European Panorama Research Articles

Cranial selection in the cremated remains of the Iron Age Golasecca Celtic Civilization (Northwestern Italy, 9‐4th century BCE)

AbstractThe Golasecca Celtic Civilization (GCC) developed in the Italian Iron Age, between the 9th and 4th centuries BCE, and is characterized by the predominant use of cremation as a funerary ritual in the Italian area. Reconstructing the steps of the cremation ritual in archaeology is a complex challenge, as many anthropic actions leave only faint traces in cremated remains. Within the funerary rituals of prehistoric and protohistoric Italy, the skull has received particular attention from numerous archaeological cultures and civilizations. The context of via Marconi 2020 (Sesto Calende, Varese, northern Italy) has allowed hinting at this practice also in GCC, through the anthropological analysis of cremated remains found in two different but spatially close tombs. The analysis of the cremated remains identified the selection of some elements of the skull of an adult individual and the post‐cranium of a non‐adult individual in the first tomb, and the presence of only the skull of the non‐adult individual in the second tomb. The possibility of a ritual attention of the GCC reserved for the skull has been proven for the first time thanks to the analysis of these subjects. This work provides new data on funerary ritual behaviors of the GCC, allowing for a better understanding within the Italian and European panorama.

Assessment of a technological solution for helping elderly to monitor and mitigate frailty: case study of frAAgiLe project.

frAAgiLe is a health focused, digital based project that aims at becoming a holistic system for monitoring and dealing with the symptoms of frailty in senior users around Europe. Throughout the last 2 years, the digital solution has been tested in different healthcare and wellbeing centres in Europe. The users´feedback has been positive and the implementation of AI algorithms has become possible after the creation of the necessary databases. The algorithm allows for unification within personalisation, this is a key step in the harmonization of treatments in the European Union. Just as COVID 19 showed how there is a lack of coordination in the data collection process in the EU when it comes to health issues, frAAgiLe is showing how this can be translated to other non-COVID related health situations. In this case, frailty is monitored through a series of tests that rely on international scientific consensus and aim at creating a standard based on extensive testing. The combination and selection of weights for each of the scales within the final algorithm is a major contribution from the research teams involved. The tests have been divided in 3 sets: cognitive, nutritional and physical, each set has been given a specific weight in the formula for the final frailty score, and with each set, each test, depending on how holistic and relevant its content is, has been given a weight as well. Apart from this, an initial assessment has been created in order to harmonize the inclusion and exclusion criteria and how it is met.
 Apart from contributing to the European panorama of digital solutions, especifically for health and wellbeing, frAAgiLe also contributes to the improvement of health and health systems. By aiming at early diagnosis and prevention of frailty, the platform is fighting against a burden that represents the previous step to serious health deterioration, dependency, and sometimes, death. frAAgiLe, therefore is key as a community service designed to enable self-management, as it is a tablet-based platform that anyone can use from home, thanks to the various co-creation sessions carried out. One of its main aims is to avoid hospitalisation, and future implementation will focus on this aspect. We expect more than 500 senior users to start dealing with their frailty in the near future, through the frAAgiLe solution in combination with traditional therapy and monitoring systems. This number of users, together with the perspectives for growth, will ensure the necessary impact on the European health systems as well as, together with the activities carried out for the digital development and the improvement of the AI system, the alignment with 2 of the main pillars of integrated care.

A European Panorama on the Copyright Status of Stage Directors

The 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions states outright in its guiding principles that culture is one of the main aspects of development, which is as important as its economic aspects, and which individuals and people have the fundamental right to participate in and enjoy. Theatrical productions are one of the best-selling forms of entertainment. From a cultural and artistic perspective, they are one of the oldest methods of expression which, in addition to self-expression, is also a mirror of the social and political order. The aim of this article is to present the theoretical, legislative, and jurisprudential positions on the copyright situation of the theatre director. The focus of the article is on the question of how the legal status of the theatre director is settled and regulated in different European legal systems. In several European countries there are no specific legal provisions on this matter. This article is organized as follows. First, the historical and cultural aspects of theatrical productions are introduced. After that, the most important copyright law features of dramatic works are reviewed, together with an overview of some European laws. In the core of the article, the current legal situation – and possible copyright law solutions for theatre directors – are elaborated.

The Beginning of the Early Upper Paleolithic in Poland

Research on the timing of Homo sapiens dispersals in Central Europe is pivotal for understanding the behavioral trajectories of human adaptation to low biomass environments and cold climates. Previous studies on the Early Upper Paleolithic of Poland described a different scenario from the European panorama characterized by the local development of a laminar/lamellar technology from the foregoing Middle Paleolithic and the coexistence of different Aurignacian variants after 35 ka BP. In this paper, we examine this technical diversity by reassessing and revising the chronological and technological information of the key Aurignacian sites in Poland. Our study reveals that the distinctive techno-typological features of the different Aurignacian types are most likely the result of the mixing of artifacts from different chronologies. In our view, Poland was visited intermittently by Homo sapiens since the Early Aurignacian. The deterioration of the climatic conditions during the second half of MIS 3 converted the Polish territories into a satellite area of the Aurignacian settlement system.

Pilot survey reveals ophidiomycosis in dice snakes Natrix tessellata from Lake Garda, Italy.

Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo). To date, Oo presence or associated disease condition has been recorded in wild and/or captive snakes from North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, but the data is still scarce outside the Nearctic. Although Italy is a country with a high snake biodiversity in the European panorama, and animals with clinical signs compatible with Oo infection have been documented, to date no investigations have reported the disease in the wild. Therefore, a pilot survey for the Italian territory was performed in conjunction with setting up a complete diagnostic workflow including SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay for the detection of Oo genomic and mitochondrial DNA combined with histopathology of scale clips. Oo presence was investigated in 17 wild snake specimens from four different species. Four snakes were sampled in a targeted location where the mycosis was suspected via citizen science communications (i.e. North of the Lake Garda), whereas other ophidians were collected following opportunistic sampling. Oo genomic and mitochondrial DNA were detected and sequenced from all four Lake Garda Natrix tessellata, including three juveniles with macroscopic signs such as discolouration and skin crusts. From histopathological examination of scale clips, the three young positive individuals exhibited ulceration, inflammation and intralesional hyphae consistent with Oo infection, and two of them also showed the presence of arthroconidial tufts and solitary cylindrical arthrospores, allowing "Ophidiomycosis and Oo shedder" categorisation. For the remaining snake samples, the real-time PCR tested negative for Oo. This pilot survey permitted to localise for the first time Oo infection in free-ranging ophidians from Italy. Ophidiomycosis from Lake Garda highlights the need to increase sampling efforts in this area as well as in other northern Italian lakes to assess the occurrence of the pathogen, possible risk factors of the infection, its impact on host population fitness and the disease ecology of Oo in European snakes.

Experience of the Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal

This presentation to the Integrity and Ethics in Scientific Research Workshop will focus on some areas of articulation of the issue of scientific integrity and the activities of a funding agency, in particular, the Foundation for Science and Technology. In a first part, a framework of scientific integrity and a set of its sub-areas in the European panorama will be carried out, taking as main object the EU reference document, the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, produced by ALLEA in 2017 In a second part, three of the areas referred to there will be highlighted in the ways in which they are envisaged and operationalized at the level of science policy as well as in the various FCT funding instruments: (i) self- and hetero-assessment of ethical issues within the scope of submission of applications, (ii) peer review, and (iii) the area of ​​open science.

Climate change on extreme winds already affects off-shore wind power availability in Europe

Off-shore wind energy in Europe plays a key role in the transition to renewable energy, and its usage is expected to increase in the next few decades. According to the working regimes of a wind turbine, wind energy production can be disrupted by extreme atmospheric events related to low wind speed below the cut-in wind speed and high wind speed above the cut-out wind speed. The purpose of this work is to estimate the behavior of extreme winds on the European panorama, over the period 1950–2020, in order to investigate the large-scale weather regimes related to them and their impact on off-shore wind energy availability. We detected significant changes in the frequency of high and low extreme wind events, proving that climate change or long-term internal climate variability have already affected the off-shore wind power output. Moreover, the analysis of weather regimes showed that high and low extreme wind events can occur simultaneously over Europe. Our results suggest the necessity to implement efficient European energy management policies, to minimize the deficit in wind power supply.

Developments and experiences of the CHANCE, MICADO and PREDIS projects in radioactive waste characterization

Characterization is a very important step in dealing with materials and waste streams generated during the operational and decommissioning phases of nuclear installations, including nuclear power plants. Characterization allows differentiation between materials that can be released from regulatory control and those that require further treatment and conditioning to become a stable waste form suitable for future storage and final disposal according to its waste classification. Characterization is also needed in the pre-disposal stages of radioactive waste management to demonstrate compliance with the waste acceptance criteria of the facilities that will accept the different waste forms. This work will present the strategies developed and implemented by the three projects for in-depth and accurate waste characterization and investigation of the different radioactive waste packages considered. CHANCE, MICADO, and PREDIS will present their goals, the methods developed, the technologies used and the (preliminary) results contributing to the improvement of the safety and the data and information quality of the waste packages analyzed at the different stages of the waste management process. Special emphasis will also be given to complementary approaches highlighting the usability of the technologies, the accessibility of the data, and the problem-solving of the three projects within the European panorama.

What future for the pharmaceutical patenting in europe: reforming or getting rid of it?

The covid-19 pandemic and the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have once again brought to the fore the issue of patents in the health sector. The current European panorama on the patenting of pharmaceuticals is rather confused and difficult to understand, characterized by a precarious (dis)balance between the commercial incentives guaranteed to the industry by supply-side patents and the regulatory framework in support of public interests on the demand side. Here, we first focus on a regulatory analysis of pharmaceutical patenting and more in general on market exclusivity within the European Union, and then set out some proposals for a radical reform of European legislation. In particular, we believe that there are three major critical issues on the subject that must be addressed and reformed as soon as possible: 1. the management of pharmaceutical patents through the European Patent Office and the parallel network of national offices, 2. the excess of discretion of pharmaceutical companies in the filing of patents and 3. the short duration of market exclusivity on drugs. In fact, the right moment has come to definitively reform the European legislation on pharmaceutical patents in line with the tradition of continental welfare.

Adaptive Reuse Practices and Sustainable Urban Development: Perspectives of Innovation for European Historic Spa Towns

Spa towns represented, for decades, a point of reference for the European panorama of health, tourism and cultural exchange. They have been the first tourist destination in the modern sense, as well as a manifesto for a renewed demand of quality and laboratories for architectural and urban experimentations. A product of territorial relations, they have been able to aggregate ideas, capital and skills in a generative logic. However, from the second half of the 20th Century, these cities underwent a series of structural changes related to health and tourism trends that deeply affected all levels of their local systems. Today, these places are witnessing numerous episodes of degradation and abandonment of their built cultural heritage. Promoting a place-based approach, this paper argues that spa towns could be reconsidered as strategic resources in the construction of the territorial capital and that adaptive reuse practices, if integrated into strategic visions, can represent a driver for the activation of a sustainability transition based on ‘fully circular’ processes. Here, the abandoned built cultural heritage represents an opportunity space, a potential catalyst of innovative synergies, and a meeting point between local and territorial interests. While referring both to theoretical profiles and applied research experiences, the paper frames urban transformation and adaptive reuse processes as an integrated challenge within change management logics. Finally, the paper proposes a set of thematic recommendations in order to stimulate the creation of receptive environments for change and deal with the different times, scales, actors and the economic and non-economic interests involved.

European Panorama on Vascular Surgery: Results from Five Years of FEBVS Examinations

(Angiol Cir Vasc vol. 15 no. 3 set. 2019) Objective: The Fellow of the European Board of Vascular Surgery (FEBVS) examination is a comprehensive exam for Certified Vascular Surgeons or General Surgeons with Vascular Certification. It includes a thorough assessment of vascular pathology knowledge, and includes critical analysis of diverse clinical cases and vascular subjects (clinical viva), critical review of an academic paper, and direct open and endovascular skills examination in independently validated simulators. It is, therefore, increasingly seen as a quality standard for International Vascular Specialists, so that it currently represents the final exam for Vascular Surgery Certification in countries including the Netherlands and Switzerland. Through this work, a critical review of the results of 10 FEBVS examinations was performed. Methods: Data on the results of open technical skills assessment (aortic anastomosis, distal anastomosis, and carotid endarterectomy), endovascular technical skills assessment, clinical viva, and academic paper analysis were collected from 10 consecutive FEBVS examinations. Candidates’ demographic characteristics were also reviewed. A review of both global and specific failure rates, as well as their behaviour throughout the years was performed. Results: Three hundred consecutive candidates, who performed their vascular training in 26 countries, were assessed in 10 different examinations performed over a period of five years (2014 – 2018). Most candidates were male (77.7%), with a mean age of 36 years. The majority of candidates were from the Netherlands (24.1%), although Germany (13.4%), Spain (12.4%), and the United Kingdom (11.4%) had significant representation as well. The global failure rate was 28.3%, and 5.3% of the candidates were granted “honours” for outstanding performance (global score > 90%). Of the failed candidates, 21.2% repeated the exam, with a global pass rate of 56.1%. In terms of the individual assessments that constitute the exam, failure rate was significantly higher in the academic paper review (24.7%), compared with technical open (16%), technical endo (14%), and clinical viva assessments (15.5%). Regarding each of the individual skills evaluated in the open technical section, the failure rate was significantly higher in the aortic anastomosis (29.3%), compared with distal anastomosis (16%) and carotid endarterectomy (17.6%). More importantly, a progressive increase in the failure rate in aortic anastomosis assessment was observed through the years (Fig. 1), in accordance with the known perception of progressive loss of open aortic skills among young physicians. Portugal represents only 4.2% of all FEBVS candidates, with a pass rate of 100%. Conclusion: The FEBVS examination is a comprehensive exam that independently assesses both theoretical and technical knowledge. The failure rate is high, although the existence of “honours” confirms a balanced difficulty level. An alarming loss of open aortic skills is noticeable and reinforces the need for simulation training in such territory. Keywords: FEBVS, Training, Vascular surgery

The Accountability of Multinational Companies for Human Rights Violations, Regulatory Trends and New Punitive Approaches Across Europe

This article investigates the emergence of new regulatory trends in the context of human rights accountability - traditionally characterised by soft law and non-binding guidelines -, where in recent times mandatory non-financial disclosure laws have started to impose on multinational companies new legal obligations complemented by sanctions of a different nature and intensity. By comparing three relevant pieces of legislation in the European panorama, this contribution addresses the reasons why also criminal law scholars should pay attention to the evolution of such regulatory framework, as the prospect of punitive mechanisms aimed at holding large companies accountable for human rights violations in their global operations could become, to some extent, less remote.

El recuerdo de la Guerra de Granada (1482-1492) en la cronística peninsular del siglo XVI

Durante la centuria posterior al triunfo castellano frente al emirato nazarí, la Guerra de Granada continuó ocupando un papel importante en las diversas fuentes historiográficas compuestas en territorio peninsular. A lo largo de este periodo, fueron varios los cronistas que realizaron nuevas narraciones de esta disputa, algunas de ellas de marcado carácter partidista, que vinieron a complementar la información de las anteriores obras del periodo bajomedieval. Tales relatos ayudaron a consolidar aquella retórica de perspectiva imperialista, que pretendía resaltar el nuevo papel de la monarquía hispana en el panorama europeo. Este artículo pretende realizar un recorrido por las más importantes de todas ellas, incidiendo en la lectura que cada uno de estos autores realizó de la definitiva victoria de los Reyes Católicos frente al último reino musulmán de la Península Ibérica.

Los perfiles digitales después de la muerte, una perspectiva europea

Las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación y, específicamente, las redes sociales, generan un impacto directo en el desarrollo de la personalidad de la población mundial. Hasta junio de 2019, la red social Facebook contaba con dos mil millones de usuarios, lo que pone en evidencia la importancia que tiene en la actualidad la protección de nuestros datos en estas plataformas digitales. Sin embargo, ¿qué pasa con nuestras identidades digitales después de nuestra muerte? Esta comunicación pretende exponer el panorama actual nacional y europeo sobre el tema, tratando principalmente la ley catalana acerca de las voluntades digitales cuando ocurra fallecimiento o incapacidad (Ley 10/2017, del 27 de junio), así como otros desarrollos jurídicos en países de nuestro entorno, como Francia (Ley núm. 2016-1321 del 7 de octubre de 2016 para una República Digital) y Alemania (Sentencia del 31 de mayo del 2017 del Kammergericht, Berlin), que puedan servir de referencia para el tratamiento de esta cuestión en España. Simultáneamente, se valorarán las repercusiones que tiene el contenido digital de la persona fallecida en los derechos personalísimos de las personas vivas.

Natural Stones Used in the Orsi-Marconi Palace Façade (Bologna): A Petro-Mineralogical Characterization

Ancient buildings are important components of the Italian Cultural Heritage and, since the Etruscan Period, Bologna (north-eastern Italy) has always been one of the most flourishing cities both culturally and economically in the Italian and European panorama. The Orsi-Marconi Palace in Bologna presents a monumental façade decorated with many sandstone ornaments of the 16th century. Different samples from different parts of the façade of the building were collected and firstly characterised by macroscopic observations to determine the structural aspect. A petro-mineralogical study on the surfaces of the samples was conducted using a stereomicroscope and Optical Transmitted Light Polarized Microscopy. In addition, X-Ray Fluorescence and X-Ray Powder Diffractometer analyses were carried out to better understand the mineralogical composition of the sandstone materials used and the degradation products from the façades of this historical building. The aim of this work was to better understand how to revalue the sandstone decorations severely affected by deterioration phenomena.

Transitioning from child to adult mental health services: what role for social services? Insights from a European survey

PurposeYoung people transitioning from child to adult mental health services are frequently also known to social services, but the role of such services in this study and their interplay with mental healthcare system lacks evidence in the European panorama. This study aims to gather information on the characteristics and the involvement of social services supporting young people approaching transition.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 16 European Union countries was conducted. Country respondents, representing social services’ point of view, completed an ad hoc questionnaire. Information sought included details on social service availability and the characteristics of their interplay with mental health services.FindingsService availability ranges from a low of 3/100,000 social workers working with young people of transition age in Spain to a high 500/100,000 social workers in Poland, with heterogeneous involvement in youth health care. Community-based residential facilities and services for youth under custodial measures were the most commonly type of social service involved. In 80% of the surveyed countries, youth protection from abuse/neglect is overall regulated by national protocols or written agreements between mental health and social services, with the exception of Czech Republic and Greece, where poor or no protocols apply. Lack of connection between child and adult mental health services has been identified as the major obstacles to transition (93.8%), together with insufficient involvement of stakeholders throughout the process.Research limitations/implicationsMarked heterogeneity across countries may suggest weaknesses in youth mental health policy-making at the European level. Greater inclusion of relevant stakeholders is needed to inform the development and implementation of person-centered health-care models. Disconnection between child and adult mental health services is widely recognized in the social services arena as the major barrier faced by young service users in transition; this “outside” perspective provides further support for an urgent re-configuration of services and the need to address unaligned working practices and service cultures.Originality/valueThis is the first survey gathering information on social service provision at the time of mental health services transition at a European level; its findings may help to inform services to offer a better coordinated social health care for young people with mental health disorders.

National Registry of Cardiac Electrophysiology (2015/2016)

Abstract Introduction Year-by-year analysis of the practice of cardiac electrophysiology in Portugal enables assessment of its development over time and of its position within the overall picture in Europe. Objective We present the results of the National Registry of Cardiac Electrophysiology of the Portuguese Association for Arrhythmology, Pacing and Electrophysiology (APAPE) for 2015 and 2016. Methods This is a voluntary, observational, annual registry collected retrospectively. Results The data of the electrophysiological studies and ablations related to the referred years are presented. Conclusion Changes in these data over the years are analyzed and the relation of the Portuguese data in the European panorama and possible implications are discussed.

Português Registo Nacional de Eletrofisiologia Cardíaca (2015/2016)

IntroductionKnowledge of the activity performed in a country enables it to be positioned within the community of which it is part. ObjectiveWe present the results of the National Registry of Cardiac Electrophysiology of the Portuguese Association for Arrhythmology, Pacing and Electrophysiology (APAPE) for 2015 and 2016. MethodsThis is a voluntary, observational, annual registry collected retrospectively. ResultsThe data on the electrophysiological studies and ablations performed in these two years are presented. ConclusionChanges in these data over the years are analyzed and the relation of the Portuguese data in the European panorama and possible implications are discussed.

Making sense of European armaments policies: A liberal intergovernmentalist research agenda

The European defense-industrial panorama is rapidly changing. Among all the initiatives conducted, the European Defense Fund (EDF) and the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PeSCo) in defense can be easily considered as proof of a revived interest in defense-industrial cooperation. Given this European activism, it is not surprising that the academic literature has focused on the main actors and the main strategic and economic drivers that have spurred European defense-industrial cooperation. However, the scholarly literature on the topic has erroneously over-emphasized the cooperative elements, while underestimating the peculiarities of a policy-field which remains characterized by both cooperative and competitive dynamics. Indeed, notwithstanding the presence of stable alliances, common regulations in defense procurement and a number of transnational business groups, the European defense-industrial field remains also fragmented in terms of both supply and demand. The article has two goals: first, it proposes a Liberal-Intergovernmentalist research agenda to explain the complex mix of cooperation and competition in this policy-field. Second, it aims to reflect on methodological issues in studying European armaments policies. Overall, the article wants to stimulate a constructive discussion, both from a theoretical and a methodological point of view, on a peculiar policy area that acts as an interface of industrial, technological and defense policies and lies at the intersection of International Relations (IR) traditional distinction between low and high politics.

Opportunities and Limitations of Crop Phenotyping in Southern European Countries.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot dry summers and frequent droughts. Mediterranean crops are frequently subjected to high evapotranspiration demands, soil water deficits, high temperatures, and photo-oxidative stress. These conditions will become more severe due to global warming which poses major challenges to the sustainability of the agricultural sector in Mediterranean countries. Selection of crop varieties adapted to future climatic conditions and more tolerant to extreme climatic events is urgently required. Plant phenotyping is a crucial approach to address these challenges. High-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) helps to monitor the performance of improved genotypes and is one of the most effective strategies to improve the sustainability of agricultural production. In spite of the remarkable progress in basic knowledge and technology of plant phenotyping, there are still several practical, financial, and political constraints to implement HTPP approaches in field and controlled conditions across the Mediterranean. The European panorama of phenotyping is heterogeneous and integration of phenotyping data across different scales and translation of “phytotron research” to the field, and from model species to crops, remain major challenges. Moreover, solutions specifically tailored to Mediterranean agriculture (e.g., crops and environmental stresses) are in high demand, as the region is vulnerable to climate change and to desertification processes. The specific phenotyping requirements of Mediterranean crops have not yet been fully identified. The high cost of HTPP infrastructures is a major limiting factor, though the limited availability of skilled personnel may also impair its implementation in Mediterranean countries. We propose that the lack of suitable phenotyping infrastructures is hindering the development of new Mediterranean agricultural varieties and will negatively affect future competitiveness of the agricultural sector. We provide an overview of the heterogeneous panorama of phenotyping within Mediterranean countries, describing the state of the art of agricultural production, breeding initiatives, and phenotyping capabilities in five countries: Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. We characterize some of the main impediments for development of plant phenotyping in those countries and identify strategies to overcome barriers and maximize the benefits of phenotyping and modeling approaches to Mediterranean agriculture and related sustainability.