RFID Technologies: Emerging Issues, Challenges and Policy Options

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, an enabling technology for automatic identification based on radio waves, will impact the daily lives of European citizens in many different ways, as it is a bridge between the physical and the virtual world. RFID has enormous socio-economic potential but it also brings challenges, such as serious security threats and the potential danger of impinging on personal lives, which if not addressed properly may limit the foreseen benefits from the wide-spread deployment of this technology. This report gives an overview of established and emerging RFID technologies, RFID standards and spectrum allocation, presents RFID market parameters and forecast, privacy and security issues and social aspects of RFID. Five case studies from different application sectors (animal tracking, healthcare, ICT sector, identity cards and public transport) allow us to draw conclusions about both specific areas of development and the whole RFID market in Europe. In the final part, the likely role of Europe is presented, as are policy options for further initiatives.JRC.J.4-Information Societ

Heterochromatin protein 1 is recruited to various types of DNA damage

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family members are chromatin-associated proteins involved in transcription, replication, and chromatin organization. We show that HP1 isoforms HP1-α, HP1-β, and HP1-γ are recruited to ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage and double-strand breaks (DSBs) in human cells. This response to DNA damage requires the chromo shadow domain of HP1 and is independent of H3K9 trimethylation and proteins that detect UV damage and DSBs. Loss of HP1 results in high sensitivity to UV light and ionizing radiation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, indicating that HP1 proteins are essential components of DNA damage response (DDR) systems. Analysis of single and double HP1 mutants in nematodes suggests that HP1 homologues have both unique and overlapping functions in the DDR. Our results show that HP1 proteins are important for DNA repair and may function to reorganize chromatin in response to damage

Contexts for Concepts: Information Modeling for Semantic Interoperability

Abstract. Conceptual information modeling is a well-established practice, aimed at preparing the implementation of information systems, the specification of electronic message formats, and the design of information processes. Today's ever more connected world however poses new challenges for conceptual information models, as different models should enable mutual connection and reconciliation, even when developed in totally different situations. This paper argues that the 'vertical' bias of today's conceptual information modeling practice diverts models from meeting this new, 'horizontal' need. As an alternative, a conceptual information modeling approach is described that is simultaneously unconventional as well as interoperable with existing approaches. The key to this approach is conceptual context-awareness. It is based on ideas from the Metapattern wor

Modeled Contrast in the Response of the Surface Energy Balance to Heat Waves for Forest and Grassland

Abstract Observations have shown that differences in surface energy fluxes over grasslands and forests are amplified during heat waves. The role of land–atmosphere feedbacks in this process is still uncertain. In this study, a single-column model (SCM) is used to investigate the difference between forest and grassland in their energy response to heat waves. Three simulations for the period 2005–11 were carried out: a control run using vegetation characteristics for Cabauw (the Netherlands), a run where the vegetation is changed to 100% forest, and a run with 100% short grass as vegetation. A surface evaporation tendency equation is used to analyze the impact of the land–atmosphere feedbacks on evapotranspiration and sensible heat release under normal summer and heat wave conditions with excessive shortwave radiation. Land–atmosphere feedbacks modify the contrast in surface energy fluxes between forest and grass, particularly during heat wave conditions. The surface resistance feedback has the largest positive impact, while boundary layer feedbacks generally tend to reduce the contrast. Overall, forests give higher air temperatures and drier atmospheres during heat waves. In offline land surface model simulations, the difference between forest and grassland during heat waves cannot be diagnosed adequately owing to the absence of boundary layer feedbacks.</jats:p

European Communities

EUR 22770 EN- 2007The mission of the IPTS is to provide customerdriven support to the EU policy-making process by researching science-based responses to policy challenges that have both a socio-economic and a scientific or technological dimension