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1.

Impact of engineered nanomaterials on health : considerations for benefit-risk assessment. EASAC Policy report No. 15. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2011.

Summary

Nanotechnology encompasses the design, characterisation, production and application of materials and systems by controlling shape and size at the nanoscale (nanometres). Nanomaterials may differ from other materials because of their relatively large specific surface area, such that surface properties become particularly important. There has been rapid growth in investment in nanotechnology by both the public and private sectors worldwide. In the EU, nanotechnology is expected to become an important strategic contributor to achieving economic gain and societal and individual benefits. At the same time there is continuing scientific uncertainty and controversy about the safety of nanomaterials. It is important to ensure that timely policy development takes this into consideration. Uncertainty about safety may lead to polarised public debate and to business unwillingness to invest further. A clear regulatory framework to address potential health and environmental impacts, within the wider context of evaluating and communicating the benefit-risk balance, must be a core part of Europe's integrated efforts for nanotechnology innovation. While a number of studies have been carried out on the effect of environmental nanoparticles, e.g. from combustion processes, on human health, there is yet no generally acceptable paradigm for safety assessment of nanomaterials in consumer and other products. Therefore, a working group was established to consider issues for the possible impact of nanomaterials on human health focussing specifically on engineered nanomaterials. This represents the first joint initiative between EASAC and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The working group was given the remit to describe the state of the art of benefits and potential risks, current methods for safety assessment, and to evaluate their relevance, identify knowledge gaps in studying the safety of current nanomaterials, and recommend on priorities for nanomaterial research and the regulatory framework. This report focuses on key principles and issues, cross-referencing other sources for detailed information, rather than attempting a comprehensive account of the science. The focus is on human health although environmental effects are also discussed when directly relevant to health.

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2.

The certification of the mass fractions of stilbenes in bovine urine [er] : certified reference materials ERM-BB2386 and ERM-BB389. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication	Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2011.
Summary	This report describes the preparation of the pork meat matrix reference materials ERM-BB386 and ERM-BB389 and the certification of the content (mass fraction) of three stilbenes.

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3.

NPK : will there be enough plant nutrients to feed a world of 9 billion in 2050? European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2012.

Summary

Will there be enough plant nutrients to feed a world of 9 billion in 2050? is the central question addressed by a JRC study. This exercise was based on consultations with experts and a thematic workshop focused on three areas of interest: 1) the demand for fertilizers to sustain crop production necessary to feed the world in 2050; 2) perspectives on the supply of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) to world agriculture and 3) the role of innovation and technology in changing the match between demand and supply of fertilizers. Implications of the main findings for current EU and international policies were addressed. Overall, analysis of existing literature and discussions with major experts and stakeholders led to the conclusion that while the situation is currently not critical with respect to the production and availability of plant nutrients, it is important to remain vigilant. The question of reserves (P and K), access, changing geopolitical conditions, economic development, energy costs (mainly for N) and environmental constraints (N and P) could lead to shortfalls and possibly crisis situations in some regions of the world. The situation of Africa deserves particular attention as production, access and use of fertilizers represent key limiting factors in boosting food production in that continent.

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4.

NPK [er] : will there be enough plant nutrients to feed a world of 9 billion in 2050? European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2012.

Summary

Will there be enough plant nutrients to feed a world of 9 billion in 2050? is the central question addressed by a JRC study. This exercise was based on consultations with experts and a thematic workshop focused on three areas of interest: 1) the demand for fertilizers to sustain crop production necessary to feed the world in 2050; 2) perspectives on the supply of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) to world agriculture and 3) the role of innovation and technology in changing the match between demand and supply of fertilizers. Implications of the main findings for current EU and international policies were addressed. Overall, analysis of existing literature and discussions with major experts and stakeholders led to the conclusion that while the situation is currently not critical with respect to the production and availability of plant nutrients, it is important to remain vigilant. The question of reserves (P and K), access, changing geopolitical conditions, economic development, energy costs (mainly for N) and environmental constraints (N and P) could lead to shortfalls and possibly crisis situations in some regions of the world. The situation of Africa deserves particular attention as production, access and use of fertilizers represent key limiting factors in boosting food production in that continent.

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5.

Joint Research Centre annual report 2011. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication	Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2012.
Summary	Report on the activities, accomplishments and resources related to the JRC's work carried out in 2011. An overview is given of the scientific achievements and activities.

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6.

The International reference Life Cycle Data system (ILCD) handbook [er] : towards more sustainable production and consumption for a resource-efficient Europe. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2012.

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7.

Specifications of view services for GMES Core_003 VHR2 coverage [er]. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : OPOCE, 2009.

Summary

For the so-called DataWareHouse concept (DWH) within the GMES Initial Operations period 2011-2014, data access management is funded through a Delegation Agreement between the EC and ESA. The Core_003 VHR2 dataset is one of the satellite coverages that are defined as CORE datasets within the DWH with fixed specifications which will be offered to a broad range of users and activities. JRC was asked by DG Enterprise to provide technical specifications for the implementation of a view service for the Core_003 datasets as part of the Administrative Arrangement n. 5 between DG Enterprise and JRC. This report provides an overview about different view service types with their specific characteristics and use cases. Since compliance with INSPIRE implementing rules is a goal to be achieved by GMES services, the specific requirements of INSPIRE for view services have been taken into account. The Core_003 datasets have been analysed with regard to their parameters that are important for the inclusion in view services. Based on the results of the analyses, recommendations are given for the implementation of the view services as well as for the data processing and configuration of the Core_003 datasets.

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8.

Eurocode 8 : seismic design of buildings - Worked examples. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2012.

Summary

An overview of EN 1998 is presented at the first section with focus on the performance requirements and compliance criteria for structures, ground conditions and seismic actions. An introduction to the example reinforced concrete building with its geometrical and material properties as well as the main assumptions for analysis and the detailed structural analysis calculations are presented in the second chapter. Specific rules for design of the building for ductility and the design of concrete foundation elements are presented in the following chapters. For the sake of completeness, the details of design and detailing of the same example as a steel building with three different configurations, namely; with (i) steel moment resisting frames, (ii) composite steel concrete moment resisting frames, and (iii) composite steel concrete frames with eccentric and concentric bracings is also presented. Key concepts of base isolation are summarized by utilizing the example building. Seismic performance assessment and retrofitting according to EN 1998-Part 3 is explained in the last past of the report. The reinforced concrete/steel building (worked example) analyzed in this report was prepared and presented at the workshop “Eurocode 8: Seismic Design of Buildings” that was held on 10-11 February 2011 in Lisbon, Portugal. The workshop was organized by JRC with the support of DG ENTR and CEN and in collaboration with CEN/TC250/Sub-Committee 8 and the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil - LNEC, Lisbon). The document is part of the Report Series ‘Support to the implementation, harmonization and further development of the Eurocodes’ prepared by JRC in collaboration with DG ENTR and CEN/TC250 “Structural Eurocodes”.

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9.

Bridge design to Eurocodes [er] : worked examples. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2012.

Summary

This document is a Technical Report with worked examples for a bridge structure designed following the Eurocodes. It summarizes important points of the Eurocodes for the design of concrete, steel and composite road bridges, including foundations and seismic design, utilizing a common bridge project as a basis. The geometry and materials of the example bridge as well as the main assumptions and the detailed structural calculations are presented in the first chapter of the report. Each of the subsequent chapters presents the main principles and rules of a specific Eurocode and their application on the example bridge, namely: •The key concepts of basis of design, i.e. design situations, limit states, the single source principle and the combinations of actions (EN 19990); •Permanent, wind, thermal, traffic and fatigue actions on the bridge deck and piers and their combinations (EN 1991); •Bridge deck modeling and structural analysis; •The design of the bridge deck and the piers for the ULS and the SLS, including the second order effects (EN 1992-2); •The classification of the composite cross-sections, the ULS, SLS and fatigue verifications and the detailed design for creep and shrinkage (EN 1994-2); •The settlement and resistance calculations for the pier, three design approaches for the abutment and the verification of the foundation for the seismic design situation (EN 1997); •The conceptual design for earthquake resistance considering the alternative solutions of slender or squat piers; the latter case involves seismic isolation and design for ductile behavior (EN 1998-1, EN 1998-2). The bridge worked example analyzed in this report was prepared and presented at the workshop “Bridge Design to the Eurocodes” that was held on 4-6 October 2010 in Vienna, Austria. The workshop was organized by JRC with the support of DG ENTR and in collaboration with CEN/TC250/Horizontal Group Bridges, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology and the Austrian Standards Institute. The document is part of the Report Series “Support to the implementation, harmonization and further development of the Eurocodes”, prepared by JRC in collaboration with DG ENTR and CEN/TC250 “Structural Eurocodes”.

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10.

Monitoring industrial research [er] : the 2008 EU survey on R&D investment business trends. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : OPOCE, 2009.

Summary

This document presents the findings of the fourth survey on trends in business R&D investment. While continuing along similar lines as previous editions, it contains further insights into (mainly larger) company expectations about their future R&D investments and the underlying motivations. The results are drawn from 130 responses from the 1000 EU-based companies listed in the 2007 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. These 130 companies are responsible for R&D investment worth almost €40 billion, constituting 30% of the total R&D investment by the EU Scoreboard companies.

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11.

Renewable energies in Africa : current knowledge. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2011.

Summary

This report summarizes current knowledge at the Joint Research Centre regarding Renewable Energy in Africa. It assesses current energy consumption and the share of renewables in African states, and attempts to estimate the technical potential of available resources of solar, wind, biomass and hydropower which could be economically used to provide energy for the increasing population. Existing Statistical data on energy supply and demand have a large uncertainty, both in terms of quantity and costs or price. The available data which were used for this report indicate a wide range both of per capita energy consumption (100 to 2000 kgoe/cap/y) and per capita electricity consumption (50 to 4000 kWh/cap/y). Relative to the average of the European Union, this corresponds to up to 35 times less regarding all energy, and up to 100 times less regarding electricity. Even though electrification made considerable progress in the past 10 years, 600 Mio of rural population has no access to electricity at all. This report assesses in detail the renewable energy options for electricity production in rural areas, where the de-centralised feature of these technologies allow an economically viable competition with conventional grid extension. It is particularly true in remote areas where the nearest grid infrastructure is already unreliable and overloaded. In areas where household density is low (<50 cap/km2), any investment in larger grid infrastructure would never be cost competitive. This report enhances also insight in the transport costs of conventional fuel, taking a population density to be served and transport infrastructure into account.

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12.

Scientific support to the European Commission Marine Strategy Framework Directive [er] : management group report, March 2010. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2010.

Summary

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD) requires that the European Commis-sion (by 15 July 2010) should lay down criteria and methodological standards to allow consistency in approach in evaluating the extent to which Good Environmental Status (GES) is being achieved. ICES and JRC were contracted to provide scientific support for the Commission in meeting this obligation. A total of 10 reports have been prepared relating to the descriptors of GES listed in Annex I of the Di-rective. Eight reports have been prepared by groups of independent experts coordinated by JRC and ICES in response to this contract. In addition, reports for two descriptors (Contaminants in fish and other seafood and Marine Litter) were written by expert groups coordinated by DG SANCO and IFRE-MER respectively. A Task Group was established for each of the qualitative Descriptors. Each Task Group consisted of selected experts providing experience related to the four marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the North-east Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea) and an appropriate scope of relevant scien-tific expertise. Observers from the Regional Seas Conventions were also invited to each Task Group to help ensure the inclusion of relevant work by those Conventions. This is the report of the MSFD Management Group.

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13.

Design of lightweight footbridges for human induced vibrations [er] : background document in support to the implementation, harmonization and further development of the Eurocodes. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : OPOCE, 2009.

Summary

Nowadays, it is well-known that for the structural safety verification of footbridges, and for the comfort guarantee of its users, it is fundamental to consider the effect of human induced vibrations, particularly: vibrations due to pedestrian traffic should be within acceptable limits for users; the lock-in phenomenon should be prevented; and, the footbridge structural safety should be guaranteed if subjected to intentional excitations. Recognizing a gap in lightweight footbridges design procedures, a guideline is presented in this document proposal for footbridges design taking into account human induced vibrations. First, the proposed methodology is detailed. Attention is devoted also to the response measurements, identification tests and instrumentation used in the evaluation of the dynamic properties of footbridges. The potential strategies to control the vibration response of footbridges are reviewed. Finally, three worked examples of application of the proposed design methodology are exposed, namely a simply supported beam and two existing footbridges.

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14.

Impact of engineered nanomaterials on health [er] : considerations for benefit-risk assessment. EASAC Policy report No. 15. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2011.

Summary

Nanotechnology encompasses the design, characterisation, production and application of materials and systems by controlling shape and size at the nanoscale (nanometres). Nanomaterials may differ from other materials because of their relatively large specific surface area, such that surface properties become particularly important. There has been rapid growth in investment in nanotechnology by both the public and private sectors worldwide. In the EU, nanotechnology is expected to become an important strategic contributor to achieving economic gain and societal and individual benefits. At the same time there is continuing scientific uncertainty and controversy about the safety of nanomaterials. It is important to ensure that timely policy development takes this into consideration. Uncertainty about safety may lead to polarised public debate and to business unwillingness to invest further. A clear regulatory framework to address potential health and environmental impacts, within the wider context of evaluating and communicating the benefit-risk balance, must be a core part of Europe's integrated efforts for nanotechnology innovation. While a number of studies have been carried out on the effect of environmental nanoparticles, e.g. from combustion processes, on human health, there is yet no generally acceptable paradigm for safety assessment of nanomaterials in consumer and other products. Therefore, a working group was established to consider issues for the possible impact of nanomaterials on human health focussing specifically on engineered nanomaterials. This represents the first joint initiative between EASAC and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The working group was given the remit to describe the state of the art of benefits and potential risks, current methods for safety assessment, and to evaluate their relevance, identify knowledge gaps in studying the safety of current nanomaterials, and recommend on priorities for nanomaterial research and the regulatory framework. This report focuses on key principles and issues, cross-referencing other sources for detailed information, rather than attempting a comprehensive account of the science. The focus is on human health although environmental effects are also discussed when directly relevant to health.

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15.

Impact analysis of the Joint Research Centre and its direct actions under the EU research framework programmes [er] : final report (August 2011). European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2011.

Summary

This report presents an impact analysis of JRC’s direct research actions, in line with the Commission’s principles to focus on EU added value, impacts and results and following recommendations from earlier JRC programme evaluations. The report uses an analytical framework built around policy impact (i.e. the impact of JRC work in the policy process) as well as technical impacts, economic impacts and intangible impacts. It looks at the JRC’s achievements, impacts and results with a special focus on costs and benefits and contains four parts : • Demonstrable policy impacts of JRC activities in 2010. • Five case studies with specific impacts and benefits of JRC support activities. • An estimation of the JRC’s overall economic impact. • The JRC and Europe 2020. The report closes with a number of findings and forward-looking conclusions of the Steering Group experts who guided the impact analysis, highlighting the JRC’s added value, rooted in its impartiality as well as its pan-European scope and range of action.

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16.

Impact analysis of the Joint Research Centre and its direct actions under the EU research framework programmes : final report (August 2011). European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2011.

Summary

This report presents an impact analysis of JRC’s direct research actions, in line with the Commission’s principles to focus on EU added value, impacts and results and following recommendations from earlier JRC programme evaluations. The report uses an analytical framework built around policy impact (i.e. the impact of JRC work in the policy process) as well as technical impacts, economic impacts and intangible impacts. It looks at the JRC’s achievements, impacts and results with a special focus on costs and benefits and contains four parts : • Demonstrable policy impacts of JRC activities in 2010. • Five case studies with specific impacts and benefits of JRC support activities. • An estimation of the JRC’s overall economic impact. • The JRC and Europe 2020. The report closes with a number of findings and forward-looking conclusions of the Steering Group experts who guided the impact analysis, highlighting the JRC’s added value, rooted in its impartiality as well as its pan-European scope and range of action.

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17.

Marine Strategy Framework Directive : task group 10 report : marine litter, April 2010. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2010.

Summary

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD) requires that the European Commission (by 15 July 2010) should lay down criteria and methodological standards to allow consistency in approach in evaluating the extent to which Good Environmental Status (GES) is being achieved. ICES and JRC were contracted to provide scientific support for the Commission in meeting this obligation. A total of 10 reports have been prepared relating to the descriptors of GES listed in Annex I of the Directive. Eight reports have been prepared by groups of independent experts coordinated by JRC and ICES in response to this contract. In addition, reports for two descriptors (Contaminants in fish and other seafood and Marine litter) were written by expert groups coordinated by DG SANCO and IFREMER respectively. A Task Group was established for each of the qualitative Descriptors. Each Task Group consisted of selected experts providing experience related to the four marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the Northeast Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea) and an appropriate scope of relevant scientific expertise. Observers from the Regional Seas Conventions were also invited to each Task Group to help ensure the inclusion of relevant work by those Conventions. This is the report of Task Group 10 Marine litter.

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18.

Proceedings of the fifth international conference on NDE in relation to structural integrity for nuclear and pressurised components [cd] : 10-12 may 2006 - San Diego, USA. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg: OPOCE, 2007.

Summary

This conference, the fifth in a series on NDE in relation to structural integrity for nuclear and pressurized components, was held from 10 to 12 May 2006, in San Diego, USA. The scientific programme was produced by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, Institute for Energy (EC-JRC/IE), the conference coorganiser. It was locally organised by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The first conference, under the sole responsibility of EC-JRC was held very successfully in Amsterdam, 20-22 October 1998. The second conference was locally organized by the EPRI NDE Center in New Orleans, 24-26 May 2000, the third one by Tecnatom in Seville, 14-16 November 2001, and the fourth one by the British Institute of Non Destructive Testing in London, 6-8 December 2004. The theme of this conference series is to provide the link between the information originated by NDE and the use made of this information in assessing structural integrity. In this context, there is often a need to determine NDE performance against structural integrity requirements through a process of qualification or performance demonstration. There is also a need to develop NDE to address shortcomings revealed by such performance demonstration or otherwise. Finally, the links between NDE and structural integrity require strengthening in many areas so that NDE is focussed on the components at greatest risk and provides the precise information required for assessment of integrity. These were the issues addressed by the papers selected for the conference.

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19.

Assessment of migration of non-suspected compounds from products in contact with drinking water by GC-MS [er] : development of a harmonised test to be used in the European Acceptance Scheme concerning CPDW. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2003.

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20.

Linking terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems : complexity, persistence and biodiversity in European food webs. European Commission. Joint Research Centre.

Publication

Luxembourg : Publications Office, 2007.

Summary

In this work we have defined and analyzed the network structure, properties and composition of cohesive sub-webs in two food web networks at two selected European sites: Ferto lake in Hungary and Ria Formosa lagoon in Portugal. The main objective of this work was to test and to apply a coherent methodology for the definition and analysis of trophic networks in typical European ecosystems. Persistence and cohesion of the two networks have been determined and studied. Moreover the biodiversity in terms of number of species have been measured. Several preliminary conclusions can be drawn on a basis of results obtained from application of network analysis indices and dynamical simulation. In terms of ecosystem stability the lake Ferto network (persistence 0.42) seems more stable than Ria Formosa (persistence 0.26), but if we consider the stability of the main k-core, we obtain opposite results (0.48 and 0.50 respectively). Taking into account the distribution of species in the k-core partition, the general structure of Ria Formosa network appears more complex than Ferto lake. In both networks a main core containing species taxonomically different is present, but in the Ria Formosa network (37.7%) the proportion of species inside the core is lower than in Ferto lake (60%), this can be an indication that the dimension of the main core is not related to size of the network in real ecosystems. This hypothesis is confirmed by results obtained from k-core partition of simulated networks. In both studied networks the cohesion (measured in terms of mean density and degree) of k-cores is greater than k-cores extracted from simulated networks generated by different models, this may indicate a complex and not arbitrary structure of ecological networks, not easily reproducible by models. In general the approach used appears to be able of defining the main proprieties of the trophic networks examined. The extension to other European ecosystems is needed for having a clearer and complete picture and to use data collected to simulation of different scenarios, afterwards the effects on network structure and ecosystem biodiversity as a function of different European environmental policies could be assessed.

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