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On a physics-based model of grain-boundary bubbles overpressurization and its effects on fuel fragmentation
No full textOverpressurization of gas-filled bubbles and pores is considered the main driver of oxide fuel fragmentation and fission gas release into the rod free volume of high burnup fuel during transients. In this framework, advanced modeling of fission gas behavior is crucial to enhance the predictive capabilities of Fuel Performance Codes (FPCs). This study develops a physics-based model for fission gas release from grain boundaries in UO2 fuel and implements it into SCIANTIX, an open-source code developed at Politecnico di Milano to simulate fission gas behavior in nuclear fuels. The model first describes gas release through continuous bubble networks at the grain face, exploiting data from Post-Irradiation Experiments (PIE). It then focuses on gas release from damaged grain boundaries, applying fracture mechanics to predict micro-cracking induced by bubble overpressurization. Finite Element (FE) simulations are performed using ABAQUS software, in order to assess stress intensification as a function of bubble density, shape, and size. The model is validated against three separate-effect experiment datasets, including annealing tests and grain-face observations via scanning electron microscopy, demonstrating promising predictive capabilities for gaseous swelling and fission gas release. This work provides a valuable tool for improving fission gas behavior modeling through a physics-based approach and lays the groundwork for future extensions to High Burn-up Structures, offering a framework for a more comprehensive description of fuel fragmentation.JRC.G.I.5 - Nuclear Science and Innovation for Energy and Healt
AI-driven assessment of uncertainty and quality terminology in Copernicus data to enable policy uptake
Get PDFCopernicus data needs to be fit for legal applications to enhance its use in policymaking. Quality must be quantified and traceable to international standards. While various pixel-level quality indicators exist, only uncertainties provide the reliability required for legal context. This study aims to evaluate the uncertainty characterization and the consistency of quality nomenclature across Copernicus. We developed an AI-driven methodology to identify and classify quality layers—defined as information on observation count, quality flags, data spread, classification probability, errors, and uncertainty. We applied the methodology to the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS), analysing 94 datasets and 757 layers. The main barrier was the lack of programmatic metadata access, prompting recommendations to enable similar studies across Copernicus.
We identified 189 quality layers across 61 datasets; 14 datasets reported uncertainties, but only 8 followed metrological guidelines. These could support use cases demonstrating how propagating uncertainties to policy indicators can enhance the uptake of Copernicus data in policymaking. We found inconsistent quality nomenclature in CLMS, with terms such as uncertainty, error, and standard deviation used interchangeably, and generic labels like flag or confidence varying in meaning across datasets. Copernicus services should standardize both the content and terminology of quality layers. A better definition of the uncertainty budgets and coverage factors is also needed.JRC.D.6 - Nature Conservation and Observation
Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) Arctic Edition 2025
Get PDFThe Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) project produces global spatial data and evidence-based information describing the human presence on Earth. It operates in a fully open and free data and methods access policy. The knowledge generated by the GHSL supports the implementation and public discussion of European policies and the monitoring of international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. GHSL is the core dataset of the Exposure Mapping Component under the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS). Moreover, GHSL data support the GEO (Group on Earth Observations) Human Planet Initiative that is committed to develop a new generation of measurements and information products providing new scientific evidence and a comprehensive understanding of human presence on Earth, supporting global policy processes with agreed, actionable and goal-driven metrics. This document describes the public release of the GHSL Arctic Edition 2025 (GHS ARCTIC R2025A), a region-centric edition of the GHSL data for the Arctic, complementing the global data produced by the GHSL. As the Arctic region has recently garnered attention due to its geo-political and strategic importance, understanding human settlements and their evolution across scales and over time is key to informing stakeholders and policy makers on relevant dynamics. However, the cartographic projections used for global geospatial data often poorly represent the Arctic territory as they are not optimized for polar regions. GHSL Arctic aims to account for this shortcoming, constituting a comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible tool for understanding and responding to the rapid changes taking place in the Arctic environment.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen
A global comprehensive review on cultured seafood
No full textA comprehensive review of the current state of research on cultured seafood, which identified 40 articles, focuses on six aspects: technology, public health, consumer acceptance, economic viability, environmental impact, and legislation. Findings suggest that this industry is less mature than the cultured meat counterpart, although there is growing interest by private and public stakeholders. More research is needed to explore the complex interplay of these six domains.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
When conventional approach in toxicity assays falls short for nanomedicines: a case study with nanoemulsions
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the critical quality attributes of parenteral nanoemulsion formulations by measuring several physicochemical parameters and linking them to their in vitro performance, illustrating how simplistic and routinely used approaches are insufficient for understanding a potential nanomedicine.
Physicochemical characterization should encompass size and size distribution through at least two orthogonal techniques, such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy, with added value from analytical ultracentrifugation. In vitro toxicity assessment was performed using three different assays to determine mitochondrial activity (WST-1), membrane integrity (lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) assay), and cell viability (propidium iodide (PI) staining). Special focus was placed on estimating appropriate incubation times for relevant results in biological investigations. All formulations had an average diameter of around 100 nm. Conclusions regarding in vitro safety were assay-dependent: LDH and PI-based
assays showed good correlation, while the WST-1 assay indicated that the non- PEGylated formulation altered mitochondrial activity more significantly compared to the PEGylated ones. The study underlined that the selection of appropriate cytotoxicity assays should be based on the possible mechanism of cellular perturbation. Alternatively, different aspects of cellular toxicity should be tested. Additionally, there is a need for well-designed controls to overcome nanoparticle scattering effects and avoid potentially false high toxicity results, which was demonstrated. Combining orthogonal, well-designed physicochemical and biological assays in a standardized manner as an initial step in the reliable preclinical characterization of nanomedicines is suggested. This represents a key aspect of new methodologies in nanomedicine characterization.JRC.F.2 - Technologies for Healt
Improving land-use emission estimates under the Paris Agreement
No full textClimate science and national emissions reporting communities have historically used different definitions and methods for anthropogenic land-based carbon removals. As the mitigation agenda accelerates, reconciling these differences for comparability and moving towards integration is crucial for enhancing confidence in land-use emission estimates.JRC.D.1 - Forests and Bio-Econom
Cross-Dataset Analysis of Language Models for Generalised Multi-Label Review Note Distribution in Animated Productions
No full textDuring the production of an animated film, supervisors and directors hold daily meetings to evaluate in-progress material. Over the course of the several years it takes to complete a film, thousands of text notes outlining required fixes are generated. These notes are manually allocated to various departments for resolution. However, as with any manual process, a significant number of notes are either misassigned or overlooked entirely, which can negatively impact the final quality of the film. This paper investigates the performance of various methods for automating the distribution of review notes across relevant departments using datasets from multiple films produced by an animation studio in Madrid. Since a single note can pertain to multiple departments, the task is framed as a multi-label classification problem. The comparison of the results obtained with datasets from different movies provides critical insights for any Animation Studio evaluating the use of these methods in their process. The methods leverage Large Language Models (LLMs), including encoder-only models such as BERT and decoder-only models like Llama 2. Fine-tuning with QLoRA and in-context learning techniques were applied and evaluated across all datasets, and a cross-dataset analysis is presented. The fine-tuned encoder-only model achieved an F1-score of 0.98 for notes directed to the Animation department. Training was conducted locally on an RTX-3090 GPU, completing in under 30 minutes.JRC.T.3 - Algorithmic Transparenc
Coordinated minimum wage policies: impacts on EU-level income inequality
No full textSeveral studies have shown that minimum wage policies have the potential to mitigate income inequality. Both EU-level and national policies have sparked discussions regarding the adequacy of minimum wages and their impact on income inequality at the country level. However, the impact on EU-level income inequality of coordinated minimum wage policies remain uncertain. While upward convergence in minimum-wage settings across countries may reduce inequality within countries, it could also exacerbate disparities between them. This study assesses the EU-wide impact of minimum wage policies beyond national effects. Using a microsimulation model and assuming negligible employment effects, our results suggest that implementing a hypothetical minimum wage set at 60% of the national median wage in EU countries would result in a limited yet significant reduction in EU-level income inequality (by 0.6% in 2019, as measured by the Gini index). This reduction stems from a relative decrease in both within-country and between-country inequality, although the absolute reduction in Gini points is more pronounced for within-country inequality. Notably, the percentage reduction in inequality is broadly similar for both market and disposable incomes. However, the withdrawal of social benefits due to higher minimum wages appears to offset part of this reduction in market inequality.JRC.B.2 - Fiscal Policy Analysi
Deep tech entrepreneurship in Europe and the crucial role of RTOs fostering impactful industrial spin-offs
Get PDFThis report, focused on deep tech entrepreneurship in Europe and the crucial role of Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs) in fostering impactful industrial spin-offs, aims to explore the role that deep tech spin-offs and RTOs, through their Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), play in driving innovation, creating different types of impact including the creation of new value chains, and addressing the high-risk nature of technology commercialization. One of the core objectives of this study is to analyse the challenges and opportunities that deep tech spin-offs face, particularly in terms of team creation and evolution over time, as well as their challenges in attracting talents, and analysing the types of impact generated by industrial deep tech spin-offs.
The study methodology includes a comprehensive literature review, a wide stakeholder consultation, data collection from 29 TTO Circle member organizations and 49 of their most impactful industrial deep tech spinoffs, data analysis, synthesis, and recommendations. These recommendations are further validated through stakeholder feedback obtained during validation meetings and webinars.
This study, therefore, provides a roadmap for how deep tech entrepreneurship can drive Europe’s economic renewal, directly addressing the concerns and recommendations of the Draghi report, and offering concrete strategies to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of global innovation.JRC.B.6 - Industrial strategy, skills and technology transfe
Advancing sustainable development in Africa
Get PDFThe report provides a detailed analysis of the design and implementation of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) roadmaps aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Developed as part of the collaboration with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission for the development of STI for SDGs roadmaps, the report focuses on the experiences of five partner countries: The Gambia, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, and Seychelles. It describes a challenge-oriented framework that aligns STI initiatives with the SDGs, addressing critical sustainability challenges such as food security, climate change resilience, energy transition, and health. The report emphasizes a participatory, evidence-based methodology that integrates local contexts and stakeholder perspectives to ensure relevant and effective STI interventions. Through extensive stakeholder engagement and a comprehensive portfolio of analytical tools, the roadmaps are tailored to each country's unique needs, thereby fostering ownership and commitment among national stakeholders. Additionally, the report highlights the value of challenge-led STI policies and roadmaps, offering strategic recommendations and insights for policymakers, international organizations, and investors. It serves as a practical guide for replicating and adapting the STI for SDGs approach in diverse contexts, aiming to enhance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability across the region. Concluding with a call to action, the report urges for strengthened collaboration and investment in STI initiatives, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and strategic partnerships to address sustainability challenges and drive sustainable development in Africa.JRC.B.3 - Territorial Developmen