Short Term Scientific Mission Research Articles

Atypical viral and parasitic pattern in Algerian honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera intermissa and A. m. sahariensis

N. A. was funded by a Short Term Scientific Mission from the Prevention of Honeybee Colony Losses (COLOSS) network (COSTAction FA 0803).

East-West collaboration for grapevine diversity exploration and mobilization of adaptive traits for breeding: a four years story

The action aimed at establishing a collaborative partnership among the countries that share the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) gene pool with the main object to define a core collection able to represent and conserve the highest genetic diversity with the lowest number of plant accessions. The action involved 25 Cost countries and 10 non Cost countries, which represent quite all the range of the Old World viticulture. Around 250 scientists (40.6 % female; 17.5 % Early Stage Researchers (ESRs)) participated to the collaborative activities in which more than 30 institution were actively involved. Forty-four Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) were completed more than two thirds made by ESRs. An original Ampelography Book describing a large sample of elite grape cultivars selected from the native Caucasus and Black northern sea region was published and more than 100 research papers were produced (63 in the present action final publication). Networks of collaborative activities were consolidated. Concrete results involved all the objects of the action, including germplasm identification, testing of advanced genotyping methodologies, accessions phenotyping for phenology, grapes quality potential and mildew resistances; methods for association genetics; procedures for sanitary managements of collections, safe conservation and germplasm circulation. Protocols for phenotyping were released and successfully tested in a large set of grapevine germplasm collections. More than 1000 accessions were genotyped. The design of a tentative core collection referred to east European germplasm was completed.

Health information technology implementation - impacts and policy considerations: a comparison between Israel and Portugal.

The use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in health systems is increasing worldwide. While it is assumed that ICT holds great potential to make health services more efficient and grant patients more empowerment, research on these trends is at an early stage. Building on a study of the impact of ICT on physicians and patients in Israel, a Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) sponsored by COST Net in conjunction with CIES/ISCTE IUL (Portugal) facilitated a comparison of ICT in health in Israel and Portugal. The comparison focused on patient empowerment, physician behavior and the role of government in implementing ICT.The research in both countries was qualitative in nature. In-depth interviews with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the private sector, patients associations, health plans and researchers were used to collect data. Purposeful sampling was used to select respondents, and secondary sources were used for triangulation.The findings indicate that respondents in both countries feel that patient empowerment has indeed been furthered by introduction of ICT. Regarding physicians, in both countries ICT is seen as providing more information that can be used in medical decision making. Increased access of patients to web-based medical information can strengthen the role of patients in decision making and improve the physician-patient relationship, but also shift the latter in ways that may require adjustments in physician orientation. Physician uptake of ICT in both countries involves overcoming certain barriers, such as resistance to change. At the national level, important differences were found between the two countries. While in Israel, ICT was promoted and adopted by the meso level of the health system, in particular the health plans and government intervention can be found in a later stage, in Portugal the government was the main developer and national strategies were built from the beginning. These two approaches present different advantages and disadvantages. Government involvement in earlier stages could provide benefit in terms of interoperability of systems between different healthcare organizations. However, innovation could be slowed down due to government bureaucracy or lack of leadership.The work provides information in order to understand and improve ICT services. Additionally, it provides input regarding impact of ICT on the physician/patient relationship and national policies in the area.

COST action ES1104 “Arid lands restoration and combat of desertification: Setting up a drylands and desert restoration hub”

This paper briefly describes COST Action ES1104 “Arid lands restoration and combat of desertification: Setting up a drylands and desert restoration hub”. (COST - European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is one of the longest running European frameworks supporting cooperation among scientists and researchers across Europe.) This networking project’s focus is to provide a hub of knowledge particularly relating to the practical methods of vegetation establishment and restoration as well as sustainable land management in arid and dryland areas. The aim of the Action is to coordinate experts in many fields (hydrology, soils, ecology, agronomy, landscape planning, etc.) to accumulate traditional and scientific knowledge as well to innovate through collaborations. Education and training are a key part of the Action, and post-graduate students have the opportunity to undertake short-term scientific missions and training schools. The Action will continue for 4 years and provide an important source of information on the combat of desertification and arid and dry lands restoration for all stakeholder groups.

Activation of Toll-like receptor 3 reduces actin polymerization and adhesion molecule expression in endometrial cells, a potential mechanism for viral-induced implantation failure.

Does activation of endometrial Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR 3) affect cell receptivity to trophoblast adhesion? TLR 3 activation in vitro reduces the attachment of trophoblast cells to endometrial cells by altering the cell cytoskeleton and reducing the expression of adhesion molecules in human endometrial cells. It is well documented that the presence of an infection at the time of implantation can lead to implantation failure. The female reproductive tract recognizes invading micro-organisms through the innate pathogen recognition receptors such as the TLRs. Poly I:C was used as a TLR 3-specific ligand and endometrial cells were either treated or not with Poly I:C (treated versus control) in vitro. The experiments were performed in three replicates on three separate days. An in vitro assay was developed using RL95-2 (a human endometrial cell line) and JAr (a human trophoblast cell line) cells. Initially, the percentage of attached JAr spheroids to RL95-2 was measured in response to TLR 3 activation. Next, actin polymerization in RL95-2 cells was assessed in response to TLR 2/6, 3 and 5 activation. Phalloidin was used to assess the mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin by flow cytometry or confocal microscopy. Secondly, the influence of TLR 2/6, 3 and 5 activation on the expression of cluster of differentiation 98 (CD98) and β3 integrin was determined. To further understand through which pathways the TLR 3-induced alterations occur, inhibitors were applied for Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-beta (TRIF), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor pathways. We observed that stimulation of TLR 3 in endometrial cells with different concentrations of Poly I:C led to a reduction in the percentage of trophoblasts attached to the endometrial cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). This decrease was consistent in the Poly I:C treated group regardless of the co-incubation time (P < 0.05). In addition, our results demonstrated that actin polymerization and CD98 expression significantly decreased only in response to TLR 3 activation (P < 0.05). Activation of endometrial cells with TLR 2/6, 3 and 5 significantly reduced β3 integrin expression (P < 0.05). These alterations were shown to work via MYD88-MAPK pathways (P < 0.05). This study has been performed in vitro. Future in vivo studies will be required in order to confirm our data. This is a novel discovery which extends our current knowledge concerning diagnosis and treatment of viral-induced infertility cases. This research was supported by the COST Action FA1201 (GEMINI) by granting a Short Term Scientific Mission and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III by granting Grant PI11/01645. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Landscape As A Resource For Squat Farming

Abstract The contemporary Urban Agriculture (UA) is represented by a range of diverse farming typologies taking place in the urban environment. Nowadays, there is an unconventional form of UA called squat farming. The research object of this paper is represented by the case study of Can Masdeu which stands for a squatted and cultivated land at the northern city border of Barcelona. The goal of our Short Term Scientific Mission carried out in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region was to define and study diverse typologies of UA at different levels and scales. One of these types is represented by the ongoing phenomenon of squat farming. Concerning this form, there are two main research questions: 1) How are landscape and urban structures influenced and formed by the activity of land cultivation? and 2) How is the social dimension of squat farming structured – who are the users, what is their motivation, aim and vision? To answer the first research question, we applied spatial and perceptual analyses, and concerning the second research question, the users have been interviewed within discussions and questionnaires. The results include characteristics of spatial and social dimensions of squat farming described on the case study of Can Masdeu.

Latest Achievements on Climate Change and Forest Interactions in a Polluted Environment

The COST Action FP0903 “Climate Change and Forest Mitigation and Adaptation in a Polluted Environment (MAFor)” involved 29 countries and created a platform for information exchange with experts from different fields, with the following main objectives: 1) to increase understanding of the state and potential of forest mitigation and adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment and 2) to reconcile process-oriented research, long-term monitoring and applied modelling at comprehensive forest research sites. In particular, MAFor translated the existing European knowledge on climate and air pollution dynamics into prospects for forest research and monitoring, with focus on the carbon, ozone, nitrogen and water budgets. The aim of this paper is to summarize scientific activities and achievements of MAFor: the creation of a meta-database for highlighting the available data and integrating the information from European forest research/monitoring networks; the development of a new concept of forest sites for research and monitoring (Supersites); the identification of the main knowledge gaps; and the definition of priorities for forest adaptation to climate change in a polluted environment. The action also increased European capacity building in this sector by organizing five conferences, granting 64 short-term scientific missions, organizing four training schools and publishing more than 100 papers.

Harnessing plant reproduction for crop improvement: an introduction to the special issue

The European Plant Reproduction Network (Harnessing Plant Reproduction for Crop Improvement (HAPRECI)) was established in 2009 with financial support through the COST Action program of the European Commission. Its major goal was to stimulate research on plant reproduction in Europe and to combine interrelated and multidisciplinary expertise of the various laboratories. Scientific goals aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms of sexual and apomictic plant reproduction, and to facilitate the use of this knowledge in the development of new approaches in biotechnology, agriculture, and food industry through improved crops. Further goals aimed to promote interaction between fundamental and applied research areas, and to train young researchers in various methods and disciplines. Eighty-seven laboratories from 28 countries participated in the network. After four successful years, the action will finish in October 2013 with a final network meeting in Oslo. In addition to annual meetings at Brussels (2009), Bristol (2010), Valencia (2011), and Porto (2012), a number of smaller focused workshops and summer training schools were organized. These included a Hypericum workshop in Austria, five PhD schools on plant reproduction associated with flower and vegetative development, plant breeding, and apomixis, respectively, which took place in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy as well as a training school on metabolomics and plant breeding that was organized in Italy this year. The aim of the schools was to train young investigators in state-of-the-art methodologies employed for understanding plant reproduction and to improve crops. Therefore, additionally, a number of shortterm scientific missions (STSMs) were facilitated to exchange PhD students and young postdocs among partner laboratories for the purposes of training, collaborative research, and to promote innovative interactions. The HAPRECI network was subdivided into three working groups with a focus on female gametophyte development and embryogenesis (WG1), male gametophyte development and pollen viability (WG2) as well as apomixis technology development (WG3). This special issue aims to indicate part of the activities and scientific achievements of the network. Each working group is represented by a review and a few original articles. The individual articles show scientific achievements, collaborations among the various European partners as well as the strong correlation between the various research topics. WG1 worked on female aspects of plant reproduction and embryogenesis including the molecular characterization of meiosis, the analysis of genes expressed during gametogenesis, establishment of polarity, and cell specification as well as embryo patterning and the maternal control of embryo and seed development. Meiosis represents a key process during the initial stages of sexual plant reproduction culminating in the formation of gametes. In their review about the control of the meiotic cell division program in plants, Wijnker and Schnittger (2013) summarize the increasing knowledge on the major meiotic cell cycle players in plants. Moreover, they report that meiotic cell cycle checkpoints in plants are more relaxed compared with animals and thus allows modifications of the meiotic T. Dresselhaus (&) Cell Biology and Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Universitatsstrase 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany e-mail: thomas.dresselhaus@ur.de

EU COST Action TD0801: Statistical Challenges On The 1000 Euro Genome Sequences In Plants

New DNA sequencing technologies either currently available or under development will eventually enable eukaryotic genomes to be sequenced for less than a thousand euros. This technologypush will have a major impact on plant genomics and biological research and lead to a dramatic expansion in both the availability of sequence data and the range of sequence based applications. New innovative techniques are required to unlock the information contained in the sequence data and to apply the acquired knowledge for plant science and crop improvement. The wide variety and often unique characteristics of plant genomes pose additional challenges and opportunities. The need for and the dissemination of efficient strategies for handling and analysing high throughput sequence data in plants requires cooperation at the international level to develop new approaches analytical tools and share best practice. This COST Action will establish a network of researchers that coordinate, focus and strengthen national and pan-European statistical genomics and bioinformatics. It will be built on close interactions with other disciplines such as genetics, genomics and breeding. The Working Groups will arrange workshops, Short Term Scientific Missions, a website and Wiki, training courses, and publications to disseminate aims and achievements.

COST 271 Action - Effects of the upper atmosphere on terrestrial and Earth-space communications: introduction

2) ( 1 ) Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Roma, Italy ( 2 ) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, U.K. The COST 271 Action («Effects of the Upper Atmosphere on Terrestrial and Earth-space Communications») within the European ionospheric community has the objectives, embodied in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): to study the influence of upper atmospheric conditions on terrestrial and Earth-space communications, to develop methods and techniques to improve ionospheric models over Europe for telecommunication and navigation applications and to transfer the results to the appropriate Radiocommunication Study Groups of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) and other national and international organizations dealing with the modern communication systems. This introductory paper summarises briefly the background and historical context of COST 271 and outlines the main objectives, working methods and structure. It also lists the participating countries and institutions, the Management Committee (MC) Meetings, Workshops and Short-term Scientific Missions. In addition, the paper discusses the dissemination of the results and the collaboration among the participating institutions and researchers, before outlining the content of the Final Report.

COST 296 MIERS: Mitigation of Ionospheric Effects on Radio Systems

The COST 296 Action MIERS (Mitigation of Ionospheric Effects on Radio Systems) within the ionospheric community has the objectives, embodied in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to develop an increased knowledge of the effects imposed by the ionosphere on practical radio systems, and the development and implementation of techniques to mitigate the deleterious effects of the ionosphere on such systems. This introductory paper summarizes briefly the background and historical context of COST 296 and outlines the main objectives, working methods and structure. It also lists the participating countries and institutions, the Management Committee (MC) Meetings, the Workshops, Short-term Scientific Missions. In addition, the paper discusses the dissemination activities and the collaboration among the participating institutions and researchers, before outlining the content of the Final Report.

The COST 723 Action

An overview is provided of the COST 723 Action, ‘Data Exploitation and Modelling of the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere’. The three working groups are introduced and a summary of Action activities within them is provided. The achievements of the Action are: three international workshops; the LAUTLOS humidity measurement campaign; dedicated meetings to discuss the quality of upper troposphere/lower stratosphere ozone and humidity measurements; two journal special issues; more than 90 papers in the peer-reviewed literature; one international summer school; and a successor COST Action which builds on COST 723. The recommendations made are: for COST to continue to support the short-term scientific missions instrument, as they are perceived to be value for money; to encourage the use of COST money to increase links between COST Actions and other scientific communities; and for the COST secretariat to recommend that Actions consider a summer school instead of a final workshop or meeting. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society

COST Action B20: Mammary Development, Function and Cancer

The COST ProgrammeThe Cooperation in Science and Technology Programme (COST) is an inter-governmental framework for European Co-operation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research. COST is managed by the European Science Foundation, and in May 2005 supported almost 200 Actions involving nearly 30000 scientists from 32 European member countries and more than 50 participating institutions from 11 non-member countries. These Actions are networks of coordinated national research project in fields which are of interest to a minimum number of participants (at least 5) from different member states. COST Actions cover basic and pre-competitive research as well as activities of public utility. The members of each Action are drawn from member countries which have ratified the Action, and their activities are informed by a programme accepted by the ESF management at time of application and reviewed on an annual basis throughout the Action. Each Action comprises three principal activities: the workshops where the science or technology matters of the Action are presented and discussed; the Action's short-term scientific missions, which allow contacts made during workshop networking to be developed; and, thirdly, the dissemination of the Action's science through publication or electronic communication.

The Effect of a Hydroxy Protecting Group on the PtCl2-Catalyzed Cyclization of Dienynes—A Novel, Efficient, and Selective Synthesis of Carbocycles Acknowledgement is made to the EU for the COST D12 Action “Cascade Free Radical Reactions” and for a short-term scientific mission to Madrid (EM). We thank Nieves Arroyo (CSIC) for preliminary experiments, Dr. J. Vaissermann (UPMC) for the X-ray analysis

The Effect of a Hydroxy Protecting Group on the PtCl2-Catalyzed Cyclization of Dienynes—A Novel, Efficient, and Selective Synthesis of Carbocycles Acknowledgement is made to the EU for the COST D12 Action “Cascade Free Radical Reactions” and for a short-term scientific mission to Madrid (EM). We thank Nieves Arroyo (CSIC) for preliminary experiments, Dr. J. Vaissermann (UPMC) for the X-ray analysis

The Effect of a Hydroxy Protecting Group on the PtCl2-Catalyzed Cyclization of Dienynes—A Novel, Efficient, and Selective Synthesis of Carbocycles Acknowledgement is made to the EU for the COST D12 Action “Cascade Free Radical Reactions” and for a short-term scientific mission to Madrid (EM). We thank Nieves Arroyo (CSIC) for preliminary experiments, Dr. J. Vaissermann (UPMC) for the X-ray analysis

The Effect of a Hydroxy Protecting Group on the PtCl2-Catalyzed Cyclization of Dienynes—A Novel, Efficient, and Selective Synthesis of Carbocycles Acknowledgement is made to the EU for the COST D12 Action “Cascade Free Radical Reactions” and for a short-term scientific mission to Madrid (EM). We thank Nieves Arroyo (CSIC) for preliminary experiments, Dr. J. Vaissermann (UPMC) for the X-ray analysis

Biosystematics of entomopathogenic nematodes: current status, protocols and definitions

COST Action 819:Entomopathogenic nematodes, supercedes Action 812:Cold active lines of insect parasitic nematodes in Agriculture and Biotechnology. It functions in the field of Agriculture and Biotechnology and began in July 1994 and will end in May, 1999. The main objective is to combine interrelated European expertise to increase the use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in integrated pest management and to reduce the need for chemical control. Coordination of the Action is the responsibility of a management committee in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding, which has been signed by representatives of 17 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. A research institute in Israel is also participating. Over 40 research institutions and 10 commercial companies participate in Action 819. The EU funding meets the costs related to coordination including the scientific secretariat, workshops, management committee and working group meetings, publications, short term scientific missions and evaluations.