A Technological Scenario for a Healthier, More Equitable and Sustainable Europe in 2040: Citizen Perceptions and Policy Implications

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record.This article aims at exploring, understanding and comparing European citizens’ insights and perceptions towards “My life between realities”, a positive future scenario which depicts a narrative of reaching healthier, more equitable and sustainable societies by 2040 with the support of technology and technological solutions. It responds to the need for gathering and incorporating more citizen insights into future policy developments and strategic actions to tackle the global challenge of unsustainable development. Citizens of five European countries—the Czech Republic, Germany, North Macedonia, Spain and the United Kingdom—have been consulted through focus groups. The exercise has uncovered citizens’ preferences and attitudes towards four main lifestyle areas; namely, green spaces, energy efficient housing, active mobility and (food) consumption. The technological attributes of the scenario led to citizens expressing diametrically opposed and critical perceptions and attitudes. Given the prospects of technology in driving sustainable development, based on these insights, policy recommendations for the better integration and acceptance of technological advances by the public are discussed herein.European Commissio

Scenario analysis report with policy recommendations: An assessment of sustainability, resilience, efficiency and fairness and effective chain relationships in VALUMICS case studies : Deliverable 8.4

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The final version of this report is available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6534011The functioning of food value chains entails a complex organisation from farm to fork which is characterised by various governance forms and externalities which have shaped the overall food system. VALUMICS food value chain case studies: wheat to bread, dairy cows to milk, beef cattle to steak, farmed salmon to fillets and tomato to processed tomato were selected to enable explorative and empirical analysis to better understand the functioning of the food system and, to identify the main challenges that need to be addressed to improve sustainability, integrity, resilience, and fairness of European food chains. The VALUMICS system analysis was executed through four operational phases starting with Groundwork & analysis including mapping specific attributes and impacts of food value chains and their externalities. This was followed by Case study baseline analysis, which provided input to the third phase on Modelling and exploration of future scenarios and finally Policy and synthesis of the overall work. This report is an overall synthesis of the VALUMICS results as follows: • Key findings from the VALUMICS project on the functioning of European food value chains and their impacts on more sustainable, resilient, fairer, and transparent food system are summarised through a compilation of 25 Research Findings and Policy Briefs. • By highlighting the major contributions from the research activities throughout the four phases of the VALUMICS project, this report delivers an assessment of various factors influencing sustainability, resilience, efficiency and fairness and effective chain relationships of different food value chains, and their determinants. • The synthesis of the outcome allows the identification of opportunities and challenges characterising the functioning of food supply chains, and thus, the prospects and potentials for strengthening the EU food sector

Tezepelumab in a case of severe asthma exacerbation and influenza-pneumonia on VV-ECMO

We present a case of 43-year-old male patient with broadly by Omalizumab, Mepolizumab and Benralizumab pretreated allergic asthma, who suffered a near fatal exacerbation, triggered by an influenza A infection. Due to massive bronchoconstriction with consecutive hypercapnic ventilatory failure veno-venous ECMO therapy had to be implemented. Hence, guideline directed asthma therapy a substantial bronchodilatation could not be achieved. After administration of a single dose Tezepelumab, a novel TLSP-inhibitor, and otherwise unchanged therapy we documented a significant reduction in intrinsic PEEP measured via a naso-gastric balloon catheter and a narrowing in the expiratory flow curve of the ventilator within 24 hours. The consecutive ventilatory improvement allowed the successful weaning from veno-venous ECMO therapy and invasive ventilation

A very rare complication of an abdominal aortic aneurysm: primary aortoduodenal fistula without gastrointestinal bleeding

Abstract An abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA) is an enlargement of the lower part of the aorta that extends through the abdominal area.The diameter of the aneurismatic vessel is represented by 3 cm or more in either anterior – posterior, or transverse planes. The developpement of Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex, multifactorial process involving destructive remodeling of aortic wall connective tissue. Four interrelated factors involved in this process include: (1) chronic inflammation associated with neovascularization and increased proinflammatory cytokine production, (2) increased and dysregulated production of matrix-degrading proteinases, (3) destruction of structural matrix proteins, and (4) decreased medial smooth muscle cell (SMC) presence, resulting in impaired connective tissue repair. This understanding has developed from a characterization of human AAA tissue, as well as the use of different animal models that replicate human disease. The mortality of ruptured AAA is set between 40 – 70% in patients that manage to arrive alive in the emergency room, and that of 90% in overall patients confirmed with rAAA in the autopsy results. A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) represents a disruption of a dilated aortic wall that leads to blood outside the aortic wall

Salivary fluoride concentration during orthodontic treatment using two types of adhesives

The importance of fluoride concentration in saliva is well established, based on the main role of the fluoride ions, that is decreasing the demineralization and enhancing the remineralization of enamel, even in patients with carious risk. The aimof the present study is to measure the fluoride concentration in saliva in patients under fixed orthodontic treatment with metal braces by using two different types of orthodontic adhesives – composite and resin-reinforced glass ionomer cements. The subjects for this study were 60 patients scheduled for orthodontic therapy in the Department of Orthodontics, University Clinic of Dentistry “St. Pantelejmon” – Skopje. Patients were divided in two groups according to the adhesive type used for bonding: - The first group comprosed of 30 patients whose braces were bonded with composite adhesive, - The second group comprised of 30 patients whose braces were bonded with resin-reinforced glass ionomer adhesive (RRGICs). Theresults showed that resin-reinforced glass ionomer adhesive (RRGICs) releases fluoride one day after bonding the braces and there was rapid decrease of fluoride concentration in saliva one month later. The outcome was different in the patients with composite adhesive where we had a slow decrease of fluoride concentration in T1 period.Key words:Demineralization; Composite; Glass ionomer cement

Outcomes of discharged females versus those waiting for discharge from Vlore Psychiatric Hospital (Albania)

Background: This study examines the psychosocial outcomes of women discharged from the Vlore Psychiatric Hospital in Albania. Methods: The study was designed as a controlled, not randomized, follow-up study. It included 16 women diagnosed with psychosis who were discharged from a psychiatric hospital to live in group homes in the community.The control group included 20 women diagnosed with psychosis who lived at the psychiatric hospital while awaiting discharge. All subjects were assessed twice using the HoNOS-Rome tool, at the start of the study (T0) and 12 months later (T1). Results: Both groups showed an improvement in the HoNOS total score between T0 and T1 (p < .001). This improvement was significantly larger in the Home group compared to the Hospital group (p = .014). An item-level analysis indicated a significantly greater improvement in the Home group on items 11 (autonomy), 12 (work), 16 (family) and 18 (goals). Conclusions: Projects for social inclusion of people suffering from psychosis must design living spaces that offer viable alternatives to psychiatric hospitals.This study also documents the efforts in the Vlore region of Albania to follow European standards of mental health care