7th Framework Programme Research Articles

Placental structural adaptation to maternal physical activity and sedentary behavior: findings of the DALI lifestyle study.

Are maternal levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) in obese pregnant women associated with placental structural adaptations for facilitating oxygen delivery to the fetus? Higher maternal MVPA and ST are associated with a higher density of villi, a proxy measure of placental surface area for oxygen delivery to the fetus, without further added placental vessels. Physical activity during pregnancy intermittently reduces uterine blood flow, potentially limiting placental and fetal oxygen supply. The placenta can mount several adaptive responses, including enlargement of the surface area of villi and/or feto-placental vessels to accommodate fetal needs. Early research on the morphology and growth of the placenta with exercise interventions has shown inconsistencies and is lacking, particularly in non-lean pregnant women. This study is a secondary longitudinal analysis of the vitamin D and lifestyle intervention for gestational diabetes prevention (DALI) randomized controlled trial. The prospective study was conducted between 2012 and 2015 in nine European countries at 11 different sites. In this analysis, 92 pregnant women with a BMI ≥ 29 kg/m2 were combined into one cohort. MVPA and percentage of time spent sedentary (% ST) were measured with accelerometers during gestation. Placental sections were immunostained for endothelial cell-specific CD34. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based stereology assessed villous density, number, and cross-sectional area of vessels on whole-slide images and in selected regions comprising peripheral villi only, where the majority of vascular adaptations occur. Expression of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors was quantified using molecular counting analysis. In multivariable regression, higher levels of maternal MVPA (min/day) were associated with a higher density of villi in both whole-slide images (beta 0.12; 95% CI 0.05, 0.2) and selected regions (0.17; CI 0.07, 0.26). Unexpectedly, ST was also positively associated with density of villi (0.23; CI 0.04, 0.43). MVPA and ST were not associated with vessel count/mm2 villous area, vessel area, or pro- and anti-angiogenic factor mRNA expression. All estimates and statistical significance of the sensitivity analyses excluding smokers, women who developed gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia and/or pregnancy-induced hypertension were similar in the main analysis. The placenta is a complex organ undergoing dynamic changes. While various adjustments were made to account for different maternal contributing factors, in addition to the outcome measures, various other factors could impact oxygen delivery to the fetus. For the first time, we evaluated the association between placental structures quantified using an AI-based approach with objectively measured physical activity and ST at multiple time points in pregnant women with obesity. The observed adaptations contribute to the advancement of our understanding of the hemodynamics and adaptations of the placental unit in response to MVPA and ST. However, our results might not be generalizable to lean pregnant women. The DALI project has received funding from the European Community's 7th Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 242187. The funders had no role in study design, collection of data, analyses, writing of the article, or the decision to submit it for publication. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. ISRCTN70595832.

Efficacy of three benznidazole dosing strategies for adults living with chronic Chagas disease (MULTIBENZ): an international, randomised, double-blind, phase 2b trial

BackgroundTreatment with benznidazole for chronic Chagas disease is associated with low cure rates and substantial toxicity. We aimed to compare the parasitological efficacy and safety of 3 different benznidazole regimens in adult patients with chronic Chagas disease. MethodsThe MULTIBENZ trial was an international, randomised, double-blind, phase 2b trial performed in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Spain. We included participants aged 18 years and older diagnosed with Chagas disease with two different serological tests and detectable T cruzi DNA by qPCR in blood. Previously treated people, pregnant women, and people with severe cardiac forms were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1:1, using a balanced block randomisation scheme stratified by country, to receive benznidazole at three different doses: 300 mg/day for 60 days (control group), 150 mg/day for 60 days (low dose group), or 400 mg/day for 15 days (short treatment group). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a sustained parasitological negativity by qPCR during a follow-up period of 12 months. The primary safety outcome was the proportion of people who permanently discontinued the treatment. Both primary efficacy analysis and primary safety analysis were done in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with EudraCT, 2016-003789-21, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03191162, and is completed. FindingsFrom April 20, 2017, to Sept 20, 2020, 245 people were enrolled, and 234 were randomly assigned: 78 to the control group, 77 to the low dose group, and 79 to the short treatment group. Sustained parasitological negativity was observed in 42 (54%) of 78 participants in the control group, 47 (61%) of 77 in the low dose group, and 46 (58%) of 79 in the short treatment group. Odds ratios were 1·41 (95% CI 0·69–2·88; p=0·34) when comparing the low dose and control groups and 1·23 (0·61–2·50; p=0·55) when comparing short treatment and control groups. 177 participants (76%) had an adverse event: 62 (79%) in the control group, 56 (73%) in the low dose group, and 59 (77%) in the short treatment group. However, discontinuations were less frequent in the short treatment group compared with the control group (2 [2%] vs 11 [14%]; OR 0·20, 95% CI 0·04–0·95; p=0·044). InterpretationParticipants had a similar parasitological responses. However, reducing the usual treatment from 8 weeks to 2 weeks might maintain the same response while facilitating adherence and increasing treatment coverage. These findings should be confirmed in a phase 3 clinical trial. FundingEuropean Community's 7th Framework Programme.

Candidate genes related to acute cerebral circulatory disorders in Preeclampsia in the Kazakh Population

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the population frequencies of alleles and genotypes of polymorphic variants of coagulation and fibrinolysis genes SERPINE1 rs1799889, ITGA2 rs1126643, THBD rs1042580, FII rs1799963, FV rs6025, FVII rs6046, angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction PGF rs12411, FLT1 rs4769612, KDR rs2071559, ACE rs4340, GWAS associated with the development of acute cerebral circulatory disorders in preeclampsia, in an ethnically homogeneous population of Kazakhs with previously studied populations of the world. MethodsThe genomic database was analysed based on the results of genotyping of 1800 conditionally healthy individuals of Kazakh nationality ∼2.5 million SNPs using OmniChip 2.5 M Illumina chips at the DECODE Iceland Genomic Center as part of the joint implementation of the project “Genetic Studies of Preeclampsia in Populations of Central Asia and Europe” (InterPregGen) within the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission under Grant Agreement No. 282540. ResultThe study discovered a significantly higher population frequency of carrying the unfavorable rs1126643 allele of the ITGA2 gene polymorphism when compared with European populations. The population frequencies of carrying minor alleles of the SERPINE1 (rs179988) and KDR (rs2071559) genes in the Kazakh population were significantly lower when compared with the previously studied populations of Europe and Asia. An intermediate frequency of unfavorable minor alleles between European and Asian populations was found in Kazakhs for gene polymorphisms: FV rs6025, PGF rs12411, and ACE rs4340. The genomic analysis determined the choice of polymorphisms for their further replicative genotyping in patients with ACCD in PE in the Kazakh population. ConclusionThe obtained results will serve as a basis for the development of effective methods of early diagnosis and treatment of PE in pregnant women, carriers of unfavorable genotypes.

RAG-AMERICAS-1: CLINICAL RESEARCH IN LATIN AMERICA: FROM SPONSORED TO INVESTIGATOR INITIATED RESEARCH

Latin American clinical researchers had participated in many controlled clinical trials in the 80 s and 90 s sponsored initiated that confirmed the place of calcium channel blockers and RAS blockade in hypertension treatment. Later, non-inferiority or superiority trials like ONTARGET, Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in Combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial and VALUE, Valsartan Antihypertensive Long-term Use Evaluation were performed worldwide including Latin-American countries. In the last decade, the absence of new drugs in the pipeline and sponsors portfolios at one side, and the recommendation of fixed-dose combination as initial treatment tool at the other could be supposed as main causes of a dramatic reduction in sponsored hypertension research. At the same time, a huge increase in investigator initiated research was observed. Scientific national and regional societies in many cases fueled this increase. In this scenario, the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America, CARMELA study was the first large-scale population-based study that assessed cardiovascular risk factor prevalence in 7 Latin American cities and its relationship to hypertension mediated organ damage. CARMELA is an example of an epidemiological study investigator initiated supported by a sponsor in Latin America The FOCUS study, Fixed-Dose Combination Drug for Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention was another example of an investigator initiated research supported by a private company. FOCUS was funded by the 7th Framework Programme European Commission Consortium with the participation of the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares CNIC Madrid, Spain, World Heart Federation, Federación Argentina de Cardiología, and some European research organizations, supported by FERRER Internacional. FOCUS help to understand the reasons of treatment non-adherence in Latin American countries and also to recognize the potential benefits of fixed-dose combinations in secondary prevention. More recently, the Interamerican Society of Cardiology SIAC developed the CorCOVID Latam study which aim was to study changes in lifestyle habits, treatment adherence, and mental health status in patients with cardiometabolic disease, but no clinical evidence of COVID-19 during the pandemic. This study is a good example of the feasibility of non-sponsored research in Latam supported by a regional scientific society structure and members. Five publications related to gender differences in the impact of the pandemic in Latam, Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccination during the pandemic, and the psychological impact in more than 4 thousand patients were the fruit of this society research initiative.

Leaving child and adolescent mental health services in the MILESTONE cohort: a longitudinal cohort study on young people's mental health indicators, care pathways, and outcomes in Europe

The configuration of having separate mental health services by age, namely child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS), might be a barrier to continuity of care that adversely affects young people's mental health. However, no studies have investigated whether discontinuity of care in the transition period affects mental health. We aimed to discern the type of care young people receive after reaching the upper age limit of their CAMHS and examine differences in outcomes at 24-month follow-up between young people receiving different types of care. To assess mental health in young people from 39 CAMHS in eight European countries (Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the UK), we did a longitudinal cohort study. Eligible young people were CAMHS users up to 1 year younger than the upper age limit of their CAMHS or up to 3 months older, if they were still in CAMHS. Information on mental health service use, mental health problems (ie, using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents, Youth Self-Report and Adult Self-Report, DSM-5, and ICD-10), and sociodemographic characteristics were collected using self-reported, parent-reported, and clinician-reported interviews and questionnaires. Mixed models were applied to assess relationships between baseline characteristics, mental health service use, and outcomes. The MILESTONE cohort included 763 young people. The participants were 60·0% female (n=458) and 40·0% male (n=305), 90·3% White (n=578), and had a mean age of 17·5 years (range 15·2-19·6 years). Over the 24-month follow-up period, 48 young people (6·3%) actively withdrew from the study. For young people, the higher their scores on the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents (p=0·0009) and Youth Self-Report and Adult Self-Report (p=0·046), and who had a clinical classification of severe mental illness (p=0·0033), had suicidal thoughts or behaviours or self-harm (p=0·034), used psychotropic medication (p=0·0014), and had a self-reported or parent-reported need for continued treatment (p<0·0001) at baseline, were more likely to transition to AMHS or stay in CAMHS than to have care end. Overall, over the 24-month follow-up period, the mental health of young people improved, but 24·4% of young people reported an increase in problems calculated using the reliable change index, of whom 5·3% had a clinically relevant increase in problems. At 24-month follow-up, no differences in change in mental health problems since baseline were found between young people who used different types of care (CAMHS, AMHS, or no care). Although approximately half of young people reaching the upper age limit of their CAMHS stop using mental health services, this was not associated with a deterioration in their mental health. Young people with the most severe mental health problems are more likely to receive continued care. If replicated, our findings suggest investments in improving transitional care for all CAMHS users might not be cost-effective in times of rising health-care costs, but might be better targeted at a subgroup of young people with increasing mental health problems who do not receive continued treatment. European Commission's 7th Framework Programme.

T-wave alternans poorly prognostic in primary prophylactic ICD patients: a prospective EU-CERT-ICD study

Abstract Background New methods to identify patients who truly benefit from primary prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillation (ICD) are urgently needed. T-wave alternans (TWA) represents a beat-to-beat fluctuation in the morphology of the ST-segment and T-wave. It has been shown to associate with arrhythmogenesis of heart and sudden cardiac death [1]. We hypothised that TWA might associate with benefit from ICD implantation in primary prevention. Methods In EU-CERT-ICD study, we prospectively enrolled 2327 primary prophylactic ICD candidates from 15 European countries. A 24-hours Holter-monitoring was taken from all recruited patients at enrolment. TWA was assessed from Holter-monitoring using MMA method with Getemed Cardioday software. To assess the benefit from ICD treatment, we used outcomes all-cause mortality, appropriate shock and survival benefit. We conducted Cox regression model, competing risk regression model and propensity score adjusted Cox regression model. TWA was assessed both as contiguous variable and with cut-off points <47 μV and <60 μV. Results Final cohort included 1,734 valid T-wave alternans samples, 1,211 patients with ICD and 523 control patients with conservative treatment, with mean follow-up time 2.3 years. TWA <60 μV predicted lower all-cause mortality in ICD patients in univariate cox regression model (HR 1.484, 95% CI 1.024–2.151, p=0.0374). In multivariate models, TWA did not predict death or appropriate shocks in ICD patients. In addition, TWA did not predict death in control patients. In propensity score adjusted Cox regression model, TWA did not predict ICD benefit. Conclusion T-wave alternans is poorly prognostic in primary prophylactic ICD patients. Altough it may predict life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in several patient populations, it cannot be used in assessing benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillator in primary prevention among patients with ejection fraction ≤35%. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): European Community's 7th Framework Program FP7/2007-2013

C-reactive protein as a possible modifier of Lipoprotein(a)-related risk for coronary heart disease in Europe: results from the BiomarCARE project

Abstract Background Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) represents a unique proatherogenic lipoprotein with potent pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory properties. Recent studies demonstrated that Lp(a)-associated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) was significantly increased only in individuals with a high inflammatory burden (i.e. hsCRP levels >2 mg/L). However, these results have been either based on a post-hoc analysis in a highly selected study population with a high/very high CVD risk, or conducted within a multi-ethnic population with significant variation in Lp(a) levels. Purpose The main aim was to investigate whether hsCRP concentration modulates the predictive value of Lp(a) for coronary heart disease (CHD) events in the general population across Europe. Methods Data of 87,760 participants from 10 European prospective population-based cohorts, participating in the Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Europe (BiomarCaRE)-project, were used for the present analysis (79,958 subjects without and 7,189 individuals with established CHD at baseline (primary/secondary prevention cohorts, respectively)). All Lp(a) measurements were performed in the central BiomarCaRE laboratory. Fine and Gray competing risk-adjusted models stratified by study cohort were calculated to assess the association between Lp(a) levels and future CHD events stratified according to hsCRP levels (<1 mg/l, ≥1–<2 mg/l and ≥2 mg/l). Results During a median follow-up of 11.3 years, 4,928 events occurred in the CHD-free subpopulation and 1,772 events occurred in the CHD subpopulation. In the primary prevention cohort, increased Lp(a) was significantly associated with future CHD events irrespective of hsCRP: Hazard ratios (HRs) for future CHD events (top vs bottom quintile (Q) of Lp(a) distribution) were 1.46 (95% CI: 1.21–1.78; p<0.001) in those having a hsCRP concentration <1 mg/l; 1.32 (95% CI: 1.09–1.61; p=0.0052) for a hsCRP group of ≥1-<2 mg/l and 1.40 (95% CI: 1.22–1.61; p<0.001) in subjects with a hsCRP concentration ≥2 mg/l, after multivariable adjustment for traditional CV risk factors including LDL-Ccorr and lipid-lowering medication. In contrast, in the secondary prevention, we found no association between increased Lp(a) levels and CHD events in individuals with a very low inflammatory burden (HR for hsCRP <1 mg/l 0.92 (95% CI 0.63–1.34), p=0.66, Q5 vs Q1)), whereas the association was significant among subjects with a hsCRP concentration ≥1 mg/l (HRs: 1.43 (95% CI: 1.01–2.03; p=0.045) for hsCRP group ≥1-<2 mg/l and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.07–1.71; p=0.013) for hsCRP group ≥2 mg/l (both for Q5 vs Q1)). Conclusion In a primary prevention setting, Lp(a) was associated with incident CHD irrespective of the inflammatory burden. In contrast, among subjects with known CHD, the association of Lp(a) and future CHD events was only present in those with hsCRP levels >1 mg/l. These findings might guide target population selection for upcoming Lp(a)-targeting compounds. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): This work was supported by the 7th Framework Programme Collaborative Project (grant agreement no. HEALTH-F2-2011-278913). The MORGAM Project has received funding from EU projects MORGAM (Biomed, BMH4-CT98-3183), GenomEUtwin (Fifth Framework Programme FP5, QLG2-CT-2002-01254), ENGAGE (FP7, HEALTH-F4-2007-201413), CHANCES (FP7, HEALTH-F3-2010-242244), BiomarCaRE (FP7, HEALTH-F2-2011-278913), euCanSHare (Horizon 2020, No. 825903) and AFFECT-EU (Horizon 2020, No. 847770); and Medical Research Council, London (G0601463, No. 80983: Biomarkers in the MORGAM Populations).

Longitudinal phenotyping of maternal antenatal depression in obese pregnant women supports multiple-hit hypothesis for fetal brain development, a secondary analysis of the UPBEAT study.

SummaryBackgroundMaternal antenatal depression is associated with offspring psychological disorders, but obesity is also widely implicated in maternal depression and neurodevelopment. In pregnant women with obesity we explored interrelationships between antenatal depressive symptom trajectories and multiple exposures implicated in fetal neurodevelopment which could explain these associations, as a prelude to exploring associations with infant mental health.MethodsThe UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT) recruited multi-ethnic pregnant women with obesity (BMI >= 30kg/m2) between March 2009 and June 2014 from 8 UK sites and 1369 were included to model longitudinal antenatal depressive symptoms from Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores using Latent Class Growth Analysis. Classes were compared on maternal baseline demography, biomarkers of metabolism, inflammation and placental function, infection, diet and by pregnancy and birth outcomes. Odds ratios, mean differences and 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated using robust auxiliary modelling techniques.FindingsThe chosen model produced four classes: “Not Depressed” (n=575 [42%], “reference”), “Mild” (n=523 [37·5%]), “Moderate” (n=219 [16%]) and “Severe” (n=62 [4·5%]) symptom trajectories. Socio-economic deprivation and ethnic diversity were greater in Severe and Moderate classes. Dietary glycaemic load and saturated fat intake were higher in Severe and Moderate classes (at 17 and 27 weeks). Higher Interleukin-6, glycoprotein acetyls (17 weeks), glucose (34 weeks) and lower placental growth factor (PlGF, 17 and 27 weeks) was found in the Severe class. PlGF was lower in the Moderate class (27 weeks). Infection was least likely in the Not Depressed class across gestation. Risks of preterm birth were associated with Severe depressive symptoms (aOR 3·05[1·11 to 8·36]).InterpretationComprehensive phenotyping exposes important fetal exposures implicated in adverse neurodevelopment, differing by depression class. This study expands substantially on causal models of suboptimal fetal neurodevelopment and offers potential new targets for intervention in obese pregnant women.FundingJNS was funded by a PhD studentship from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre based at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London. UPBEAT was supported by the European Union's 7th Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013), project EarlyNutrition; grant agreement no. 289346 and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (RP-0407-10452), Medical Research Council UK Project Grant (MR/L002477/1). Support was also provided by the Chief Scientist Office Scotland, Guy's and St Thomas’ Charity and Tommy's Charity (Registered charity no. 1060508). LP and SLW are funded by Tommy's Charity.

Connections matter: a proxy measure for evaluating network membership with an application to the Seventh Research Framework Programme

Although the topic of networks has received significant attention from the scientific literature, it remains to be seen whether it is possible to quantify the degree to which an organisation benefits from being part of a network. Starting from the concept of network value and that of Metcalfe’s Law, this paper introduces and defines the collective network effect (CNE). CNE is based on the concept that a network member is not only affected by its friends but also by the friends of its friends. By taking into account network connection patterns, CNE provides a proxy for quantifying the benefit of network membership. We computed the CNE for the nodes of a large network built using the whole set of common projects among the participants of the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission. The obtained results show that nodes with a higher CNE have access to substantially more conspicuous fundings than nodes with a lower CNE. In general, such a measure could supplement other centrality measures and be useful for organisations and companies aiming to evaluate both their current situation and the potential partners they should link with in order to extract the highest benefits from network membership.

Complementarity of additionalities resulting from European Union funds: Perspective of the users of research infrastructures

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to investigate the complementarity of three types of additionalities: input (growth of R&D investments), behavioral (changes in the internal processes of the entity), and output (leveraging social or private returns), occurring as the result of the 7th Framework Programme and Horizon 2020 European Union funds part INFRA. The empirical contribution is based on results of self‐created questionnaires conducted in 2016 with the use of CATI/CAWI on the unique sample of N = 401 users of European Union research infrastructures from 32 countries. We create a Behavioral Additionality Index (BAI), which is a measurement tool that combines eight types (scale, scope, cognitive capacity, challenge, network, follow‐up, management, and acceleration) of behavioral additionalities. Based on the results of a logistic regression, we find that there is a positive relationship between input and behavioral additionality, as well as between behavioral additionality and output additionality. This last link, however, is not shown to be strengthened by input additionality. No significant differences in the level of the BAI were found between EU countries based on their level of innovativeness as measured by the Summary Innovation Index (SII), although we can observe that less developed EU countries, as well as on non‐EU countries, have higher BAI scores compared to developed ones. The overall results lead to the conclusion that the evaluation of public financial support has to be conducted not only for input, behavioral, and output additionalities separately, but must also take into account their complementarity—with its major focus on the behavioral aspects of this effect.

Exploring the structures and design effects of EU-funded R&D&I project portfolios

Joint R&D&I projects and programs increase performance but entail project-related risks; namely, concurrent projects may share resources, delays may be inherited by later projects, and costs may overrun. With a project portfolio, one can better plan budgets, timelines, and risks, manage the resource-sharing of parallel projects, and map content-related projects as one program. However, large (publicly funded) research programs are rarely designed and managed as portfolios. This paper discerns the structure of the European Union-funded 7th Framework Program from a project management perspective. The proposed method estimates the structure based on the content, collaboration, and duration, which enables very accurate mapping of a naturally evolved, unstructured portfolio using limited publicly available data. We tested the sensitivity of overruns/delays, relative costs, and outputs to changes in the distribution of single projects, multi-projects, and programs. The results indicate that supporting programs leads to an improvement in performance, while the duration increases only slightly. The relative costs and output can be improved by moderately increasing the proportion of multi-projects and programs without the risk of overrun or delay. Although we used data from an unstructured portfolio, we believe that the results are valid for R&D&I portfolios in general. To address research policy, we suggest that understanding framework programs as portfolios of projects and managing their structure support collaboration and increase output with only a marginal impact on the cost and duration.

Collaborating as peers or targeted by science diplomacy? The participation of Latin American researchers in the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

ABSTRACT In this paper, we discuss whether Latin American researchers participate in the European Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP) by joining European colleagues as peers, or by being targeted as part of a science diplomacy initiative. We analyse the participation of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico (LAC) in the 7th (2007–2013) and 8th (2014–2020) programs, based on CORDIS data and the Open Aire repository. We determine the scope of these countries’ participation and the variables that intervene. Results show that funding received by LAC organizations decreased significantly from the 7th to the 8th FP due to an increase in projects with no EU monetary contribution. Co-authoring with European partners or by domestic authors in publications issued from these projects by LAC researchers represented an average 12% of all publications in both FPs, and it was marginal in some projects and decisive in others, depending on the topic of research. We conclude that the participation of these countries due to EU science diplomacy actions was important in the 7th FP and less so in H2020 and that this involvement has become less dependent on their being targeted as a region, or by Spain’s brokerage as coordinator.

ICT Research networks and regional competitiveness: an analysis of the 7th Framework Program

ABSTRACT Using Social Network Analysis and the novel concept of bridging centrality this paper investigates the links generated by the research networks created by two of the European Union-funded Programs, the 7th Framework Program (FP7) and the ICT action of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program (CIP) and their impacts on regional competitiveness. Our findings show a positive impact on the competitiveness of both networks. Those regions with higher capacities to establish bridging paths tend to show higher levels of competitiveness. Moreover, our results indicate that these effects differ between research and diffusion networks. Whereas the FP7-related network impacts all the dimensions of competitiveness, the CIP influences competitiveness only through the innovative channel. Our results highlight the importance of facilitating intra- and inter-regional collaboration networks between core and peripheral regions in Europe.

Technological diversity in collaborative projects: insights into European research policy

ABSTRACT Technology diversity is defined as the ability to perform research and development in different technological domains. We investigate the degree of technological diversity in the European regions, focusing on two main drivers: the regional capacity to obtain funding from the 7th Framework Programme, and the degree of regional network centrality in collaborative research. Our results support the hypothesis that regional capacity to access European funding and obtain a central position in collaborative networks fosters technological diversity in European regions. We also find that the high network centrality in a research collaboration network is correlated to a reduced FP7 effect on technological diversity.

The Zero Violence Brave Club: A Successful Intervention to Prevent and Address Bullying in Schools.

Bullying among peers in schools is a growing problem affecting children and adolescents from an early age worldwide. The consequences of bullying victimization in the emotional development of children and youth and their academic achievement are adverse for them and the rest of the school community, with its negative impact extending into the mid and long run. The Zero Violence Brave Club is implemented in schools in the framework of the Dialogic Model of Violence Prevention, a successful educational action according to the INCLUD-ED project [Strategies for inclusion and social cohesion in Europe from Education] (6th Framework Program of Research of the European Commission). The Zero Violence Brave Club has decreased peer bullying in schools by establishing and cultivating a culture of zero tolerance to violence in educational centers located in diverse socioeconomic and cultural contexts. This evidence-based intervention is grounded in the principle that only the person who denounces violence suffered by a peer and takes a stand always on the victim's side—and those who support her or him—against the aggressor can be considered brave. This article reports a qualitative study of the Zero Violence Brave Club as a successful intervention in seven schools in Spain. The schools are diverse in terms of public or private ownership, religious or lay background, and population served (different proportions of cultural minorities and students with special needs), challenging the misconception that the impact of educational interventions depends on the context. Interviews were conducted with teachers in the schools implementing the Zero Violence Brave Club in their class, using the communicative methodology of research. The results shed light on specific mechanisms through which the Zero Violence Brave Club prevents and responds to bullying in schools, such as emptying of social attractiveness any aggressive behaviors or attitudes. Benefits on mental health and psychological wellbeing are also reported.

Innovative approaches to healthy nutrition and sustainable food matters by concerned parties: Insights from the INPROFOOD project (case study: Turkey) Turkey's outputs from INPROFOOD

ObjectivesFood-related issues, which directly concern all societies and are closely related to the management of limited resources, are always high up on the world agenda. In this context, we addressed healthy nutrition and sustainable food matters using different methods within the scope of Towards Inclusive Research Programming for Sustainable Food Innovations, one of the projects of the 7th Framework Programme. This study presents the opinions of representatives from different sectors towards innovative approaches to healthy nutrition and sustainable food in Turkey. MethodsThree European Awareness Scenario Workshops were organised to apply the qualitative research method to group activities like brainstorming and the study of scenarios. This study considers and descriptively analyses the subjects that came into focus among the results of the workshops. ResultsConsidering the topics discussed in the workshops, it is clear that food policies, food and nutrition themed research, healthy nutrition, rational distribution and use of resources, and food safety practices were the most prominent approaches to creating food sustainability. ConclusionsAs a result of the activities organised during this project, participants found that most food sustainability problems are widespread and commonly encountered. Thus, the relevant sectors must work together to eliminate visible and invisible obstacles between the consumer and healthy food and to ensure the performance of duties and responsibilities by relevant parties in food manufacturing, transportation, etc.

Analysis of Fuel Burn-up Calculations of 3600 MWth Sodium cooled Fast Reactor Core

Fast spectrum reactors are essential for the future of nuclear energy. Therefore, there is a need for continuous research and development of the design and safety of current and future nuclear fast reactors. The aim of this work is to analyze the process of fuel burnup in a large scale (3600 MWth) Sodium cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) core. This design is called European Sodium Fast Reactor (ESFR). It is proposed in the 7th Framework Programme within the Euratom Framework. A new version (version 2.7) of Monte Carlo neutron transport code (MCNPX) was used to design a 3D model of the ESFR core to evaluate and analyze a number of burnup-relevant characteristics. These include the flux and power distributions across the ESFR core as well as the reactivity changes and fuel transmutation during burnup to take into account the changes in fuel composition during burnup. Obtained results can serve as up to date evaluation for the design and well allow for a detailed assessments of the fuel performance inside the ESFR core.

Designs of borders: Security, critique, and the machines

AbstractOver the past 15 years, the European Commission has poured millions of euros into Research and Development in border security. This article looks at the devices that are funded under this scheme. To this end, it applies Multiple Correspondence Analysis to a database of 41 projects funded under 7th Framework Programme. This method of data visualisation unearths the deep patterns of opposition that run across the sociotechnical universe where European borders are designed and created. We identify three rationalities of power at play: territorial surveillance aimed at detecting rare events in remote areas, policing of dense human flows by sorting out the benign from the dangerous, and finally global dataveillance of cargo on the move. Instead of trends towards either the hardening of borders or their virtualisation, we, therefore, find multiple rationalities of power simultaneously redefining the modalities of control at EU borders. A second finding shows where precisely critical actors are located in this sociotechnical universe and indicates that the structure of European R&D in border security keeps irregularised migrants off their radars. This finding calls for more caution as to the possibility to effectively put critique to work within the context of EU R&D.

Selected Aspects of the Teaching Profession in Poland

This article was written on the basis of the text created by the author as part of the Polish component of the Reducing Early School Leaving in the EU project carried out within the 7th Framework Program of the European Union for the years 2013-2018. The text was prepared when the author followed a research apprenticeship program at the Faculty of Education of the University of Warsaw. The article describes the teacher’s profession over the past fifteen years, placing special emphasis on teachers’ education, teachers’ careers, rules for and structure of employment.

Treat Iron-Related Childhood-Onset Neurodegeneration (TIRCON)-An International Network on Care and Research for Patients With Neurodegeneration With Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA).

In order to improve clinical care, coordinate research activities and raise awareness for the ultra-orphan Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) disorders, a group of NBIA clinicians and researchers, industry partners and patient advocacies from six European countries, Canada and the US joined forces in 2010 to set-up the collaborative initiative TIRCON (Treat Iron-Related Childhood-Onset Neurodegeneration). As a research project, TIRCON received funding in the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Union (EU) from 2011 to 2015. After successful and timely completion of the initial FP7 project, funding and donations from industry and patient organizations have sustained the further development of TIRCON's dedicated clinical research infrastructure and its governance architecture, as well as the ongoing efforts undertaken in the NBIA community to establish a network of care. From the beginning, the University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany has been coordinating the TIRCON initiative. It consists of 8 work packages, of which the first double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-site clinical trial in NBIA (deferiprone in PKAN, completed) and a global patient registry and biobank, currently comprising baseline and follow-up data of > 400 NBIA patients have gained particular importance. Here we describe TIRCON's history with all the challenges and achievements in diagnosing and treating NBIA. Today, TIRCON lays the ground for future clinical care and research. In these times, it may also serve as a good example of well-directed governmental funding and fruitful international scientific collaboration.