research in each country in Europe and to discover the topic, range and type of research. Responses to questionnaires were obtained from 113 individuals and information was given about 143 studies being undertaken within 7 countries. The results of the survey state the academic qualifications, work areas and research topics of the participants; the professions of the supervisors; and the sources of the funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second largest river in Europe discharges into the Black Sea through the Danube Delta. This delta was, on average, accretive over the past 10,000 years; yet during the last century, its coastal zone has been subjected to intense erosion due to human interventions. The barrages regulating the discharges of the Danube River and the jetties at Sulina mouth have disrupted the natural discharge and coastal circulation of sediment. Since these interventions the deltaic coast has been wave-dominated so that the shoreline position is controlled by the Black Sea wave climate and the associated alongshore transport gradients. Based on regional wind data and a shallow water state-of-the-art wave model (SWAN) a representative wave climate along the depth contours of the Danube Delta coastal zone was determined. The wave climate served as prime input for the computation of the alongshore sediment transport capacity. Finally, the results were compared with previous works and direct observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article presents a European view of the global airline crisis in 2001/2002. The underlying cyclical nature of the airline business and flexibilization as a strategy to manage the cycles are described. Crisis management at Lufthansa German Airlines following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is discussed in depth. In Europe, the slump in air traffic demand was soon matched by an industry-wide capacity reduction. Reduced overcapacity helped to stabilize yields and corporate results. However, managing the current crisis does not only aim at restoring the pre-crisis state, but rather at forming a more healthy business environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bird damage, from sowing to crop establishment, is an important issue for farmers in many parts of the world. However, reliable and cost-effective solutions remain elusive because management tools and research on the subject are limited. The spatial variability of damage across landscapes and the adaptative behaviour of birds create further challenges. Additionally, the issue must be tackled at the landscape scale and involve a variety of stakeholders with conflicting interests and objectives. We summarize some of the challenges and opportunities identified to face these difficulties and address four major research directions for operational solutions including 1) crop damage assessment, 2) methods and tools development at the landscape scale, 3) coordination of stakeholders, and 4) pest bird ecology in agroecosystems. More fundamentally, we address the question of large-scale ecological dynamics that can explain changing damage patterns such as the recent observations of increased damage in Europe. Despite the impact to the agricultural sector, research effort to understand vertebrate pest damage is still modest. We advocate for the creation of networks to share knowledge and feedback and engages multiple stakeholders, including ecological and agricultural researchers, farmers, and policy makers. • Bird damage at field crop establishment is an important issue in many countries. • Cost-effective solutions remain elusive for many bird damage scenarios. • Data-intensive and multiscale approaches are required for research. • We recommend creating networks to share knowledge and feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connectivity measures have been widely used by researchers and practitioners in the air transport industry to evaluate the degree of transport provision at different levels of detail. This paper adds to the literature by presenting a comprehensive study of the predictive performance of connectivity indices in estimating aggregate itinerary market shares. Our empirical analysis encompasses both nonstop and connecting itineraries that originated or destined in Europe during 2018. The predictive accuracies of the respective measures are assessed against actual market shares and an ad-hoc benchmark derived from a logit-based calibrated index and evaluated in terms of their prediction-error distributions. Our results suggest that the use of connectivity indices can significantly improve the assessment of itinerary market shares relative to conventional size-based measures (up to 16.9% gain in accuracy over itinerary frequency). These improvements, along with their use of standard formulations and lack of a calibration requirement, make connectivity models a valuable tool for practitioners to use in allocating aggregate air travel flows. An examination of different scenarios—short-/medium (SH/MH)-vs. long-haul (LH) and sizeable vs. thin markets—reveals that determination of the best index is not a straightforward task and provides guidance to selecting the best connectivity measure. • Comparison of different connectivity metrics to estimate flight itinerary market shares. • Connectivity indices found to significantly improve results with respect to size-based measures. • The NetScan model is the best performing on short/medium-haul markets while the GCI performs best on long-haul markets. • Dataset covering all European flights used to calibrate a new benchmark measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cuffless blood pressure (BP) monitoring devices, based on pulse transit time, are being developed as an easy-to-use, more convenient, fast, and relatively cheap alternative to conventional BP measuring devices based on cuff occlusion. Thereby they may provide a great alternative to BP self-measurement.Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the performance of the first release of the Checkme Health Monitor (Viatom Technology), a cuffless BP monitor, in a real-life setting. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate whether the posture of the volunteer and the position of the device relative to the heart level would influence its outcomes.Methods: Study volunteers fell into 3 BP ranges: high (>160 mmHg), normal (130-160 mmHg), and low (<130 mmHg). All requirements for test environment, observer qualification, volunteer recruitment, and BP measurements were met according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol (ESH-IP) for the validation of BP measurement devices. After calibrating the Checkme device, we measured systolic BP with Checkme and a validated, oscillometric reference BP monitor (RM). Measurements were performed in randomized order both in supine and in sitting position, and with Checkme at and above heart level.Results: We recruited 52 volunteers, of whom we excluded 15 (12 due to calibration failure with Checkme, 3 due to a variety of reasons). The remaining 37 volunteers were divided into low (n=14), medium (n=13), and high (n=10) BP ranges. There were 18 men and 19 women, with a mean age of 54.1 (SD 14.5) years, and mean recruitment systolic BP of 141.7 (SD 24.7) mmHg. BP results obtained by RM and Checkme correlated well. In the supine position, the difference between the RM and Checkme was >5 mmHg in 17 of 37 volunteers (46%), of whom 9 of 37 (24%) had a difference >10 mmHg and 5 of 37 (14%) had a difference >15 mmHg.Conclusions: BP obtained with Checkme correlated well with RM BP, particularly in the position (supine) in which the device was calibrated. These preliminary results are promising for conducting further research on cuffless BP measurement in the clinical and outpatient settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on the topic of American studies in Europe on a graduate level.

Why do some children feel happy about violating ethical norms whereas others feel guilty? This study examined whether children's attention to two types of competing cues during hypothetical transgressions related to their subsequent emotions. Eye tracking was used to test whether attending to other-oriented cues (i.e., a victim's face) versus self-serving cues (e.g., a stolen good) related to kind and selfish emotions. Participants were 4-, 6-, and 8-year-olds ( N = 224; M = 6.85 years; 51% girls), whose first language was primarily English (80%), and whose primary caregivers mainly reported backgrounds from Asia (40%) or Europe (39%). Overall, almost all children spend more time attending to selfish than other-oriented cues. Latent difference score modeling revealed that higher scores on attentional orientation (i.e., more other-oriented attention compared with self-serving attention or smaller gaps between the two) was significantly related to more kind, but not selfish emotions. This relation remained across age groups. Furthermore, with age, children attended somewhat less to self-serving cues. These findings highlight attention's importance in developing kind emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).age = 6.85 years; 51% girls), whose first language was primarily English (80%), and whose primary caregivers mainly reported backgrounds from Asia (40%) or Europe (39%). Overall, almost all children spend more time attending to selfish than other-oriented cues. Latent difference score modeling revealed that higher scores on attentional orientation (i.e., more other-oriented attention compared with self-serving attention or smaller gaps between the two) was significantly related to more kind, but not selfish emotions. This relation remained across age groups. Furthermore, with age, children attended somewhat less to self-serving cues. These findings highlight attention's importance in developing kind emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Several dog breeds suffer from health and welfare problems due to unfavorable anatomies and high prevalence of inherited diseases. Veterinarians should care for animal health and welfare but they may also be involved in breeding management including the use of reproductive techniques., Material and Methods: An online survey was conducted to find out how veterinarians who are involved in small animal reproduction regard ethical issues, which services they provide, how they discuss and handle ethical concerns and talk about them with breeders., Results: In total, 83 participants mainly from Europe completed the online survey. Opinions on which interventions are ethical or not were heterogeneous. Most respondents (79.2 %) found it ethical to perform artificial insemination (AI) in dogs which did not reproduce naturally before. However, 62.7 % of participants stated that surgical insemination is not ethical. Elective cesarean sections are considered not ethical by approximately half of the participants. A closer look at responses to the questions of whether AI is ethical under specific conse quences suggests that most veterinarians are making ethical and value judgments in terms of what is justifiable or not. However, more than 80 % feel at least sometimes compromised by ethical conflicts., Clinical Relevance: This research intended to foster discussion of this topic. International strategies should be developed to support solving conflicts and dilemmas related to ethical issues in dog breeding and assisted reproduction, as well as diminishing physical disabilities and heritable diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The field of Plastic Surgery is prominent on social media around the world. Board certified plastic surgeons and societies of plastic surgery play a role in providing accurate, evidence-based information to the public, patients, and colleagues. The aim of this study was to explore the use of social media by European Plastic Surgery Societies., Methods and Materials: A retrospective analysis of the presence and activity of European Plastic Surgery Societies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram was conducted between December 12th 2018 and December 12th 2019. The results have been compared to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons., Results: Twenty, eleven and nine European societies yielded an active account on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram respectively. Only seven European societies had an account on all three platforms and were therefore considered polypresent. The amount of followers of those seven societies was significantly higher than of the others (p-value = 0.02). Their activity yielded significantly more posts on Facebook (p-value = 0.02). The American Society of Plastic Surgeons had more followers on all three platforms than all European societies combined., Conclusion: Social media are still rather unexploited by European Plastic Surgery Societies. A tendency towards increased visibility can be observed, yet a higher penetration is required to further educate and engage through social media. The quantitative data provided serve as reasonable foundation for further studies and a guide for growth of #PlasticSurgery., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

This study's objective was to determine respondents' inter-observer agreement on a detailed checklist to evaluate three exemplars (one case report, one randomized controlled study without blinding, and one blinded, randomized controlled study) of the scientific literature in the field of bovine reproduction. Fourteen international scientists in the field of animal reproduction were provided with the three articles, three copies of the checklist, and a supplementary explanation. Overall, 13 responded to more than 90% of the items. Overall repeatability between respondents using Fleiss's κ was 0.35 (fair agreement). Combining the "strongly agree" and "agree" responses and the "strongly disagree" and "disagree" responses increased κ to 0.49 (moderate agreement). Evaluation of information given in the three articles on housing of the animals (35% identical answers) and preconditions or pretreatments (42%) varied widely. Even though the overall repeatability was fair, repeatability concerning the important categories was high (e.g., level of agreement=98%). Our data show that the checklist is a reasonable and practical supporting tool to assess the quality of publications. Therefore, it may be used in teaching and practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine. It can support training in systematic and critical appraisal of information and in clinical decision making.