Case Study - Denmark, Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation (SoCo Project)

This Technical Note 'Case Study ¿ Denmark' is part of a series of case studies within the ¿Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation¿ (SoCo) project. Ten case studies were carried out in Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom between spring and summer 2008. The selection of case study areas was designed to capture differences in soil degradation processes, soil types, climatic conditions, farm structures and farming practices, institutional settings and policy priorities. A harmonised methodological approach was pursued in order to gather insights from a range of contrasting conditions over a geographically diverse area. The case studies were carried out by local experts to reflect the specificities of the selected case studies.JRC.DDG.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Decision support for renewal and retrofitting of the fleet of offshore supply vessels to guide the transition towards zero-emission logistics

Denne masteroppgaven introduserer en matematisk model som løser det maritime flåte fornyelse problemet med et fokus på utslippskutt av CO_2 for forsyningsskip. Modellens primære mål er å veilede skipsredere om optimal timing og valg av hvilke drivstoffsteknologier som skal blir brukt av skipene i flåten for å oppfylle nye reguleringer med hensyn på CO_2 utslipp. Litteraturstudie består av en introduksjon av forsyningsskip og deres operasjoner. Ulike drivstoffteknologier som forsyningsskip kan benyttes seg av er presentert. Tilslutt så er lignende problemer og modeller presentert og brukt til å lage en model. For å demonstrer modellens anvendelighet, utføres en case-studie hvor en flåte på tre konvensjonelle forskyningsskip operer i Nordsjøen. Studien ser på ulike utslippreduksjons strategier, en av strategiene er IMO's 2030 og 2050 mål på å redusere utslippet CO_2 med henholdsvis 40 og 70 prosent. Med IMO's mål, blir resultatet at flåten fornyes i 2030 til å innholde tre LNG-drevene skip og et skip med karbonfangst og lagringssystemer ombord. I 2050 blir to av de LNG-drevene skipene erstattet med hydrogen-drevene skip, noe som resultere i en mer bærekraftig flåte som oppnår IMO's mål. En annen viktig del av case-studien innebærer å utforske ulike parametere for å fortså deres påvirkning og finne den optimale måten å modellere det maritime flåte fornyelse problemet med et fokus på utslippskutt av CO_2. Case-studien bekrefter effektiviteten til den foreslåtte modellen for å generere strategiske beslutninger om fornyelse av flåten basert på gitt inndata. Men det er en stor usikkerhet med tanke på nøyaktigheten til inndaten angående skipsdesignene.This master's thesis introduces a mathematical model to address the maritime fleet renewal problem (MFRP) with a focus on emission control for platform supply vessels (PSVs). The model's primary objective is to guide ship owners on the optimal timing and selection of fuel technologies to incorporate into their fleet to comply with new regulations and achieve reductions in CO_2 emissions. The literature review consists of an introduction to the PSV and its operations. Possible fuel options for the PSV fleet are showcased. Relevant literature regarding similar problems, modeling, and optimization is presented and used to construct a model. To demonstrate the model's applicability, a computational study is conducted involving a fleet of three conventional-fuelled platform supply vessels operating in the North Sea. The study looks at potential different emission reduction strategies. One of them being IMO's 2030 and 2050 goals. The study results indicate that by 2030, the fleet would consist of three LNG-fuelled vessels and one retrofitted vessel utilizing MDO along with a carbon capture and storage system. Furthermore, by 2050, two of the LNG-fuelled vessels will be replaced with hydrogen-fuelled vessels, leading to a more sustainable fleet configuration and complying with IMO's goal. Another key aspect of the computational study involves exploring various parameters to understand their impact and identify the optimal approach for modeling the MFRP with emission control. The case study validates the effectiveness of the proposed model in generating strategic fleet renewal decisions based on the provided input. However, a notable concern arises regarding the accuracy of the input data concerning vessel design

Monthly Rainfall Erosivity: Conversion Factors for Different Time Resolutions and Regional Assessments

As a follow up and an advancement of the recently published Rainfall Erosivity Database at European Scale (REDES) and the respective mean annual R-factor map, the monthly aspect of rainfall erosivity has been added to REDES. Rainfall erosivity is crucial to be considered at a monthly resolution, for the optimization of land management (seasonal variation of vegetation cover and agricultural support practices) as well as natural hazard protection (landslides and flood prediction). We expanded REDES by 140 rainfall stations, thus covering areas where monthly R-factor values were missing (Slovakia, Poland) or former data density was not satisfactory (Austria, France, and Spain). The different time resolutions (from 5 to 60 min) of high temporal data require a conversion of monthly R-factor based on a pool of stations with available data at all time resolutions. Because the conversion factors show smaller monthly variability in winter (January: 1.54) than in summer (August: 2.13), applying conversion factors on a monthly basis is suggested. The estimated monthly conversion factors allow transferring the R-factor to the desired time resolution at a European scale. The June to September period contributes to 53% of the annual rainfall erosivity in Europe, with different spatial and temporal patterns depending on the region. The study also investigated the heterogeneous seasonal patterns in different regions of Europe: on average, the Northern and Central European countries exhibit the largest R-factor values in summer, while the Southern European countries do so from October to January. In almost all countries (excluding Ireland, United Kingdom and North France), the seasonal variability of rainfall erosivity is high. Very few areas (mainly located in Spain and France) show the largest from February to April. The average monthly erosivity density is very large in August (1.67) and July (1.63), while very small in January and February (0.37). This study addresses the need to develop monthly calibration factors for seasonal estimation of rainfall erosivity and presents the spatial patterns of monthly rainfall erosivity in European Union and Switzerland. Moreover, the study presents the regions and seasons under threat of rainfall erosivity.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen

Bovine CD2(-)/NKp46(+ )cells are fully functional natural killer cells with a high activation status

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells in the cow have been elusive due to the lack of specific NK cell markers, and various criteria including a CD3(-)/CD2(+ )phenotype have been used to identify such cells. The recent characterization of the NK-specific NKp46 receptor has allowed a more precise definition of bovine NK cells. NK cells are known as a heterogeneous cell group, and we here report the first functional study of bovine NK cell subsets, based on the expression of CD2. RESULTS: Bovine CD2(- )NK cells, a minor subset in blood, proliferated more rapidly in the presence of IL-2, dominating the cultures after a few days. Grown separately with IL-2, CD2(- )and CD2(+ )NK cell subsets did not change CD2 expression for at least two weeks. In blood, CD2(- )NK cells showed a higher expression of CD44 and CD25, consistent with a high activation status. A higher proportion of CD2(- )NK cells had intracellular interferon-gamma in the cytoplasm in response to IL-2 and IL-12 stimulation, and the CD2(- )subset secreted more interferon-gamma when cultured separately. Cytotoxic capacity was similar in both subsets, and both carried transcripts for the NK cell receptors KIR, CD16, CD94 and KLRJ. Ligation by one out of two tested anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies could trigger interferon-gamma production from NK cells, but neither of them could alter cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: These results provide evidence that bovine CD2(- )as well as CD2(+ )cells of the NKp46(+ )phenotype are fully functional NK cells, the CD2(- )subset showing signs of being more activated in the circulation

Having children with multiple partners is associated with reduced risk of malignant melanoma: an observation seeking a plausible explanation

Anne V Olesen1,2,3, Erik T Parner4, Preben B Mortensen5, Cecilia H Ramlau-Hansen6, Jørn Olsen71Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, University of Aarhus; 2Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital; 3Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital; 4Institute of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics; 5National Centre for Register-based Research; 6Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark; 7Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, USAObjective: We examined the association between the number of partners that mothers and fathers have children with and occurrence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM).Methods: We conducted a complete registry-based follow-up of all Danish mothers born after 1935 from the birth of their second child until CMM, death, emigration, or end of study in 2002. We conducted a similar follow-up of the corresponding fathers. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Poisson regression.Results: This study corroborates that women having children with three or more men are half as likely to have CMM as women who have children with one man: incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.29, 0.91; having children by two fathers reduces risk among women by 20%: IRR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.70, 0.91. Fathers with multiple partners tend to face a similar risk reduction.Conclusion: The similar patterns of mothers and fathers challenge us to consider and propose likely mechanisms common to both sexes. The patterns of reduced risk have now been reported in two large independent complete population-based studies in Sweden and Denmark.Keywords: malignant melanoma, epidemiology, children with multiple partner

Digitally delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for patients with chronic pain and insomnia (The Back2Sleep Trial):study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: More than half of individuals with chronic pain also experience insomnia. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective and safe first-line treatment; however, access remains a major barrier to widespread implementation. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 9-week app-delivered CBT-I intervention, compared to an app-delivered sleep hygiene education program (active control), in reducing insomnia and pain severity in patients with disabling chronic pain and comorbid insomnia.METHODS: The trial is a 1:1 randomized, single-blind, superiority trial randomizing 160 patients with disabling chronic pain and comorbid insomnia to either app-delivered CBT-I for 9 weeks or app-delivered sleep hygiene education for 9 weeks. Primary outcomes are the between-group differences in change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and average pain intensity assessed using a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) from baseline to post-interventions. Short-term secondary outcomes post-intervention include perceived effects on sleep and pain (Global Perceived Effect scales), sleep quality, thoughts and beliefs about sleep and pain, physical and mental health, and EQ5D-5L. Medium-term and long-term secondary outcomes (ISI, pain intensity, EQ5D-5L, health care costs, and use of sleep and pain medication) will be collected after 24 and 52 weeks. Exploratory physiological sleep metrics from at-home ear-electroencephalography (EEG) will be collected for five nights at baseline and for five nights during week 8.DISCUSSION: This planned study addresses a critical need for identifying effective, safe, and easily accessible alternatives to the current treatments for patients with chronic pain and insomnia.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06361914. Registered on April 17, 2024.</p

Characterization of NCR1+cells residing in lymphoid tissues in the gut of lambs indicates that the majority are NK cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are important for immune protection of the gut mucosa. Previous studies have shown that under pathologic conditions NK cells, T cells and dendritic cells are found co-localised in secondary lymphoid organs where their interaction coordinates immune responses. However, in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs), there are few detailed reports on the distribution of NK cells. Sheep harbour several types of organised lymphoid tissues in the gut that have different functions. The ileal Peyer’s patch (IPP) functions as a primary lymphoid tissue for B cell generation, while the jejunal Peyer’s patches (JPPs) and colon patches (CPs) are considered secondary lymphoid tissues. In the present study, we analysed tissues from healthy lambs by flow cytometry and in situ multicolour immunofluorescence, using recently described NCR1 antibodies to identify ovine NK cells. Most NCR1+ cells isolated from all tissues were negative for the pan T cell marker CD3, and thus comply with the general definition of NK cells. The majority of NCR1+ cells in blood as well as secondary lymphoid organs expressed CD16, but in the GALT around half of the NCR1+ cells were negative for CD16. A semi-quantitative morphometric study on tissue sections was used to compare the density of NK cells in four compartments of the IPPs, JPP and CPs. NCR1+ cells were found in all gut segments. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between compartments of the primary lymphoid organ IPP and the secondary lymphoid organs of the JPPs and CP. NK cells co-localised and made close contact with T cells, dendritic cells and other NK cells, but did not show signs of proliferation. We conclude that NK cells are present in all investigated segments of the sheep gut, but that presence of other innate lymphoid cells expressing NCR1 cannot be excluded

Identification of women at high risk of postpartum psychiatric episodes:A population-based study quantifying relative and absolute risks following exposure to selected risk factors and genetic liability

Background: We quantified relative and absolute risks of postpartum psychiatric episodes (PPE) following risk factors: Young age, past personal or family history of psychiatric disorders, and genetic liability. Methods: We conducted a register-based study using the iPSYCH2012 case-cohort sample. Exposures were personal history of psychiatric episodes prior to childbirth, being a young mother (giving birth before the age of 21.5 years), having a family history of psychiatric disorders, and a high (highest quartile) polygenic score (PGS) for major depression. PPE was defined within 12 months postpartum by prescription of psychotropic medication or in- and outpatient contact to a psychiatric facility. We included primiparous women born 1981–1999, giving birth before January 1st, 2016. We conducted Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) of PPE, absolute risks were calculated using cumulative incidence functions. Results: We included 8174 primiparous women, and the estimated baseline PPE risk was 6.9% (95% CI 6.0%–7.8%, number of PPE cases: 2169). For young mothers with a personal and family history of psychiatric disorders, the absolute risk of PPE was 21.6% (95% CI 15.9%–27.8%). Adding information on high genetic liability to depression, the risk increased to 29.2% (95% CI 21.3%–38.4%) for PPE. Conclusions: Information on prior personal and family psychiatric episodes as well as age may assist in estimating a personalized risk of PPE. Furthermore, additional information on genetic liability could add even further to this risk assessment.</p