Many European Countries (many + european_country)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


WHY HAS CRIME FALLEN?

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 3 2002
AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
In this paper we consider the reasons why the general level of recorded crime has been falling in the United States and many European countries in the last ten years. We review the time-series statistical evidence on the determinants of crime, and investigate the extent to which these determinants are matched with survey evidence on the offending behaviour of young people. This survey evidence is particularly revealing on the perceptions of young people to various sorts of deterrents, and it also highlights a strong association between illicit drug use and involvement in crime. [source]


Management issues relating to the European eel, Anguilla anguilla

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
A. Starkie
Abstract In many European countries there is growing concern over reduced recruitment and catches of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.). Evidence of the decline, together with possible reasons for the changes as detailed by various authors, are reviewed. It is suggested that the problems need to be addressed now and on various levels. Proposals for management actions, as outlined by the Environment Agency for England and Wales, are summarized by way of example. [source]


The ,fresh start' for individual debtors: social, moral and practical issues,

INTERNATIONAL INSOLVENCY REVIEW, Issue 1 2008
Jan C. van Apeldoorn
The concept of a "fresh start" for individual debtors has been introduced in the Netherlands in 1998. Until then a natural person could be pursued for the debts he could not pay indefinitely. Their position was not different from the unfortunate debtors in many European countries to day. The entrance to the "fresh start- procedure" in the Netherlands is surrounded by impediments, the access is linked to the debtor in good faith, but after three years the fresh start comprises all debts (except student loans), none excluded. In the United States the fresh start doctrine is long established law, the entrance is easy, but many debts may be excluded. Because of public dissatisfaction in both countries the concept has changed. In the Netherlands many debts may now be excluded from the fresh start and in the United States a means test has been introduced. The two concepts of a fresh start for the natural person in both countries, originally so differnt in approach, now converged. Will the twain meet? Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


(A-)typical and (in-)secure?

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY REVIEW, Issue 4 2008
"non-standard" forms of employment in Europe, Social protection
Abstract Atypical forms of employment (part-time work, mini-jobs, fixed-term contracts and solo self-employment) have gained in importance overall in recent years in many European countries. They are often part of an irregular career pattern and carry a high risk of unemployment. In a 6-country comparison (Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Poland) we consider whether and in what way national social protection laws cover the various forms of non-standard employment and the specific risks these entail. Significant variations were found in coverage standards and practices between countries as well as substantial variability within countries in their responses to different types of non-standard employment. A need for further and improved coordination of both social legislation and tax law is identified. [source]


Australian wines in the British wine market: A hedonic price analysis

AGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004
Bodo E. Steiner
The market share of New World wines sold in many European countries has increased dramatically over the past decade. More aggressive marketing, together with a more distinct and recognizable labeling scheme, are often regarded as the keys to the marketing success of these new wines. This article employs hedonic price analysis to identify the values that marketers and consumers place on the information carried by the label of Australian wines in the British wine retail market. Although many grape varieties are given a highly distinct valuation by market participants, our results also suggest that consumers consider regions jointly with grape varieties as proxies for brands. This contrasts with the general observation that grape varietal labeling is the distinctive feature of New World wines. Marketing implications are examined by considering the revenue impact of changes in labeling at the retail level. [JEL citations: L150, D12, C21.] © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 20: 287,307, 2004. [source]


Effects of Brining Conditions on Weight Gain in Herring (Clupea harengus) Fillets

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2005
Sveinung Birkeland
ABSTRACT: Salted herring is an important product category in many European countries. Reduced need for salt as a preserving agent and the increased emphasis on less salt in the human diet has changed the basis for the traditional processing of these products. This has led to significant changes in the processing conditions and in the characteristics of the salted products. In this perspective, the effects of different brine concentrations (10.0%, 16.5%, and 25.5%), brining temperatures (3.5 °C and 17.5 °C), the presence of skin or not on the fillets, and brining time (1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 d) were investigated on the weight gain (%) and final salt content (%) of herring (Clupea harengus). A significant (P < 0.001) higher weight gain of the fillets were observed at the lowest brining temperature (3.5 °C) compared with at the higher temperature (17.5 °C), independently of brine concentration and brining time. Increased brine concentration and skinning of the fillets caused the weight gain to significantly decrease (P < 0.001) and increase (P < 0.001), respectively. After 1 d of brining, the weight gain was in the range of 10% to 12% for both brining temperatures, and at the lowest temperature, the weight gain increased significantly (P < 0.001) as a function of brining time. At the higher temperature, no further significant increase in weight was observed from 1 to 7 d of brining. It is concluded that the weight gain in herring fillets brined according to the present commercial practice is significantly affected by temperature, brine concentration, brining time, and the presence or not of skin on the fillets and that the weight gain may be of high magnitude. [source]


Towards evidence-based medicine in specific grass pollen immunotherapy

ALLERGY, Issue 4 2010
M. Calderon
To cite this article: Calderon M, Mösges R, Hellmich M, Demoly P. Towards evidence-based medicine in specific grass pollen immunotherapy. Allergy 2010; 65: 420,434. Abstract When initiating grass pollen immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, specialist physicians in many European countries must choose between modalities of differing pharmaceutical and regulatory status. We applied an evidence-based medicine (EBM) approach to commercially available subcutaneous and sublingual Gramineae grass pollen immunotherapies (SCIT and SLIT) by evaluating study design, populations, pollen seasons, treatment doses and durations, efficacy, quality of life, safety and compliance. After searching MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library up until January 2009, we identified 33 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (including seven paediatric trials) with a total of 440 specific immunotherapy (SIT)-treated subjects in seven trials (0 paediatric) for SCIT with natural pollen extracts, 168 in three trials (0 paediatric) for SCIT with allergoids, 906 in 16 trials (five paediatric) for natural extract SLIT drops, 41 in two trials (one paediatric) for allergoid SLIT tablets and 1605 in five trials (two paediatric) for natural extract SLIT tablets. Trial design and quality varied significantly within and between SIT modalities. The multinational, rigorous trials of natural extract SLIT tablets correspond to a high level of evidence in adult and paediatric populations. The limited amount of published data on allergoids prevented us from judging the level of evidence for this modality. [source]


Energy security rises to top of agenda in 2006

OIL AND ENERGY TRENDS, Issue 1 2006
Article first published online: 17 JAN 200
A dispute over gas prices between two former Soviet republics has spread alarm across Europe and caused the EU to reassess its energy security. Natural gas supplies are a long term concern for many European countries, but of much more immediate concern is the supply of crude oil and refined products. Last year saw record prices for both (see 'Oil Price Review', October 2005), caused by a combination of high demand in the US and Asia, a shortage of light, sweet crudes worldwide and damage by hurricanes to a large number of refineries along the US Gulf. [source]


Post-War Growth, Productivity Convergence and Reconstruction

OXFORD BULLETIN OF ECONOMICS & STATISTICS, Issue 5 2000
Werner Smolny
In this paper, it is shown that aggregate cross-country analyses of the growth process of the industrial countries should take reconstruction effects into account. The enormous growth rates in many European countries and in Japan in the fifties which often appear as outliers in aggregate analyses of productivity convergence can be understood as a catching-up with respect to the past. Neoclassical capital deepening combined with arguments from growth models relying on the stock of knowledge, knowledge spillovers and technological diffusion as the source of economic growth can explain the fast reconstruction after the war, without referring to country-specific growth factors. [source]


A study investigating obstetricians' and gynaecologists' management of women requesting an intrauterine device

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Kirsten I. BLACK
Background:, Intrauterine methods including the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) and the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) provide highly effective long-term reversible contraception. The reasons for relative low use of these methods in Australia compared to many European countries are not clear, but may in part relate to provider reluctance because of outdated knowledge about their safety and efficacy. Aims:, The aim of this study was to survey Australian Fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists about their knowledge of the risks, benefits and mechanisms of action of intrauterine methods. Methods:, In 2008, we undertook a cross-sectional survey of all Australian Fellows not registered as a subspecialist. The survey was mailed to 1050 practitioners and 701 were returned, comprising a response rate of 67%. Results:, Knowledge about the LNG-IUS was significantly better than for the Cu-IUD in terms of correct understanding about mechanism of action (89.3% vs. 30%; P < 0.001) and efficacy (63.2% vs. 33.5%; P < 0.001). According to the WHO, both methods are considered suitable for use in nulliparous women, yet only 39.1% of providers believed the Cu-IUD suitable compared to 69.4% for the LNG-IUS (P < 0.001). When responses were analysed according to time from graduation, many aspects of knowledge about these devices showed a linear trend, with greater accuracy in recent graduates (<10 years) compared with graduates of more than 30 years. Conclusion:, Both methods are highly effective, non-user dependent and reversible and deserve greater understanding and consideration for use by Australian practitioners and women. [source]


Exposure to antibacterial agents with QT liability in 14 European countries: trends over an 8-year period

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
Emanuel Raschi
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT , Several noncardiovascular drugs with QT liability are currently on the market. , Previous epidemiological studies have shown significant exposure of the general population to drugs with QT liability with similar consumption in many European countries. , Several regulatory measures have concerned medicinal products carrying a pro-arrhythmic risk in humans. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS , The list of antibacterial agents with documented QT liability has grown over the last few years. , Notwithstanding stringent regulatory measures, population exposure to antibiotics with QT liability is still significant in several countries. , The magnitude of the problem is clearly heterogeneous, with remarkable diversity between Northern and Southern countries (lower and higher exposure, respectively). AIMS (i) To classify antibacterial agents with QT liability on the basis of the available evidence, and (ii) to assess trends in their consumption over an 8-year period (1998,2005) in 14 European countries. METHODS Current published evidence on QT liability of antibiotics was retrieved through MEDLINE search and joined to official warnings from regulatory agencies. Each drug was classified according to an already proposed algorithm based on the strength of evidence: from group A (any evidence) to group E (clinical reports of torsades de pointes and warnings on QT liability). Consumption data were provided by the European Surveillance of Antibacterial Consumption (ESAC) project and were expressed as defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). RESULTS Among 21 detected compounds, nine [six fluoroquinolones (FQs) and three macrolides (MACs)] belonged to group E. Use of group E drugs ranged from 1.3 (Sweden) to 4.1 DID (Italy) in 1998 and from 1.2 (Sweden) to 6.5 DID (Italy) in 2005. Significant exposure was observed in Italy and Spain (6.5 and 3.8 DID, respectively, in 2005). Only Denmark, Sweden and UK showed a slight decrease in use. Exposure to clarithromycin increased in 10 out of 14 countries, with a marked increment in Italy (3 DID in 2005). CONCLUSIONS Notwithstanding regulatory measures, in 2005 there was still significant exposure to antibacterials with strong evidence of QT liability and, in most countries, it was even increased. This warrants further investigation of appropriateness of use and suggests closer monitoring of group E drugs. Physicians should be aware when prescribing them to susceptible patients. [source]