Dairy farmers' strategies in four European countries before and after abolition of the milk quota

Introduction/Objectives: Health authorities are facing increasing challenges to the sustainability of their healthcare systems because of the growing expenditures on medicines, including new, high-priced oncology medicines, and changes in disease prevalence in their ageing populations. Medicine prices in European countries are greatly affected by the ability to negotiate reasonable prices. Concerns have been expressed that prices of patented medicines do not fall sufficiently after the introduction of lower-cost generic oncology medicines. The objective of this study was to examine the associations over time in selected European countries between the prices of oral oncology medicines, population size, and gross domestic product (GDP) before and after the introduction of generic versions. Evidence of periodic reassessments of the price, value, and place in treatment of these medicines was also looked for. The goal of this review was to stimulate debate about possible improvements in approaches to reimbursement negotiations. Methodology: Analysis was performed of reimbursed prices of three oral oncology medicines (imatinib, erlotinib and fludarabine) between 2013 and 2017 across Europe. Correlations were explored between GDP, population size, and prices. Findings were compared with previous research regarding prices of generic oral oncology medicines. Results: The prices of imatinib, erlotinib and fludarabine varied among European countries, and there was limited price erosion over time in the absence of generics. There appeared to be no correlation between population size and price, but higher prices of on-patent oral cancer medicines were seen among countries with higher GDP per capita. Conclusion: Limited price erosion for patented medicines contributed to increases in oncology medicine budgets across the region. There was also a concerning lack of evidence re-assessments of the price, value, and place in treatment of patented oncology medicines following the loss of patent protection of standard medicines. The use of such proactive re-assessments in negotiating tactics might positively impact global expenditures for oncology medicines.

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Mediterranean diet intervention alters the gut microbiome in older people reducing frailty and improving health status: the NU-AGE 1-year dietary intervention across five European countries

Gut ◽

10.1136/gutjnl-2019-319654 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 69 (7) ◽

pp. 1218-1228 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Tarini Shankar Ghosh ◽

Simone Rampelli ◽

Ian B Jeffery ◽

Aurelia Santoro ◽

Marta Neto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Intervention ◽

European Countries ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Interleukin 17 ◽

Fatty Acid Production ◽

Short Branch ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Before And After

ObjectiveAgeing is accompanied by deterioration of multiple bodily functions and inflammation, which collectively contribute to frailty. We and others have shown that frailty co-varies with alterations in the gut microbiota in a manner accelerated by consumption of a restricted diversity diet. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is associated with health. In the NU-AGE project, we investigated if a 1-year MedDiet intervention could alter the gut microbiota and reduce frailty.DesignWe profiled the gut microbiota in 612 non-frail or pre-frail subjects across five European countries (UK, France, Netherlands, Italy and Poland) before and after the administration of a 12-month long MedDiet intervention tailored to elderly subjects (NU-AGE diet).ResultsAdherence to the diet was associated with specific microbiome alterations. Taxa enriched by adherence to the diet were positively associated with several markers of lower frailty and improved cognitive function, and negatively associated with inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein and interleukin-17. Analysis of the inferred microbial metabolite profiles indicated that the diet-modulated microbiome change was associated with an increase in short/branch chained fatty acid production and lower production of secondary bile acids, p-cresols, ethanol and carbon dioxide. Microbiome ecosystem network analysis showed that the bacterial taxa that responded positively to the MedDiet intervention occupy keystone interaction positions, whereas frailty-associated taxa are peripheral in the networks.ConclusionCollectively, our findings support the feasibility of improving the habitual diet to modulate the gut microbiota which in turn has the potential to promote healthier ageing.

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Marketing Raw Milk from Dairy Farmers before and after the 2008 Milk Scandal in China: Evidence from Greater Beijing

Agribusiness ◽

10.1002/agr.21375 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 410-423 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Xiangping Jia ◽

Hao Luan ◽

Jikun Huang ◽

Shengli Li ◽

Scott Rozelle

Keyword(s):

Raw Milk ◽

Dairy Farmers ◽

Before And After

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Data driven inference of the reproduction number (R0) for COVID-19 before and after interventions for 51 European countries

10.1101/2020.05.21.20109314 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Petr Karnakov ◽

Georgios Arampatzis ◽

Ivica Kičić ◽

Fabian Wermelinger ◽

Daniel Wälchli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproduction Number ◽

European Countries ◽

Data Driven ◽

Geographic Proximity ◽

Online Tool ◽

Key Indicator ◽

Efficient Sampling ◽

Before And After ◽

Sampling Algorithms ◽

Bayesian Inference Framework

The reproduction number (R0) is broadly considered as a key indicator for the spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimation of its value with respect to the key threshold of 1.0 is a measure of the need, and eventually effectiveness, of interventions imposed in various countries. Here we present an online tool for the data driven inference and quantification of uncertainties for R0 as well as the time points of interventions for 51 European countries. The study relies on the Bayesian calibration of the simple and well established SIR model with data from reported daily infections. The model is able to fit the data for most countries without individual tuning of parameters. We deploy an open source Bayesian inference framework and efficient sampling algorithms to present a publicly available GUI (https://www.cse-lab.ethz.ch/coronavirus/) that allows the user to assess custom data and compare predictions for pairs of European countries. The results provide a ranking based on the rate of the disease's spread suggesting a metric for the effectiveness of social distancing measures. They also serve to demonstrate how geographic proximity and related times of interventions can lead to similarities in the progression of the epidemic.

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Factors of Renewable Energy Consumption in the European Countries – the Bayesian Averaging Classical Estimates Approach

10.20944/preprints202109.0338.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Atif Maqbool Khan ◽

Jacek Kwiatkowski ◽

Magdalena Osińska ◽

Marcin Błażejowski

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Trade Openness ◽

European Countries ◽

Renewable Energy Consumption ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Before And After ◽

Bayesian Averaging ◽

Comparison Of The Results

The aim of the paper is to identify the most likely factors that determine the demand for Renewa-ble Energy Consumption (R.E.C.) in European countries. Although in Europe a high environmen-tal awareness is omnipresent, countries differ in scope and share of R.E.C. due to historical ener-getic policies and dependencies, investments into renewable and traditional energetic sectors, R&D development, structural changes required by energetic policy change, and many other fac-tors. The study refers to a set of macroeconomic, institutional, and social factors affecting energetic renewable policy and R.E.C. in selected European countries in two points of time: i.e., before and after the Paris Agreement. The Bayesian Average Classical Estimates (BACE) is applied to indicate the most likely factors affecting R.E.C. in 2015 and 2018. The comparison of the results reveals that the G.D.P. level, nuclear and hydro energy consumption were the determinants significant in both analyzed years. Furthermore, it became clear that in 2015 the R.E.C. depended strongly on the energy consumption structure, while in 2018, the foreign direct investment and trade openness played their role in increasing renewable energy consumption. The direction of changes is positive and complies with sustainable development goals (S.D.G.s).

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Demand for Self-Managed Online Telemedicine Abortion in Eight European Countries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Regression Discontinuity Analysis

10.1101/2020.09.15.20195222 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abigail R.A. Aiken ◽

Jennifer E Starling ◽

Rebecca Gomperts ◽

James G Scott ◽

Catherine Aiken

Keyword(s):

Great Britain ◽

Regression Discontinuity ◽

International Travel ◽

European Countries ◽

Telemedicine Service ◽

Medication Abortion ◽

Healthcare Settings ◽

Economic Support ◽

Travel Restrictions ◽

Before And After

Objectives: In most European countries, patients seeking medication abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic are still expected to attend healthcare settings in person despite lockdown measures and infection risk. We assessed whether demand for self-managed medication abortion provided by a fully remote online telemedicine service increased following the emergence of COVID-19. Design: We used regression discontinuity to compare the number of requests to online telemedicine service Women on Web in eight European countries before and after they implemented lockdown measures to slow COVID-19 transmission. We examined the number deaths due to COVID-19, the degree of government-provided economic support, the severity of lockdown travel restrictions, and the medication abortion service provision model in countries with and without significant changes in requests. Setting: Eight European countries served by Women on Web. Participants: 3,915 people who made requests for self-managed abortion to Women on Web between January 1st, 2019 and June 1st, 2020. Main Outcome Measures: Percent change in requests to Women on Web before and after the emergence of COVID-19 and associated lockdown measures. Results: Five countries showed significant increases in requests, ranging from 28% in Northern Ireland (p=0.001) to 139% in Portugal (p<0.001). Two countries showed no significant change in requests, and one country, Great Britain, showed an 88% decrease in requests (p<0.001). Countries with significant increases in requests were either countries where abortion services are mainly provided in hospitals or where no abortion services are available and international travel was prohibited during lockdown. By contrast, Great Britain authorized teleconsultation for medication abortion and provision of medications by mail during the pandemic. Conclusion: These marked changes in requests for self-managed medication abortion during COVID-19 demonstrate demand for fully remote models of abortion care and an urgent need for policymakers to expand access to medication abortion by telemedicine.

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Protection of Minority Communities in Kosovo: Legally Ahead of European Standards—Practically Still a Long Way to Go

Review of Central and East European Law ◽

10.1163/157303508x339706 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 451-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Emma Lantschner

Keyword(s):

European Countries ◽

Willingness To Participate ◽

Minority Communities ◽

Declaration Of Independence ◽

Before And After ◽

Legislative Framework ◽

European Standards

Abstract In this article, the author analyzes the legislative framework for the protection of minority communities in Kosovo, as it has developed from the periods before and after the declaration of independence, and its implementation in practice. She focuses in her study on four major issues: non-discrimination, education for minority communities, the use of languages, and effective participation, including issues of decentralization. The author comes to the following conclusions. First, in each field, quite advanced laws exist that in many respects are perfectly in line or even way ahead of the standards applied in other European countries. But implementation has been lacking so far. Second, on the institutional side, the author draws attention to the multitude of national (and international) actors dealing with minority issues, risking thereby an uncoordinated approach to minority issues and a failure to mainstream such matters. And, third, the reluctance of the Serb community to cooperate with the Kosovar authorities has further been identified as highly problematic, because true reconciliation requires a willingness to participate in interethnic cooperation.

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Cross-national differences in the association between retirement and memory decline

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa223 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jana Mäcken ◽

Alicia Riley ◽

Maria M Glymour

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Aging ◽

Stressful Life Event ◽

European Countries ◽

Word Recall ◽

Memory Decline ◽

Country Level ◽

National Differences ◽

Before And After ◽

Eastern European Countries ◽

Cross National

Abstract Objective Retirement is a potential trigger for cognitive aging as it may be a stressful life event accompanied by changes in everyday activities. However, the consequences of retirement may differ across institutional contexts which shape retirement options. Comparing memory trajectories before and after retirement in 17 European countries, this study aims to identify cross-national differences in the association between retirement and memory decline. Methods Respondents to the longitudinal Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE; N=8,646) aged 50+ who were in paid work at baseline and retired during the observation period completed up to 6 memory assessments (immediate and delayed word recall) over 13 years. Three-level (time-points, individuals, countries) linear mixed models with country level random slopes for retirement were estimated to evaluate whether memory decline accelerated after retirement and if this association differed between countries. Results On average, retirement was associated with a moderate decrement in word recall (b= -0.273, 95% CI -0.441, -0.104) and memory decline accelerated after retirement (b= -0.044, 95% CI -0.070, -0.018). Significant between-country heterogeneity in memory decline after retirement existed (variance=0.047,95% CI (0.013,0.168). Memory decline after retirement was more rapid in Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, and Estonia compared to Northern and Central European countries. Discussion Memory decline post-retirement was faster in Mediterranean and eastern European countries, which are characterized by less generous welfare systems with comparatively low pension benefits. Evaluation of resources that could protect retirees from memory decline would be valuable.

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