Showing papers on "European union published in 2018"
TL;DR: The present estimates of the cancer burden in Europe alongside a description of the profiles of common cancers at the national and regional level provide a basis for establishing priorities for cancer control actions across Europe.
1,650 citations
TL;DR: This work demonstrates substantial mitigation of both non-radiative losses and photoinduced ion migration in perovskite films and interfaces by decorating the surfaces and grain boundaries with passivating potassium halide layers, and demonstrates the inhibition of transient photo induced ion-migration processes across a wide range of mixed halide perovSKite bandgaps in materials that exhibit bandgap instabilities when unpassivated.
Abstract: M.A.-J. thanks Nava Technology Limited and Nyak Technology Limited for their funding and technical support. Z.A.-G. acknowledges funding from a Winton Studentship, and ICON Studentship from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under REA grant agreement number PIOF-GA-2013-622630, the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement number 756962), and the Royal Society and Tata Group (UF150033). We thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for support. XMaS is a mid-range facility at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility supported by the EPSRC and we are grateful to the XMaS beamline team staff for their support. We thank Diamond Light Source for access to beamline I09 and staff member T.-L. Lee as well as U. Cappel for assistance during the HAXPES measurements. S.C., C.D. and G.D. acknowledge funding from the ERC under grant number 25961976 PHOTO EM and financial support from the European Union under grant number 77 312483 ESTEEM2. M.A. thanks the president of the UAE’s Distinguished Student Scholarship Program, granted by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs. H.R. and B.P. acknowledge support from the Swedish research council (2014-6019) and the Swedish foundation for strategic research. E.M.H. and T.J.S. were supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research under the Echo grant number 712.014.007.
1,210 citations
Humboldt University of Berlin1, Medical University of Graz2, Hospital Kuala Lumpur3, University of Zurich4, University of Cincinnati5, University of Southern Denmark6, Medical University of Silesia7, Humanitas University8, Charité9, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center10, Federal University of São Paulo11, Autonomous University of Barcelona12, St Thomas' Hospital13, Laval University14, Hiroshima University15, Medical University of South Carolina16, Hannover Medical School17, Campbelltown Hospital18, Mahidol University19, Royal Free Hospital20, University of Bari21, University Medical Center Groningen22, Johns Hopkins University23, University of Toronto24, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology25, Aarhus University Hospital26, Peking University27
TL;DR: In this paper, an evidence-and consensus-based guideline was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group.
Abstract: This evidence- and consensus-based guideline was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. The conference was held on 1 December 2016. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Sectionof the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the EU-founded network of excellence, the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2)LEN), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) with the participation of 48 delegates of 42 national and international societies. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell-driven disease, presenting with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous urticaria and other chronic forms of urticaria are disabling, impair quality of life and affect performance at work and school. This guideline covers the definition and classification of urticaria, taking into account the recent progress in identifying its causes, eliciting factors and pathomechanisms. In addition, it outlines evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.
819 citations
TL;DR: This article explored the relationship between economic growth and CO2 emissions in the so-called European Union 5 (EU-5) countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) for the 1985-2016 period.
796 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the first large-N-study on circular economy barriers in the EU (208 survey respondents, 47 expert interviews) and find that cultural barriers, particularly a lack of consumer interest and awareness as well as a hesitant company culture, are considered the main barriers by businesses and policy-makers.
774 citations
TL;DR: An overview of the development and perspectives of biogas in and its use for electricity, heat and in transport in the European Union (EU) and its Member States is presented in this article.
755 citations
University of Cambridge1, Australian National University2, Norwegian Institute of Public Health3, Utrecht University4, University of Tromsø5, University of Oxford6, Johns Hopkins University7, The George Institute for Global Health8, National Institutes of Health9, University of Copenhagen10, Copenhagen University Hospital11, University of Western Australia12, Fiona Stanley Hospital13, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research14, University of London15, Lund University16, University of Pittsburgh17, French Institute of Health and Medical Research18, University College London19, University of Ulm20, Technische Universität München21, University of Padua22, University of Southampton23, German Cancer Research Center24, Erasmus University Medical Center25, Umeå University26, Cardiff University27, Greifswald University Hospital28, Aarhus University29, Portland State University30, University of New South Wales31, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens32, Harvard University33, University of Hawaii34, Columbia University35, University of Iowa36, Duke University37, Yamagata University38, Tuskegee University39, University of Oulu40, University of Helsinki41, Medical University of South Carolina42, University of Washington43, Kaiser Permanente44, University of Groningen45, University of Granada46, Yale University47, Prevention Institute48, University of Edinburgh49, Uppsala University50, Basque Government51, Kyushu University52, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital53, Harokopio University54, University of California, San Diego55, VU University Medical Center56, Aalborg University57, University of Eastern Finland58, Laval University59, University of Vermont60, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center61, Wake Forest University62, Kanazawa Medical University63, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute64, Heidelberg University65, Istituto Superiore di Sanità66, Pasteur Institute67, City College of New York68, Howard University69, University of Glasgow70, International Agency for Research on Cancer71, University of Bristol72, University of Auckland73
TL;DR: Current drinkers of alcohol in high-income countries, the threshold for lowest risk of all-cause mortality was about 100 g/week, and data support limits for alcohol consumption that are lower than those recommended in most current guidelines.
711 citations
TL;DR: A list of GPCRs currently targeted by approved drugs is curated by integrating data from public databases and from the Broad Institute Drug Repurposing Hub to account for discrepancies among these sources.
Abstract: Estimates vary regarding the number of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of membrane receptors that are targeted by approved drugs, and the number of such drugs that target GPCRs. We review current knowledge regarding GPCRs as drug targets by integrating data from public databases (ChEMBL, Guide to PHARMACOLOGY, and DrugBank) and from the Broad Institute Drug Repurposing Hub. To account for discrepancies among these sources, we curated a list of GPCRs currently targeted by approved drugs. As of November 2017, 134 GPCRs are targets for drugs approved in the United States or European Union; 128 GPCRs are targets for drugs listed in the Food and Drug Administration Orange Book. We estimate that ∼700 approved drugs target GPCRs, implying that approximately 35% of approved drugs target GPCRs. GPCRs and GPCR-related proteins, i.e., those upstream of or downstream from GPCRs, represent ∼17% of all protein targets for approved drugs, with GPCRs themselves accounting for ∼12%. As such, GPCRs constitute the largest family of proteins targeted by approved drugs. Drugs that currently target GPCRs and GPCR-related proteins are primarily small molecules and peptides. Since ∼100 of the ∼360 human endo-GPCRs (other than olfactory, taste, and visual GPCRs) are orphan receptors (lacking known physiologic agonists), the number of GPCR targets, the number of GPCR-targeted drugs, and perhaps the types of drugs will likely increase, thus further expanding this GPCR repertoire and the many roles of GPCR drugs in therapeutics.
707 citations
TL;DR: Most frequent substances as well as those found at highest concentrations in different seasons and regions, together with available risk assessment data, may be useful to identify possible future PS candidates.
545 citations
TL;DR: This paper presents the latest developments realized with EXIOBASE 3-a time series of EE MRIO tables ranging from 1995 to 2011 for 44 countries (28 EU member plus 16 major economies) and five rest of the world regions.
Abstract: Environmentally extended multiregional input-output (EE MRIO) tables have emerged as a key framework to provide a comprehensive description of the global economy and analyze its effects on the environment. Of the available EE MRIO databases, EXIOBASE stands out as a database compatible with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) with a high sectorial detail matched with multiple social and environmental satellite accounts. In this paper, we present the latest developments realized with EXIOBASE 3—a time series of EE MRIO tables ranging from 1995 to 2011 for 44 countries (28 EU member plus 16 major economies) and five rest of the world regions. EXIOBASE 3 builds upon the previous versions of EXIOBASE by using rectangular supply-use tables (SUTs) in a 163 industry by 200 products classification as the main building blocks. In order to capture structural changes, economic developments, as reported by national statistical agencies, were imposed on the available, disaggregated SUTs from EXIOBASE 2. These initial estimates were further refined by incorporating detailed data on energy, agricultural production, resource extraction, and bilateral trade. EXIOBASE 3 inherits the high level of environmental stressor detail from its precursor, with further improvement in the level of detail for resource extraction. To account for the expansion of the European Union (EU), EXIOBASE 3 was developed with the full EU28 country set (including the new member state Croatia). EXIOBASE 3 provides a unique tool for analyzing the dynamics of environmental pressures of economic activities over time.
471 citations
TL;DR: The most recent version of the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR v4.3.2) as discussed by the authors compiles gaseous and particulate air pollutant emissions, making use of the same anthropogenic sectors, time period (1970-2012), and international activity data that is used for estimating GHG emissions, as described in a companion paper.
Abstract: . The new version of the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR v4.3.2) compiles gaseous and particulate air pollutant emissions, making use of the same anthropogenic sectors, time period (1970–2012), and international activity data that is used for estimating GHG emissions, as described in a companion paper (Janssens-Maenhout et al., 2017). All human activities, except large scale biomass burning and land use, land-use change, and forestry are included in the emissions calculation. The bottom-up compilation methodology of sector-specific emissions was applied consistently for all world countries, providing methodological transparency and comparability between countries. In addition to the activity data used to estimate GHG emissions, air pollutant emissions are determined by the process technology and end-of-pipe emission reduction abatements. Region-specific emission factors and abatement measures were selected from recent available scientific literature and reports. Compared to previous versions of EDGAR, the EDGAR v4.3.2 dataset covers all gaseous and particulate air pollutants, has extended time series (1970–2012), and has been evaluated with quality control and quality assurance (QC and QA) procedures both for the emission time series (e.g. particulate matter – PM – mass balance, gap-filling for missing data, the split-up of countries over time, few updates in the emission factors, etc.) and grid maps (full coverage of the world, complete mapping of EDGAR emissions with sector-specific proxies, etc.). This publication focuses on the gaseous air pollutants of CO, NOx, SO2, total non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), NH3, and the aerosols PM10, PM2.5, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC). Considering the 1970–2012 time period, global emissions of SO2 increased from 99 to 103 Mt, CO from 441 to 562 Mt, NOx from 68 to 122 Mt, NMVOC from 119 to 170 Mt, NH3 from 25 to 59 Mt, PM10 from 37 to 65 Mt, PM2.5 from 24 to 41 Mt, BC from 2.7 to 4.5 Mt, and OC from 9 to 11 Mt. We present the country-specific emission totals and analyze the larger emitting countries (including the European Union) to provide insights on major sector contributions. In addition, per capita and per GDP emissions and implied emission factors – the apparent emissions per unit of production or energy consumption – are presented. We find that the implied emission factors (EFs) are higher for low-income countries compared to high-income countries, but in both cases decrease from 1970 to 2012. The comparison with other global inventories, such as the Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Inventory (HTAP v2.2) and the Community Emission Data System (CEDS), reveals insights on the uncertainties as well as the impact of data revisions (e.g. activity data, emission factors, etc.). As an additional metric, we analyze the emission ratios of some pollutants to CO2 (e.g. CO∕CO2, NOx∕CO2, NOx∕CO, and SO2∕CO2) by sector, region, and time to identify any decoupling of air pollutant emissions from energy production activities and to demonstrate the potential of such ratios to compare to satellite-derived emission data. Gridded emissions are also made available for the 1970–2012 historic time series, disaggregated for 26 anthropogenic sectors using updated spatial proxies. The analysis of the evolution of hot spots over time allowed us to identify areas with growing emissions and where emissions should be constrained to improve global air quality (e.g. China, India, the Middle East, and some South American countries are often characterized by high emitting areas that are changing rapidly compared to Europe or the USA, where stable or decreasing emissions are evaluated). Sector- and component-specific contributions to grid-cell emissions may help the modelling and satellite communities to disaggregate atmospheric column amounts and concentrations into main emitting sectors. This work addresses not only the emission inventory and modelling communities, but also aims to broaden the usefulness of information available in a global emission inventory such as EDGAR to also include the measurement community. Data are publicly available online through the EDGAR website http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/overview.php?v=432_AP and registered under https://doi.org/10.2904/JRC_DATASET_EDGAR .
TL;DR: It is concluded that reliable knowledge on transport mechanism to surface waters, concentrations in surface waters and sediments, effects of aging, environmental half-lives of TWP as well as effects on aquatic organisms are missing are missing and need to be addressed to allow for the assessment of risk ofTWP in an aquatic environment.
TL;DR: The introduction of nanomedicines in the pharmaceutical market, and all the controversy associated to basic concepts related to these nanosystems, and the numerous methodologies applied for enhanced knowledge are reviewed.
Abstract: Several scientific areas have benefited significantly from the introduction of nanotechnology and the respective evolution. This is especially noteworthy in the development of new drug substances and products. This review focuses on the introduction of nanomedicines in the pharmaceutical market, and all the controversy associated to basic concepts related to these nanosystems, and the numerous methodologies applied for enhanced knowledge. Due to the properties conferred by the nanoscale, the challenges for nanotechnology implementation, specifically in the pharmaceutical development of new drug products and respective regulatory issues are critically discussed, mainly focused on the European Union context. Finally, issues pertaining to the current applications and future developments are presented.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed 18 significant enhanced geothermal system (EGS) sites and technologies that have been applied in the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the USA.
Abstract: The goal of this study is to review 18 significant enhanced geothermal system (EGS) sites and technologies that have been applied in the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the USA. The results of earlier cases indicate that the site characteristics, such as a transtensional type setting, are a key factor of successful EGS development. This study also introduces the Enhanced Geothermal Innovative Network for Europe (ENGINE), which focuses on developing high-temperature instruments for the characterization and exploitation of supercritical geothermal reservoirs, as well as the geothermal engineering integrating mitigation of induced seismicity in reservoirs (GEISER). The energy reserves in the upper 10 km of the earth's crust are approximately 1.3 × 1027 J, which could supply the global energy use for approximately 217 million years. The exploitable geothermal potential can reach 1200 GWe based on an estimated probability of 70%. In 2050, there will be more than 70 GWe of EGS based on an estimated probability of 85%. In view of the immature technologies for EGS, the US has funded a total of 0.22 billion USD from 2007 to 2013 to develop innovative exploration, reservoir stimulation, and sustainable reservoir technologies and economic analysis models for the commercialization of EGS. The crucial issue in Taiwan's geothermal development is the enhancement of the poor productivity of geothermal production wells. Based on foreign experience, increasing the productivity by adding reinjection wells in traditional hydrothermal fields should be a feasible approach for the development of EGS in Taiwan. The study suggests that Taiwan should establish a geothermal exploration database. In addition, the enhancement of geothermal production by developing reservoir simulation and reservoir maintenance technologies will lead to cost reductions. Finally, promoting traditional hydrothermal geothermal power plants to drive EGS development will allow for the stable expansion of Taiwan's geothermal industry.
TL;DR: The extent to which health co-benefits would compensate the mitigation cost of achieving the targets of the Paris climate agreement under different scenarios in which the emissions abatement effort is shared between countries in accordance with three established equity criteria is analysed.
University of Melbourne1, Hanoi University2, Institute of Fundamental Studies3, University of Tasmania4, Alfred Hospital5, Monash University, Clayton campus6, Flinders University7, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital8, University of New South Wales9, National Institutes of Health10, Imperial College London11, Haukeland University Hospital12, University of Bergen13, University of Queensland14, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital15, Gold Coast Hospital16, Royal Children's Hospital17, Cancer Council Victoria18, Monash University19
TL;DR: It is postulate that reducing maternal smoking, encouraging immunisation, and avoiding personal smoking, especially in those with smoking parents or low childhood lung function, might minimise COPD risk.
TL;DR: In this article, an econometric model has been estimated using a linear regression by ordinary least squares using as independent variables the expenditure on R&D and the energy consumption in the European Union (15), United States and China between 1990 and 2013.
TL;DR: A high annual number of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare facilities in the EU/EEA is confirmed and indicated that AMR in HAI in LTCF may have reached the same level as in ACH.
Abstract: Point prevalence surveys of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and antimicrobial use in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) from 2016 to 2017 included 310,755 patients from 1,209 acute care hospitals (ACH) in 28 countries and 117,138 residents from 2,221 long-term care facilities (LTCF) in 23 countries. After national validation, we estimated that 6.5% (cumulative 95% confidence interval (cCI): 5.4–7.8%) patients in ACH and 3.9% (95% cCI: 2.4–6.0%) residents in LTCF had at least one HAI (country-weighted prevalence). On any given day, 98,166 patients (95% cCI: 81,022–117,484) in ACH and 129,940 (95% cCI: 79,570–197,625) residents in LTCF had an HAI. HAI episodes per year were estimated at 8.9 million (95% cCI: 4.6–15.6 million), including 4.5 million (95% cCI: 2.6–7.6 million) in ACH and 4.4 million (95% cCI: 2.0–8.0 million) in LTCF; 3.8 million (95% cCI: 3.1–4.5 million) patients acquired an HAI each year in ACH. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to selected AMR markers was 31.6% in ACH and 28.0% in LTCF. Our study confirmed a high annual number of HAI in healthcare facilities in the EU/EEA and indicated that AMR in HAI in LTCF may have reached the same level as in ACH.
University of Paris1, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia2, University of Turin3, University of Birmingham4, HealthPartners5, University of Amsterdam6, University of Bologna7, Aix-Marseille University8, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University9, Qatar Airways10, Southmead Hospital11, National Health Service12, Hannover Medical School13, Boston Children's Hospital14, Tartu University Hospital15, University of Strasbourg16, Great Ormond Street Hospital17, Medical University of Warsaw18, St George's, University of London19, Copenhagen University Hospital20, University of Mainz21, RWTH Aachen University22, University of Southampton23, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli24, National Institute for Health Research25
TL;DR: An international consensus group agreed upon 72 recommendations for the clinical and molecular diagnosis and management of Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome, including comprehensive protocols for the molecular investigation, care and treatment of patients from the prenatal period to adulthood.
Abstract: This Consensus Statement was organized by the European Network of Human Congenital Imprinting Disorders (EUCIDnet) with financial support from European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST; BM1208) Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children, the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the Societe Francaise de lutte contre les Cancers et leucemies de l'enfant et de l'adolescent (SFCE) provided funding for the consensus meeting The European Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN) provided support for the meeting Individual authors would like to thank the following funders for research support: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (JMK); Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) (number 01GM1513C) (DP); Child Growth Foundation (KT-B); European Union FP7 Innovative Training Network (ITN) Ingenium N 290123 (YLeB, AR, IN, ERM); FIS (grant PI15/01481) (PL, JT); Fondation de Recherche Medicale (YLeB); Margaret Q Landenberger Foundation (JMK); MIUR PRIN 2015 JHLY35 (AR, GBF, SRu); MOH Grants to Istituto Auxologico Italiano (grant: RC 08C502_2015) (SRu); US National Institutes of Health (grant K08CA193915) (JMK); UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Rare Diseases Translational Research Collaboration (ACF); St Baldrick's Scholar Award (JMK); The Estonian Research Council (grant PUT355) (KO); Universite P et M Curie, Institut National de la Sante Et de la Recherche Medicale (YLB); Telethon-Italia GGP15131 and AIRC IG18671 (AR); Wellcome Trust (MDK); European Research Council (ERM); and NIHR Senior Investigator Award (ERM) The University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of ERM from the National Health Service (NHS) in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS or UK Department of Health No funding was received from pharmaceutical companies
TL;DR: High rates of response to first-line avelumab therapy in patients with distant mMCC build on previously reported antitumor activity after second-line or later treatment, and maturing progression-free survival data suggest that responses are durable.
Abstract: Importance Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer that is associated with poor survival outcomes in patients with distant metastatic disease. Results of part A of the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial (avelumab in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma) showed that avelumab, an anti–programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody, demonstrated efficacy in second-line or later treatment of patients with metastatic MCC (mMCC). Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of avelumab as first-line treatment for patients with distant mMCC. Design, Setting, and Participants JAVELIN Merkel 200 part B is an international, multicenter, single-arm, open-label clinical trial of first-line avelumab monotherapy. Eligible patients were adults with mMCC who had not received prior systemic treatment for metastatic disease. Patients were not selected for PD-L1 expression or Merkel cell polyomavirus status. Data were collected from April 15, 2016, to March 24, 2017, and enrollment is ongoing. Interventions Patients received avelumab, 10 mg/kg, by 1-hour intravenous infusion every 2 weeks until confirmed disease progression, unacceptable toxic effects, or withdrawal occurred. Main Outcomes and Measures Tumor status was assessed every 6 weeks and evaluated by independent review committee per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. The primary end point was durable response, defined as an objective response with a duration of at least 6 months. Secondary end points include best overall response, duration of response, progression-free survival, safety, and tolerability. Results As of March 24, 2017, 39 patients were enrolled (30 men and 9 women; median age, 75 years [range, 47-88 years]), with a median follow-up of 5.1 months (range, 0.3-11.3 months). In a preplanned analysis, efficacy was assessed in 29 patients with at least 3 months of follow-up; the confirmed objective response rate was 62.1% (95% CI, 42.3%-79.3%), with 14 of 18 responses (77.8%) ongoing at the time of analysis. In responding patients, the estimated proportion with duration of response of at least 3 months was 93% (95% CI, 61%-99%); duration of response of at least 6 months, 83% (95% CI, 46%-96%). First-line avelumab treatment was generally well tolerated, and no treatment-related deaths or grade 4 adverse events occurred. Conclusions and Relevance High rates of response to first-line avelumab therapy in patients with distant mMCC build on previously reported antitumor activity after second-line or later treatment, and maturing progression-free survival data suggest that responses are durable. These data further support avelumab’s approval in the United States and European Union and use as a standard-of-care treatment for mMCC. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT02155647
TL;DR: The concerns of short-chain PFASs do not match the “classical” concerns as defined under REACH, but are not of minor concern, so they should be identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REach.
Abstract: Short-chain PFASs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are widely used as alternatives to long-chain PFASs. Long-chain PFASs become gradually regulated under REACH (EC No. 1907/2006) and other international regulations, due to having persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties and/or being toxic for reproduction. The increasingly used short-chain PFASs are assumed to have a lower bioaccumulation potential. Nonetheless, they have other properties of concern and are already widely distributed in the environment, also in remote regions. The REACH Regulation does not directly address these emerging properties of concern, complicating the implementation of regulatory measures. Therefore, this study illustrates these environmental concerns and provides a strategy for a regulation of short-chain PFASs within REACH. Short-chain PFASs have a high mobility in soil and water, and final degradation products are extremely persistent. This results in a fast distribution to water resources, and consequently, also to a contamination of drinking water resources. Once emitted, short-chain PFASs remain in the environment. A lack of appropriate water treatment technologies results in everlasting background concentrations in the environment, and thus, organisms are permanently and poorly reversibly exposed. Considering such permanent exposure, it is very difficult to estimate long-term adverse effects in organisms. Short-chain PFASs enrich in edible parts of plants and the accumulation in food chains is unknown. Regarding these concerns and uncertainties, especially with respect to the precautionary principle, short-chain PFASs are of equivalent concern to PBT substances. Therefore, they should be identified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH. The SVHC identification should be followed by a restriction under REACH, which is the most efficient way to minimize the environmental and human exposure of short-chain PFASs in the European Union. Due to an increasing use of short-chain PFASs, an effective regulation is urgently needed. The concerns of short-chain PFASs do not match the “classical” concerns as defined under REACH, but are not of minor concern. Therefore, it is of advantage to clearly define the concerns of short-chain PFASs. This might facilitate the following restriction process under REACH.
TL;DR: A robust association between some classes of anticholinergic drugs and future dementia incidence was observed, and this could be caused by a class specific effect, or by drugs being used for very early symptoms of dementia.
Abstract: Objectives To estimate the association between the duration and level of exposure to different classes of anticholinergic drugs and subsequent incident dementia. Design Case-control study. Setting General practices in the UK contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Participants 40 770 patients aged 65-99 with a diagnosis of dementia between April 2006 and July 2015, and 283 933 controls without dementia. Interventions Daily defined doses of anticholinergic drugs coded using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale, in total and grouped by subclass, prescribed 4-20 years before a diagnosis of dementia. Main outcome measures Odds ratios for incident dementia, adjusted for a range of demographic and health related covariates. Results 14 453 (35%) cases and 86 403 (30%) controls were prescribed at least one anticholinergic drug with an ACB score of 3 (definite anticholinergic activity) during the exposure period. The adjusted odds ratio for any anticholinergic drug with an ACB score of 3 was 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.14). Dementia was associated with an increasing average ACB score. When considered by drug class, gastrointestinal drugs with an ACB score of 3 were not distinctively linked to dementia. The risk of dementia increased with greater exposure for antidepressant, urological, and antiparkinson drugs with an ACB score of 3. This result was also observed for exposure 15-20 years before a diagnosis. Conclusions A robust association between some classes of anticholinergic drugs and future dementia incidence was observed. This could be caused by a class specific effect, or by drugs being used for very early symptoms of dementia. Future research should examine anticholinergic drug classes as opposed to anticholinergic effects intrinsically or summing scales for anticholinergic exposure. Trial registration Registered to the European Union electronic Register of Post-Authorisation Studies EUPAS8705.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the three dominant approaches to European integration cannot fully explain why the two most recent crises of the European Union (EU) resulted in very different outcome.
Abstract: This contribution argues that the three dominant approaches to European integration cannot fully explain why the two most recent crises of the European Union (EU) resulted in very different outcome...
TL;DR: The innovative findings indicate that Internet use is raising the threat to the sustainable development and to curb and mitigate CO2 emissions from Internet use and electricity consumption is the need of time to maintain theustainable development in EU countries.
Abstract: This study investigates the impact of Internet use, financial development, economic growth, and trade openness on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in selected European Union (EU) countries. To this end, pooled mean group (PMG) estimator is utilized for panel data from 2001 to 2014. Empirical findings suggest that Internet use has long-run relationship with CO2 emissions and lowering the environmental quality in EU countries. Also, the electricity consumption has a positive and significant effect on CO2 emissions. Moreover, interestingly, economic growth and financial development have a diminishing negative impact on CO2 emission. Heterogeneous panel Granger causality results suggest unidirectional causality running from Internet use to CO2 emissions. The finding implies that the European Union countries did not achieve the level of green information and telecommunication (ICTs) consumption. Overall, the innovative findings indicate that Internet use is raising the threat to the sustainable development. Thus, to curb and mitigate CO2 emissions from Internet use and electricity consumption is the need of time to maintain the sustainable development in EU countries.
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of CBACs used in crop protection and highlight their benefits and risks, and potential for their improvement and opportunities for further research to develop alternatives to CBAC.
Abstract: Since the initial use of Bordeaux mixture in 1885 for plant disease control, a large number of copper-based antimicrobial compounds (CBACs) have been developed and applied for crop protection. While these compounds have revolutionized crop protection in the twentieth century, their continuous and frequent use has also raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of copper (Cu)-based crop protection system. Here, we review CBACs used in crop protection and highlight their benefits and risks, and potential for their improvement and opportunities for further research to develop alternatives to CBACs. The major findings are (i) the relatively high toxicity to plant pathogens, low cost, low mammalian toxicity of the fixed Cu compounds, and their chemical stability and prolonged residual effects are major benefits of these compounds; (ii) phytotoxicity, development of copper-resistant strains, soil accumulation, and negative effects on soil biota as well as on food quality parameters are key disadvantages of CBACs; (iii) regulatory pressure in agriculture worldwide to limit the use of CBACs has led to several restrictions, including that imposed by the regulation 473/2002 in the European Union; and (iv) mitigation strategies to limit the negative effects of CBACs include their optimized use, soil remediation, and development and application of alternatives to CBACs for a sustainable crop protection. We conclude that recent research and policy efforts have led to the development of a number of alternatives to CBACs, which should be further intensified to ensure that growers have sufficient tools for the implementation of sustainable crop protection strategies.
TL;DR: A review is presented of the manufacture and use of different types of plastic, and the effects of pollution by these materials on animal, human and environmental health, insofar as this is known.
Abstract: A review is presented of the manufacture and use of different types of plastic, and the effects of pollution by these materials on animal, human and environmental health, insofar as this is known. Since 2004, the world has made as much plastic as it did in the previous half century, and it has been reckoned that the total mass of virgin plastics ever made amounts to 8.3 billion tonnes, mainly derived from natural gas and crude oil, used as chemical feedstocks and fuel sources. Between 1950 and 2015, a total of 6.3 billion tonnes of primary and secondary (recycled) plastic waste was generated, of which around 9% has been recycled, and 12% incinerated, with the remaining 79% either being stored in landfills or having been released directly into the natural environment. In 2015, 407 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic was produced, of which 164 Mt was consumed by packaging (36% of the total). Although quoted values vary, packaging probably accounts for around one third of all plastics used, of which approximately 40% goes to landfill, while 32% escapes the collection system. It has been deduced that around 9 Mt of plastic entered the oceans in 2010, as a result of mismanaged waste, along with up to 0.5 Mt each of microplastics from washing synthetic textiles, and from the abrasion of tyres on road surfaces. However, the amount of plastics actually measured in the oceans represents less than 1% of the (at least) 150 Mt reckoned to have been released into the oceans over time. Plastic accounts for around 10% by mass of municipal waste, but up to 85% of marine debris items - most of which arrive from land-based sources. Geographically, the five heaviest plastic polluters are P. R. China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, which between them contribute 56% of global plastic waste. Larger, primary plastic items can undergo progressive fragmentation to yield a greater number of increasingly smaller 'secondary' microplastic particles, thus increasing the overall surface area of the plastic material, which enhances its ability to absorb, and concentrate, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with the potential to transfer them to the tissues of animals that ingest the microplastic particles, particularly in marine environments. Although fears that such microparticles and their toxins may be passed via food webs to humans are not as yet substantiated, the direct ingestion of microplastics by humans via drinking water is a distinct possibility - since 92% of samples taken in the USA and 72% in Europe showed their presence - although any consequent health effects are as yet unclear. Foodstuffs may also become contaminated by microplastics from the air, although any consequent health effects are also unknown. In regard to such airborne sources, it is noteworthy that small plastic particles have been found in human lung tissue, which might prove an adverse health issue under given circumstances. It is also very striking that microplastics have been detected in mountain soils in Switzerland, which are most likely windborne in origin. Arctic ice core samples too have revealed the presence of microplastics, which were most likely carried on ocean currents from the Pacific garbage patch, and from local pollution from shipping and fishing. Thus, sea ice traps large amounts of microplastics and transports them across the Arctic Ocean, but these particles will be released into the global environment when the ice melts, particularly under the influence of a rising mean global temperature. While there is a growing emphasis toward the substitution of petrochemically derived plastics by bioplastics, controversy has arisen in regard to how biodegradable the latter actually are in the open environment, and they presently only account for 0.5% of the total mass of plastics manufactured globally. Since the majority of bioplastics are made from sugar and starch materials, to expand their use significantly raises the prospect of competition between growing crops to supply food or plastics, similarly to the diversion of food crops for the manufacture of primary biofuels. The use of oxo-plastics, which contain additives that assist the material to degrade, is also a matter of concern, since it is claimed that they merely fragment and add to the environmental burden of microplastics; hence, the European Union has moved to restrict their use. Since 6% of the current global oil (including natural gas liquids, NGLs) production is used to manufacture plastic commodities - predicted to rise to 20% by 2050 - the current approaches for the manufacture and use of plastics (including their end-use) demand immediate revision. More extensive collection and recycling of plastic items at the end of their life, for re-use in new production, to offset the use of virgin plastic, is a critical aspect both for reducing the amount of plastic waste entering the environment, and in improving the efficiency of fossil resource use. This is central to the ideology underpinning the circular economy, which has common elements with permaculture, the latter being a regenerative design system based on 'nature as teacher', which could help optimise the use of resources in town and city environments, while minimising and repurposing 'waste'. Thus, food might be produced more on the local than the global scale, with smaller inputs of fuels (including transportation fuels for importing and distributing food), water and fertilisers, and with a marked reduction in the use of plastic packaging. Such an approach, adopted by billions of individuals, could prove of immense significance in ensuring future food security, and in reducing waste and pollution - of all kinds.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conducted interviews with Syrians who recently obtained refugee status in the Netherlands and found that the majority of migrants have access to social media information before and during migration, often through the use of smartphones.
Abstract: Social media are increasingly popular channels of information on which migrants base their decisions on whether to migrate and the destinations where to settle. While social media offer a relatively cheap, easily accessible, and media-rich means of communication, their use is not without challenges for asylum migrants. Various studies describe issues with access and evaluation of the truthfulness of available information for this specific group of migrants. This article discusses social media use by asylum migrants prior to and during migration. This study is based on in-depth interviews with 54 Syrian asylum migrants who recently obtained refugee status in the Netherlands. Syrians were the largest group of migrants applying for asylum in European Union (EU) member states in 2015 and 2016. The findings show that the majority of Syrian asylum migrants have access to social media information before and during migration, often through the use of smartphones. Besides uneven access to technologies, fear of government surveillance restricts the smartphone use of asylum migrants. The results of this study indicate that Syrian asylum migrants prefer social media information that originates from existing social ties and information that is based on personal experiences. Generally, this information is considered more trustworthy. Asylum migrants use various strategies to validate rumors that are present on social media and come from unknown sources. These strategies include checking the source of information, validating information with trusted social ties, triangulation of online sources, and comparing information with their own experience.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors estimate that close to 40% of multinational profits are shifted to low-tax countries each year by combining new macroeconomic statistics on the activities of multinational companies with the national accounts of tax havens and the world's other countries.
Abstract: By combining new macroeconomic statistics on the activities of multinational companies with the national accounts of tax havens and the world's other countries, we estimate that close to 40% of multinational profits are shifted to low-tax countries each year. Profit
shifting is highest among U.S. multinationals; the tax revenue losses are largest for the European Union and developing countries. We show theoretically and empirically that in the current international tax system, tax authorities of high-tax countries do not have incentives to combat profit shifting to tax havens. They instead focus their enforcement effort on relocating profits booked in other high-tax places - in effect stealing revenue from each other. This policy failure can explain the persistence of profit shifting to low-tax countries despite the sizeable costs involved for high-tax countries. We provide a new cross-country database of GDP, corporate profits, trade balances, and factor shares corrected for profit shifting, showing that the global rise of the corporate capital share is significantly under-estimated.
Book•
26 Jan 2018TL;DR: This article examined the role of public opinion in the European integration process and found that public opinion is composed of different types with fundamentally different views about the way the EU should be reformed and which policy priorities should be pursued.
Abstract: The European Union (EU) is facing one of the rockiest periods in its existence. At no time in its history has it looked so economically fragile, so insecure about how to protect its borders, so divided over how to tackle the crisis of legitimacy facing its institutions, and so under assault by Eurosceptic parties. The unprecedented levels of integration in recent decades have led to increased public contestation, yet at the same the EU is more reliant on public support for its continued legitimacy than ever before. This book examines the role of public opinion in the European integration process. It develops a novel theory of public opinion that stresses the deep interconnectedness between people’s views about European and national politics. It suggests that public opinion cannot simply be characterized as either Eurosceptic or not, but rather that it consists of different types. This is important because these types coincide with fundamentally different views about the way the EU should be reformed and which policy priorities should be pursued. These types also have very different consequences for behaviour in elections and referendums. Euroscepticism is such a diverse phenomenon because the Eurozone crisis has exacerbated the structural imbalances within the EU. As the economic and political fates of member states have diverged, people’s experiences with and evaluations of the EU and national political systems have also grown further apart. The heterogeneity in public preferences that this book has uncovered makes a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing Euroscepticism unlikely to be successful.
TL;DR: Quantitative modelling suggests that more than 90% of invasive listeriosis is caused by ingestion of RTE food containing > 2,000 colony forming units (CFU)/g, and that one‐third of cases are due to growth in the consumer phase.
Abstract: Food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods have been applied from 2006 onwards (Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005). Still, human invasive listeriosis was reported to increase over the period 2009-2013 in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Time series analysis for the 2008-2015 period in the EU/EEA indicated an increasing trend of the monthly notified incidence rate of confirmed human invasive listeriosis of the over 75 age groups and female age group between 25 and 44 years old (probably related to pregnancies). A conceptual model was used to identify factors in the food chain as potential drivers for L. monocytogenes contamination of RTE foods and listeriosis. Factors were related to the host (i. population size of the elderly and/or susceptible people; ii. underlying condition rate), the food (iii. L. monocytogenes prevalence in RTE food at retail; iv. L. monocytogenes concentration in RTE food at retail; v. storage conditions after retail; vi. consumption), the national surveillance systems (vii. improved surveillance), and/or the bacterium (viii. virulence). Factors considered likely to be responsible for the increasing trend in cases are the increased population size of the elderly and susceptible population except for the 25-44 female age group. For the increased incidence rates and cases, the likely factor is the increased proportion of susceptible persons in the age groups over 45 years old for both genders. Quantitative modelling suggests that more than 90% of invasive listeriosis is caused by ingestion of RTE food containing > 2,000 colony forming units (CFU)/g, and that one-third of cases are due to growth in the consumer phase. Awareness should be increased among stakeholders, especially in relation to susceptible risk groups. Innovative methodologies including whole genome sequencing (WGS) for strain identification and monitoring of trends are recommended.