The Subgingival Microbiota in older subjects. Impact of Chlorhexidine Rinsing

Background: Periodontitis and caries are common diseases in older adults. Aims: To test if rinsing with chlorhexidine over five years has an impact on the subgingival microbiota. Methods: In a double blind randomized five years chlorhexidine rinse study clinical oral data and subgingival plaque samples were analyzed by the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization method. Results: At year 5 subject mean age was 71.2 years (S.D. + 4.1) (56.2% women). Only in subjects with no bone loss did the chlorhexidine rinse group subjects presented with lower total bacterial (DNA) counts (mean diff: 63.1 (x105), S.E diff + 30.1 (x105), 95%CI: 0.8 to 120.5 (x105), p<0.05) [(i.e.Lactobacillus acidophilicus (p<0.05) , Streptococcus oralis (p<0.05), Eikenella. corrodens (p< 0.05), C. gracilis (p<0.01), F.nucl.sp. nucleatum (p< 0.02), Fusobacterium nucl. sp. polymorphum (p<0.02), Neisseria mucosa (p<0.02), Leptothrichia buccalis (p<0.02), and Selenomonas noxia (p<0.050)]. Higher bacterial loads were found for the green (p<0.05), yellow (streptococci spp) (p<0.01), and the ‘other' complexes (p<0.01). Conclusions: Independent of probing pocket depth, older subjects carry a large variety of bacteria associated with periodontitis. The oral microbiota in older subjects is linked to alveolar bone loss and not to probing depth. Chlorhexidine may provide a benefit in preventing periodontitis in older persons.

Monitoring Programmes, Multiple Stress Analysis and Decision Support for River Basin Management

The identification of plausible causes for water body status deterioration will be much easier if it can build on available, reliable, extensive and comprehensive biogeochemical monitoring data (preferably aggregated in a database). A plausible identification of such causes is a prerequisite for well-informed decisions on which mitigation or remediation measures to take. In this chapter, first a rationale for an extended monitoring programme is provided; it is then compared to the one required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This proposal includes a list of relevant parameters that are needed for an integrated, a priori status assessment. Secondly, a few sophisticated statistical tools are described that subsequently allow for the estiation of the magnitude of impairment as well as the likely relative importance of different stressors in a multiple stressed environment. The advantages and restrictions of these rather complicated analytical methods are discussed. Finally, the use of Decision Support Systems (DSS) is advocated with regard to the specific WFD implementation requirements.

The views of European clinicians on guidelines for long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND Evidence-based guidelines are needed to guide effective long-term follow-up (LTFU) of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) at risk of late adverse effects (LAEs). We aimed to ascertain the use of LTFU guidelines throughout Europe, and seek views on the need for pan-European LTFU guidelines. PROCEDURES One expert clinician from each of 44 European countries was invited to participate in an online survey. Information was sought regarding the use and content of LTFU guidelines in the respondent's centre and country, and their views about developing pan-European LTFU guidelines. RESULTS Thirty-one countries (70%) responded, including 24 of 26 full EU countries (92%). LTFU guidelines were implemented nationally in 17 countries (55%). All guidelines included recommendations about physical LAEs, specific risk groups and frequency of surveillance, and the majority about psychosocial LAEs (70%), and healthy lifestyle promotion (65%). A minority of guidelines described recommendations about transition to age-appropriate LTFU services (22%), where LTFU should be performed (22%) and by whom (30%). Most respondents (94%) agreed on the need for pan-European LTFU guidelines, specifically including recommendations about surveillance for specific physical LAEs (97%), action to be taken if a specific LAE is detected (90%), minimum requirements for LTFU (93%), transition and health promotion (both 87%). CONCLUSIONS Guidelines are not universally used throughout Europe. However, there is strong support for developing pan-European LTFU guidelines for CCS. PanCareSurFup (www.pancare.eu) will collaborate with partners to develop such guidelines, including recommendations for hitherto relatively neglected topics, such as minimum LTFU requirements, transition and health promotion.

European summer temperatures since Roman times

The spatial context is critical when assessing present-day climate anomalies, attributing them to potential forcings and making statements regarding their frequency and severity in a long-term perspective. Recent international initiatives have expanded the number of high-quality proxy-records and developed new statistical reconstruction methods. These advances allow more rigorous regional past temperature reconstructions and, in turn, the possibility of evaluating climate models on policy-relevant, spatio-temporal scales. Here we provide a new proxy-based, annually-resolved, spatial reconstruction of the European summer (June–August) temperature fields back to 755 CE based on Bayesian hierarchical modelling (BHM), together with estimates of the European mean temperature variation since 138 BCE based on BHM and composite-plus-scaling (CPS). Our reconstructions compare well with independent instrumental and proxy-based temperature estimates, but suggest a larger amplitude in summer temperature variability than previously reported. Both CPS and BHM reconstructions indicate that the mean 20th century European summer temperature was not significantly different from some earlier centuries, including the 1st, 2nd, 8th and 10th centuries CE. The 1st century (in BHM also the 10th century) may even have been slightly warmer than the 20th century, but the difference is not statistically significant. Comparing each 50 yr period with the 1951–2000 period reveals a similar pattern. Recent summers, however, have been unusually warm in the context of the last two millennia and there are no 30 yr periods in either reconstruction that exceed the mean average European summer temperature of the last 3 decades (1986–2015 CE). A comparison with an ensemble of climate model simulations suggests that the reconstructed European summer temperature variability over the period 850–2000 CE reflects changes in both internal variability and external forcing on multi-decadal time-scales. For pan-European temperatures we find slightly better agreement between the reconstruction and the model simulations with high-end estimates for total solar irradiance. Temperature differences between the medieval period, the recent period and the Little Ice Age are larger in the reconstructions than the simulations. This may indicate inflated variability of the reconstructions, a lack of sensitivity and processes to changes in external forcing on the simulated European climate and/or an underestimation of internal variability on centennial and longer time scales.

Metodología para la estimación de indicadores armonizados a partir de los inventarios forestales nacionales europeos con especial énfasis en la biodiversidad forestal

Durante las últimas décadas el objetivo principal de la silvicultura y la gestión forestal en Europa ha pasado de ser la producción de madera a ser la gestión sostenible de los ecosistemas, por lo que se deben considerar todos los bienes y servicios que proporcionan los bosques. En consecuencia, es necesario contar con información forestal periódica de diversos indicadores forestales a nivel europeo para apoyar el desarrollo y la implementación de políticas medioambientales y que se realice una gestión adecuada. Para ello, se requiere un seguimiento intensivo sobre el estado de los bosques, por lo que los Inventarios Forestales Nacionales (IFN), (principal fuente de información forestal a gran escala), han aumentado el número de variables muestreadas para cumplir con los crecientes requerimientos de información. Sin embargo, las estimaciones proporcionadas por los diferentes países no son fácilmente comparables debido a las diferencias en las definiciones, los diseños de muestreo, las variables medidas y los protocolos de medición. Por esto, la armonización de los datos que proporcionan los diferentes países es fundamental para la contar con una información forestal sólida y fiable en la Unión europea (UE). La presente tesis tiene dos objetivos principales: (i) establecer el diseño de una metodología para evaluar la biodiversidad forestal en el marco del Inventario forestal nacional de España teniendo en cuenta las diferentes iniciativas nacionales e internacionales, con el objetivo de producir estimaciones comparables con las de otros países de la UE y (ii) armonizar los indicadores más relevantes para satisfacer los requerimientos nacionales e internacionales. Como consecuencia del estudio realizado para alcanzar el primer objetivo, la metodología diseñada para estimar la biodiversidad fue adoptada por el Tercer Inventario forestal nacional. Ésta se componía de indicadores agrupados en: cobertura del suelo, composición de árboles y especies de arbustos, riqueza de especies herbáceas y helechos, especies amenazadas, estructura, madera muerta, y líquenes epífitos. Tras el análisis del diseño metodológico y de los datos proporcionados, se observó la conveniencia de modificarla con el fin de optimizar los costes, viabilidad, calidad y cantidad de los datos registrados. En consecuencia, en el Cuarto Inventario Forestal Nacional se aplica una metodología modificada, puesto que se eliminó el muestreo de especies herbáceas y helechos, de líquenes epífitos y de especies amenazadas, se modificaron los protocolos de la toma de datos de estructura y madera muerta y se añadió el muestreo de especies invasoras, edad, ramoneo y grado de naturalidad de la masa. En lo que se refiere al segundo objetivo, se ha avanzado en la armonización de tres grupos de variables considerados como relevantes en el marco de los IFN: los indicadores de vegetación no arbórea (que juegan un papel relevante en los ecosistemas, es donde existe la mayor diversidad de plantas y hasta ahora no se conocían los datos muestreados en los IFN), la determinación de los árboles añosos (que tienen un importante papel como nicho ecológico y su identificación es especialmente relevante para la evaluación de la biodiversidad forestal) y el bosque disponible para el suministro de madera (indicador básico de los requerimientos internacionales de información forestal). Se llevó a cabo un estudio completo de la posible armonización de los indicadores de la vegetación no arbórea en los IFN. Para ello, se identificaron y analizaron las diferentes definiciones y diseños de muestreo empleados por los IFN, se establecieron definiciones de referencia y se propusieron y analizaron dos indicadores que pudiesen ser armonizados: MSC (mean species cover) que corresponde a la media de la fracción de cabida cubierta de cada especie por tipo de bosque y MTC (mean total cover). Se estableció una nueva metodología que permite identificar los árboles añosos con los datos proporcionados por los inventarios forestales nacionales con el objetivo de proporcionar una herramienta eficaz para facilitar la gestión forestal considerando la diversidad de los sistemas forestales. Se analizó el concepto de "bosque disponible para el suministro de madera" (FAWS) estudiando la consistencia de la información internacional disponible con el fin de armonizar su estimación y de proporcionar recomendaciones para satisfacer los requerimientos europeos. Como resultado, se elaboró una nueva definición de referencia de FAWS (que será adoptada por el proceso paneuropeo) y se analiza el impacto de la adopción de esta nueva definición en siete países europeos. El trabajo realizado en esta tesis, puede facilitar el suministrar y/o armonizar parcial o totalmente casi la mitad de los indicadores de información forestal solicitados por los requerimientos internacionales (47%). De éstos, prácticamente un 85% tienen relación con los datos inventariados empleando la metodología propuesta para la estimación de la biodiversidad forestal, y el resto, con el establecimiento de la definición de bosque disponible para el suministro de madera. No obstante, y pese a que esta tesis supone un avance importante, queda patente que las necesidades de información forestal son cambiantes y es imprescindible continuar el proceso de armonización de los IFN europeos. ABSTRACT Over the last few decades, the objectives on forestry and forest management in Europe have shifted from being primarily focused on wood production to sustainable ecosystem management, which should consider all the goods and services provided by the forest. Therefore, there is a continued need for forest indicators and assessments at EU level to support the development and implementation of a number of European environmental policies and to conduct a proper forest management. To address these questions, intensive monitoring on the status of forests is required. Therefore, the scope of National Forest Inventories (NFIs), (primary source of data for national and large-area assessments), has been broadened to include new variables to meet these increasing information requirements. However, estimates produced by different countries are not easily comparable because of differences in NFI definitions, plot configurations, measured variables, and measurement protocols. As consequence, harmonizing data produced at national level is essential for the production of sound EU forest information. The present thesis has two main aims: (i) to establish a methodology design to assess forest biodiversity in the frame of the Spanish National Forest Inventory taking into account the different national and international initiatives with the intention to produce comparable estimates with other EU countries and (ii) to harmonize relevant indicators for national and international requirements. In consequence of the work done related to the first objective, the established methodology to estimate forest biodiversity was adopted and launched under the Third National Forest Inventory. It was composed of indicators grouped into: cover, woody species composition, richness of herbaceous species and ferns, endangered species, stand structure, dead wood, and epiphytic lichens. This methodology was analyzed considering the provided data, time costs, feasibility, and requirements. Consequently, in the ongoing Fourth National Forest Inventory a modified methodology is applied: sampling of herbaceous species and ferns, epiphytic lichens and endangered species were removed, protocols regarding structure and deadwood were modified, and sampling of invasive species, age, browsing impact and naturalness were added. As regards the second objective, progress has been made in harmonizing three groups of variables considered relevant in the context of IFN: Indicators of non-tree vegetation (which play an important role in forest ecosystems, it is where the highest diversity of plants occur and so far the related sampled data in NFIs were not known), the identification of old-growth trees (which have an important role as ecological niche and its identification is especially relevant for the assessment of forest biodiversity) and the available forest for wood supply (basic indicator of international forestry information requirements). A complete analysis of ground vegetation harmonization possibilities within NFIs frame was carried on by identifying and analyzing the different definitions and sampling techniques used by NFIs, providing reference definitions related to ground vegetation and proposing and analyzing two ground vegetation harmonized indicators: “Mean species cover” (MSC) and “Mean total cover” (MTC) for shrubs by European forest categories. A new methodology based on NFI data was established with the aim to provide an efficient tool for policy makers to estimate the number of old-growth trees and thus to be able to perform the analysis of the effect of forest management on the diversity associated to forest systems. The concept of “forest available for wood supply” (FAWS) was discussed and clarified, analyzing the consistency of the available international information on FAWS in order to provide recommendations for data harmonization at European level regarding National Forest Inventories (NFIs). As a result, a new reference definition of FAWS was provided (which will be adopted in the pan-European process) and the consequences of the use of this new definition in seven European countries are analyzed. The studies carried on in this thesis, can facilitate the supply and/or harmonization partially or fully of almost half of the forest indicators (47%) needed for international requirements. Of these, nearly 85% are related to inventoried data using the proposed methodology for the estimation of forest biodiversity, and the rest, with the establishment of the definition of forest available for wood supply. However, despite this thesis imply an important development, forest information needs are changing and it is imperative to continue the process of harmonization of European NFIs.

The European Citizens‘ Initiative – Chances, Constraints and Limits. IHS Political Science Series No. 134, April 2013

In order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of European Union citizenship under the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, the year 2013 has been designated by the European Commission as the ‘European Year of Citizens’. The European Citizen’s Initiative (ECI) – labelled by the Commission as a ‘direct gateway through which citizens can make their voices heard in Brussels’ - may emerge in the European awareness as a new appealing platform for policy-shaping and communication. The ECI, through its transnational vox civilis character, figures among the most important novelties in the Lisbon Treaty and in the long run may facilitate and accelerate the bottom-up building of a European demos. The question is, however, whether the mechanism of pan-European signature collection is strong enough to face the democratic challenges present in the EU, especially during the ongoing financial crisis.

Could European Governance Ideas Improve Federal-provincial Relations in Canada? EDAP 6/2013

Over the past seventeen years Canada has decentralized many social programmes, moving responsibility from the federal government to 13 provinces and territories through bilateral federal-provincial agreements. In contrast, the European Union (EU) has moved in the opposite direction, building pan-European approaches and establishing new processes to facilitate multilateral collaboration among the 28 EU member states. This has been done through a new governance approach called the Open Method of Coordination (OMC). Using a detailed case study − employment policy − this paper explores whether Canada could learn from OMC governance ideas to re-build a pan-Canadian dimension to employment policy and improve the performance of its intergovernmental relations system. Concrete lessons for Canada to improve decentralized governance are suggested: consolidating the different bilateral agreements; using benchmarking instead of controls in fiscal transfers; undertaking research, analysis, and comparisons in order to facilitate mutual learning; revitalizing intergovernmental structures in light of devolution; and engaging social partners, civil society and other stakeholders. Post-devolution Canada is not doing badly in managing employment policy, but could do better. Looking to the EU for ideas on new ways to collaborate provides a chance for setting a forward looking agenda that could ultimately result not only in better labour market outcomes, but also improvements to one small part of Canada’s often fractious federation.

Why come here if I can go there? Assessing the ‘Attractiveness’ of the EU’s Blue Card Directive for ‘Highly Qualified’ Immigrants. Paper on Liberty and Security in Europe No. 60, 14 October 2013

This paper analyses the attractiveness of the EU’s Blue Card Directive – the flagship of the EU’s labour immigration policy – for so-called ‘highly qualified’ immigrant workers from outside the EU. For this purpose, the paper deconstructs the understanding of ‘attractiveness’ in the Blue Card Directive as shaped by the various EU decision-making actors during the legislative process. It is argued that the Blue Card Directive sets forth minimum standards providing for a common floor – not a common ceiling: the Directive did not, as originally envisaged by the European Commission, create one European highly skilled admission scheme. This raises questions regarding its concrete use. A critical focus is placed on the personal scope of the Blue Card Directive and the level of rights offered, and a first comparative perspective on the implementation of the Directive in five member states is provided.

The European Union Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020: How to do more for less? IES Policy Brief Issue 2013/05 • May 2013

The European Council meeting on 7 and 8 February 2013 attracted an unusual level of attention from media and citizens. For a couple of days, Europe played a more important role in national politics and news. Sensation-frenzied media and excited politicians spouted notions of ‘a battle’, ‘winners’, ‘losers’ or ‘striking deals’, as if Europe had gone back to the time when its military powers still conflicted. After more than 24 hours of intense negotiations, the respective Member States leaders left Brussels with ‘good news’ for their citizens. However, those with more Euro-federalist feelings were left with a sense of non-accomplishment and missed opportunities, not only because the EU budget for the first time in history was set for a net decrease, but also because the European Council’s conclusions did not contain any ground-breaking changes to this system. Nevertheless, the European Parliament (EP) immediately reminded Europe about its role and outlined its conditions for further negotiations. Thus, the supporters of a modern and stronger EU budget still see a chance in the consent procedure and hope to shift the focus of the debate from the juste retour spirit to the consideration of the European common good. Is there still a chance for such a shift? What issues are at stake?

The Emission Trading Scheme reform: will the Commission's proposal save the system? EPC Policy Brief, 29 May 2015

The European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), proposed by the Commission in 2001, entered into force in 2005. It was the flagship instrument of an ambitious policy aiming to reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses in the EU by making emission allowances a freely tradable ‘financial commodity’. However, in recent years, the cracks in the system have begun to show as the price of these CO2 emission allowances has dropped. In this Policy Brief, Jørgen Knud Henningsen argues that the envisaged ETS reform may not be enough to address the system’s shortcomings, and that there should be a more open discussion about its potential if it is to contribute to the EU’s goal of a largely de-carbonised economy by 2050.

Interoperability of Cross-Border European Egovernment Services: Some Design Issues

The authors analyse some of the research outcomes achieved during the implementation of the EC GUIDE research project “Creating an European Identity Management Architecture for eGovernment”, as well as their personal experience. The project goals and achievements are however considered in a broader context. The key role of Identity in the Information Society was emphasised, that the research and development in this field is in its initial phase. The scope of research related to Identity, including the one related to Identity Management and Interoperability of Identity Management Systems, is expected to be further extended. The authors analyse the abovementioned issues in the context established by the EC European Interoperability Framework (EIF) as a reference document on interoperability for the Interoperable Delivery of European eGovernment Services to Public Administrations, Business and Citizens (IDABC) Work Programme. This programme aims at supporting the pan-European delivery of electronic government services.

A review of road structure data in six European countries

The European Union has expanded significantly in recent years. Sustainable trade within the Union, leading to economic growth to the benefit of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ member states is thus extremely important. The road infrastructure is strategic and vital to such development since an uneven transport infrastructure, in terms of capacity and condition, has the potential to reinforce uneven development trends and hinder economic convergence of old and new member states. In the decades since their design and construction, loading conditions have significantly changed for many major highway infrastructure elements/networks owing primarily to increased freight volumes and vehicle sizes. This, coupled with the gradual deterioration of a significant number of highway structures due to their age, and the absence of a pan-European assessment framework, can be expected to affect the smooth functioning of the infrastructure in its as-built condition. Increased periods of reduced flow can be expected owing to planned and unplanned interventions for repair/rehabilitation. This paper reports the findings of a survey regarding the current status of the highway infrastructure elements in six countries within the European Union as reported by the owners/operators. The countries surveyed include a cross-section of ‘existing’ older countries and ‘new’ member states. The current situations for bridges, culverts, tunnels and retaining walls are reported, along with their potential replacement costs. The findings act as a departure point for further studies in support of a centralised and/or synchronised EU approach to infrastructure maintenance management. Information in the form presented in this paper is central to any future decision-making frameworks in terms of trade route choice and operations, monetary investment, optimised maintenance, management and rehabilitation of the built infrastructure and the economic integration of the newly joined member states.

E-RUN version 1.1: Observational gridded runoff estimates for Europe, link to data in NetCDF format (69 MB)

River runoff is an essential climate variable as it is directly linked to the terrestrial water balance and controls a wide range of climatological and ecological processes. Despite its scientific and societal importance, there are to date no pan-European observation-based runoff estimates available. Here we employ a recently developed methodology to estimate monthly runoff rates on regular spatial grid in Europe. For this we first assemble an unprecedented collection of river flow observations, combining information from three distinct data bases. Observed monthly runoff rates are first tested for homogeneity and then related to gridded atmospheric variables (E-OBS version 12) using machine learning. The resulting statistical model is then used to estimate monthly runoff rates (December 1950 - December 2015) on a 0.5° x 0.5° grid. The performance of the newly derived runoff estimates is assessed in terms of cross validation. The paper closes with example applications, illustrating the potential of the new runoff estimates for climatological assessments and drought monitoring.

E-RUN version 1.0: Observational gridded runoff estimates for Europe, link to data in NetCDF format (68 MB)

River runoff is an essential climate variable as it is directly linked to the terrestrial water balance and controls a wide range of climatological and ecological processes. Despite its scientific and societal importance, there are to date no pan-European observation-based runoff estimates available. Here we employ a recently developed methodology to estimate monthly runoff rates on regular spatial grid in Europe. For this we first collect an unprecedented collection of river flow observations, combining information from three distinct data bases. Observed monthly runoff rates are first tested for homogeneity and then related to gridded atmospheric variables (E-OBS version 11) using machine learning. The resulting statistical model is then used to estimate monthly runoff rates (December 1950-December 2014) on a 0.5° × 0.5° grid. The performance of the newly derived runoff estimates is assessed in terms of cross validation. The paper closes with example applications, illustrating the potential of the new runoff estimates for climatological assessments and drought monitoring.

A systematic review of methods to assess intake of fruits and vegetables among healthy European adults and children: a DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) study

Evidence suggests that health benefits are associated with consuming recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables (F&V), yet standardised assessment methods to measure F&V intake are lacking. The current review aims to identify methods to assess F&V intake among children and adults in pan-European studies and inform the development of the DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) toolbox of methods suitable for use in future European studies. A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases and by hand-searching reference lists. English-language studies of any design which assessed F&V intake were included in the review. Studies involving two or more European countries were included in the review. Healthy, free-living children or adults. The review identified fifty-one pan-European studies which assessed F&V intake. The FFQ was the most commonly used (n 42), followed by 24 h recall (n 11) and diet records/diet history (n 7). Differences existed between the identified methods; for example, the number of F&V items on the FFQ and whether potatoes/legumes were classified as vegetables. In total, eight validated instruments were identified which assessed F&V intake among adults, adolescents or children. The current review indicates that an agreed classification of F&V is needed in order to standardise intake data more effectively between European countries. Validated methods used in pan-European populations encompassing a range of European regions were identified. These methods should be considered for use by future studies focused on evaluating intake of F&V.