The KINDRA project. Sharing and evaluating groundwater research and knowledge in Europe

Groundwater knowledge and research in the European Union is often scattered and non-standardised, because of different subjects involved and different approaches from Member States. The Horizon2020 project KINDRA has conducted an EU-wide assessment of existing groundwater-related practical and scientific knowledge based on a new Hydrogeological Research Classification System, identifying more than 280 keywords related to three main categories (namely Operational Actions, Research topics and Societal Challenges) to be intersected in a 3D-diagram approach. The classification is supported by a web-service, the European Inventory of Groundwater Research, which acts not only as knowledge repository but also as a tool to help identify relevant researchm topics, existing research trends and critical research challenges. The records have been uploaded during the project by 20 national experts from National Associations of Geologists, under the umbrella of the European Federation of Geologists. The total number of metadata included in the inventory at the end of the project are about 2300, and the analysis of the results is considered useful for producing synergies, implementing policies and optimising water management in Europe. By the use of additional indicators, the database content has been analysed by occurrence of keywords, type of document, level of innovation. Using the three-axes classification, more easily understandable by 2D diagrams as bubble plots, occurrence and relationship of different topics (main categories) in groundwater research have been highlighted. This article summarizes the activities realized in relation to the common classification system and to the metadata included in the EIGR, showing the distribution of thecollected information in different categories and attributes identified by the classification

Study on Durability Characteristics of Self - Compacting Concrete with Fly Ash

This paper investigates the study of workability and durability characteristics of Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) with Viscosity Modifying Admixture (VMA), and containing Class F fly ash. The mix design for SCC was arrived as per the Guidelines of European Federation of National Associations Representing for Concrete (EFNARC). In this investigation, SCC was made by usual ingredients such as cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, water and mineral admixture fly ash at various replacement levels (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%). The super plasticizer used was Glenium B233 and the viscosity modifying agent used was Glenium Stream 2. The experiments are carried out by adopting a water-powder ratio of 0.45. Workability of the fresh concrete is determined by using tests such as: slump flow, T50, V-funnel, L-Box and U-box tests. The durability of concrete is tested by acid resistance, sulphate attack and saturated water absorption at the age of 28, 56 and 90 days

To the history of hydrothermotherapy: pages of history

In 1921 in London, was created by the International Society of Medical Hydrology, which included scientificsocieties of scientists from over 40 countries, in 1928 they were joined by scientists of the Soviet Union. In 1937 wasorganized by the International Federation of the health resort, which in 1947, renamed the "International Federation ofHydrotherapy and Climatology (FITEC). In 1999, Congress in Yalta, it was called "The World Federation ofHydrotherapy and Climatotherapy (FEMTEC). FEMTEC is the most representative association of Spa and healthorganizations in the world. FEMTEC composed of national Spa and health resorts associations and federations, as wellas central state organizations dealing with Spa problems from many countries and continents. FEMTEC functions underthe aegis of the World Health Organization and submits every three years report on its activities. The principal functionsof the Federation are following: representing world thermalism matters and promote them internationally before statesand public organization; international business-like co-operation in health resorts' sector; study, research and experienceexchanges in the sphere of Spa treatments; popularization of Spa and health resorts of the FEMTEC member-countriesin different countries of the world. With a view of organizing fruitful activities of FEMTEC there function 4 permanentcommissions: medical, economic, technical and social. FEMTEC members actively participate in international scientificsymposia, exhibitions, conferences; there are held annual General Assembly, Executive Board and ExecutiveCommittee meetings. Every year FEMTEC organizes Scientific Congress along with a competition of scientific works,marks of the best thermalists etc. The Federation maintains close contacts with European Spas Association (ESPA),World Tourism Organization (WTO) and other international organizations. The Board of FEMTEC includes thefollowing member: Prof. Nikolay Storozhenko - (Russia) President of FEMTEC from 1998, President National SpaAssociation D.M., Honored Physician (http://www.naturmed.unimi.it/femtec.html). In 1996 he joined the Federation ofRussia, which was timed to the International Congress "The resort medicine, science and practice", held in May 1996 inSt. Petersburg. In 1998 the Federation adopted the Ukrainian Association of Physiotherapists and health resort. One ofthe main problems is FEMTEC: cooperation of scientific institutions, exchange of information in the study oftechnological and scientific problems associated with water-and climate-through scientific committees, convening theannual congresses, conferences, symposia, seminars, publications, etc

The KINDRA project – towards Open Science in Hydrogeology for higher impact

Groundwater knowledge and research in the European Union is often scattered and non-standardised. Therefore, KINDRA is conducting an EU-wide assessment of existing groundwater-related practical and scientific knowledge based on a new Hydrogeological Research Classification System (HRC-SYS). The classification is supported by a web service, the European Inventory of Groundwater Research (EIGR), which acts not only as a knowledge repository but also as a tool to help identify relevant research topics, existing research trends and critical research challenges. These results will be useful for producing synergies, implementing policies and optimising water management in Europe. This article presents the work of the project during the first two years in relation to a common classification system and an activity for data collection and training delivered by the EFG’s National Associations in 20 European countries

"Interest Groups in the Regions: Economic, Organizational, and Institutional Approaches"

In this paper first I discuss how changes in the EU affect regional interest groups and then I present three approaches for explaining their responses: economic, organizational, and institutional. I proceed with an empirical test of the political institutional variable -- specifically, political decentralization -- in a bivariate analysis of regional interest group strategies. This is done in a paired multi-sectoral comparison of French and Italian business associations. The investigation uses a most similar case design; by conducting the research in similar border regions of similar countries, I ensure adequate control over alternative explanatory variables. The project is also designed as a "crucial case" comparison. There is a distinct, but relatively small, difference in the degree of regional autonomy in Italy and France, which makes for a demanding test of the neo-institutional approach. The data support the hypothesis that the territorial distribution of power has a significant effect on the strategies of regional economic interest groups

Complete List of Index Headings, pp. xi-xxxiii

The Catherwood Library and ILR School at Cornell are pleased to again make available an extremely important index of major labor union publications, long out of print. It is Lloyd G. Reynolds and Charles C. Killingsworth\u27s Trade Union Publications: The Official Journals, Convention Proceedings and Constitutions of International Unions and Federations, 1850-1941. Baltimore, The John Hopkins Press, 1944