Immigration and Innovation in European Regions

The pooling of people with diverse backgrounds in particular areas may boost the creation of new ideas, knowledge spillovers, entrepreneurship and economic growth. In this paper we measure the impact of the size, skills and diversity of immigration on innovativeness of host regions. For this purpose we construct a panel of data on 170 regions in Europe (NUTS 2 level) for the period 1991-2001. Innovation outcomes are measured by means of the number and types of patent applications. Given the geographical concentration and subsequent diffusion of innovation activity, and the spatial selectivity of immigrant settlement patterns, we take account of spatial dependence and of endogeneity of immigrant settlement in the econometric modelling. We find that an increase in patent applications in a region is associated with (i) net immigration; (ii) the share of foreigners in the population of the region; (iii) the average skill level of the immigrants; and (iv) the cultural diversity of the immigrants. The magnitude of these effects varies between types of patents

Impacts of immigration and cultural diversity on innovation and economic growth

Nijkamp, P. [Promotor]Poot, H.J. [Promotor

Benzo(a)pyrene air concentrations and emission inventory in Lombardy region, Italy

Three years of particle phase B(a)P air concentration measurements in 13 sites in Lombardy (Italy) and a detailed emission inventory at the municipal scale for the whole region were used to infer the contribution of different sources to B(a)P atmospheric levels. The analyses of the weekly and monthly profiles of B(a)P concentrations, the cluster analysis and the comparison between the B(a)P/PM10 ratios in ambient air and in the emissions allowed identifying wood burning in small residential appliances as the key source for all the sites, except for those located in Milan. The highest values of the average B(a)P concentrations were not found in the wider urban areas, where in general the highest PM10 levels were registered. Regarding the seasonal variability, a marked reduction of both B(a)P concentrations and B(a)P/PM10 ratios was observed in the summer season. The cluster analysis of PM10 and B(a)P concentrations showed that the two pollutants tend to have a separate pattern; moreover the cluster analysis of B(a)P/PM10 ratios showed that the trend of this ratio split the stations depending on their location: plain area, piedmont and valley zones, and mountain sites. The dominance of the wood combustion highlighted by the emission inventory, originating from the residential sector and from pizzerias in the city of Milan, is consistent with the findings of other studies based on a source apportionment approach or air quality modeling, although some patterns of ambient B(a)P concentrations in one site were not adequately explained by the emission sources included in the emission inventory

Fattori di emissione dalla combustione di legna e pellet in piccoli apparecchi domestici

The aim of this study was to report emission factors of pollutants (i.e., carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane hydrocarbons, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins) from biomass burning residential heating appliances. The influence of several factors such as biomass type, appliance and combustion cycle was investigated. Four manually fed (6-11 kW) firewood burning and two automatic wood pellets (8.8-25 kW) appliances were tested under real-world operating conditions in order to determine the actual environmental performance of the appliance. The experimental EFs were also compared with the values proposed by the European emission inventory guidebook used in the local inventory in order to evaluate their representativeness of real world emissions. The composite macropollutant EFs for manually fed appliances are: for CO 5858 g GJ-1, for NOx 122 g GJ-1, NMHC 542 g GJ-1, PM 254 g GJ-1, whereas emissions are much lower for automatic pellets appliances: CO 219 g GJ-1, for NOx 66 g GJ-1, NMHC 5 g GJ-1, PM 85 g GJ-1. The open fireplace appears to have very high emission factors, however traditional and advanced stoves show the highest overall CO EFs. Especially for the advanced stove real-world emissions are far worse than those measured under cycles used for type testing of residential solid fuel appliances. No great difference is observed for different firewood types in batch working appliances, diversely the quality of the pellets is observed to influence directly the emission performance of the automatic appliances. Benzo(b)fluoranthene is the PAH with the highest contribution (110 mg GJ-1 for manual appliances and 2 mg GJ-1 for automatic devices) followed by benzo(a)pyrene (77 mg GJ-1 for manual appliances and 0,8 mg GJ-1 for automatic devices)

The Lateral Membrane Organization and Dynamics of Myelin Proteins PLP and MBP Are Dictated by Distinct Galactolipids and the Extracellular Matrix

In the central nervous system, lipid-protein interactions are pivotal for myelin maintenance, as these interactions regulate protein transport to the myelin membrane as well as the molecular organization within the sheath. To improve our understanding of the fundamental properties of myelin, we focused here on the lateral membrane organization and dynamics of peripheral membrane protein 18.5-kDa myelin basic protein (MBP) and transmembrane protein proteolipid protein (PLP) as a function of the typical myelin lipids galactosylceramide (GalC),and sulfatide, and exogenous factors such as the extracellular matrix proteins laminin-2 and fibronectin, employing an oligodendrocyte cell line, selectively expressing the desired galactolipids. The dynamics of MBP were monitored by z-scan point fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS),while PLP dynamics in living cells were investigated by circular scanning FCS. The data revealed that on an inert substrate the diffusion rate of 18.5-kDa MBP increased in GalC-expressing cells, while the diffusion coefficient of PLP was decreased in sulfatide-containing cells. Similarly, when cells were grown on myelination-promoting laminin-2, the lateral diffusion coefficient of PLP was decreased in sulfatide-containing cells. In contrast, PLP's diffusion rate increased substantially when these cells were grown on myelination-inhibiting fibronectin. Additional biochemical analyses revealed that the observed differences in lateral diffusion coefficients of both proteins can be explained by differences in their biophysical, i.e., galactolipid environment, specifically with regard to their association with lipid rafts. Given the persistence of pathological fibronectin aggregates in multiple sclerosis lesions, this fundamental insight into the nature and dynamics of lipid-protein interactions will be instrumental in developing myelin regenerative strategies

Regulation of cell proliferation by nucleocytoplasmic dynamics of postnatal and embryonic exon-II-containing MBP isoforms

AbstractThe only known structural protein required for formation of myelin, produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system, is myelin basic protein (MBP). This peripheral membrane protein has different developmentally-regulated isoforms, generated by alternative splicing. The isoforms are targeted to distinct subcellular locations, which is governed by the presence or absence of exon-II, although their functional expression is often less clear. Here, we investigated the role of exon-II-containing MBP isoforms and their link with cell proliferation. Live-cell imaging and FRAP analysis revealed a dynamic nucleocytoplasmic translocation of the exon-II-containing postnatal 21.5-kDa MBP isoform upon mitogenic modulation. Its nuclear export was blocked upon treatment with leptomycin B, an inhibitor of nuclear protein export. Next to the postnatal MBP isoforms, embryonic exon-II-containing MBP (e-MBP) is expressed in primary (immature) oligodendrocytes. The e-MBP isoform is exclusively present in OLN-93 cells, a rat-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line, and interestingly, also in several non-CNS cell lines. As seen for postnatal MBPs, a similar nucleocytoplasmic translocation upon mitogenic modulation was observed for e-MBP. Thus, upon serum deprivation, e-MBP was excluded from the nucleus, whereas re-addition of serum re-established its nuclear localization, with a concomitant increase in proliferation. Knockdown of MBP by shRNA confirmed a role for e-MBP in OLN-93 proliferation, whereas the absence of e-MBP similarly reduced the proliferative capacity of non-CNS cell lines. Thus, exon-II-containing MBP isoforms may regulate cell proliferation via a mechanism that relies on their dynamic nuclear import and export, which is not restricted to the oligodendrocyte lineage

Pattern and Outcome of Chest Injuries at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania.

Chest injuries constitute a continuing challenge to the trauma or general surgeon practicing in developing countries. This study was conducted to outline the etiological spectrum, injury patterns and short term outcome of these injuries in our setting. This was a prospective study involving chest injury patients admitted to Bugando Medical Centre over a six-month period from November 2009 to April 2010 inclusive. A total of 150 chest injury patients were studied. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 3.8:1. Their ages ranged from 1 to 80 years (mean = 32.17 years). The majority of patients (72.7%) sustained blunt injuries. Road traffic crush was the most common cause of injuries affecting 50.7% of patients. Chest wall wounds, hemothorax and rib fractures were the most common type of injuries accounting for 30.0%, 21.3% and 20.7% respectively. Associated injuries were noted in 56.0% of patients and head/neck (33.3%) and musculoskeletal regions (26.7%) were commonly affected. The majority of patients (55.3%) were treated successfully with non-operative approach. Underwater seal drainage was performed in 39 patients (19.3%). One patient (0.7%) underwent thoracotomy due to hemopericardium. Thirty nine patients (26.0%) had complications of which wound sepsis (14.7%) and complications of long bone fractures (12.0%) were the most common complications. The mean LOS was 13.17 days and mortality rate was 3.3%. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, associated injuries, the type of injury, trauma scores (ISS, RTS and PTS) were found to be significant predictors of the LOS (P < 0.001), whereas mortality was significantly associated with pre-morbid illness, associated injuries, trauma scores (ISS, RTS and PTS), the need for ICU admission and the presence of complications (P < 0.001). Chest injuries resulting from RTCs remain a major public health problem in this part of Tanzania. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of RTCs is necessary to reduce the incidence of chest injuries in this region